That is the understatement of the year. On Monday my sinuses were bothering me. I figured it was just allergies and let it go. Thought I would give it a day or so for whatever was going on to run its course. Tuesday morning my nose was so sore I couldn’t touch and my head was pounding. I felt as thought my head was in a pressure cooker. I called the doctor and told him. He said he would call me in a prescription for some nasal spray from authentic nasal spray manufacturer that should help.
I figured everything would be fine. I go and pick up the prescription which by the way was so expensive. $65 for the smallest bottle I have ever seen. Anyway, I use the spray and things seemed to be okay. I wasn’t feeling that great but I knew it may take a day or so.
Wednesday morning I woke up nauseous, my hands tickling, and my lips swollen so big I couldn’t feel them. I couldn’t breath well either so we called 911. They came and told me to take some Benadryl and give it a couple of hours because it looked as though I was having an allergic reaction.
Things only got worst from there. Instead of calling 911 again I simply went to the hospital. Turns out not only was I having a severe allergic reaction but I also had an infection. An infection that was messing with my breathing on top of the reaction. I have never had an allergic reaction before.
Let me tell you it the scariest thing! I didn’t know what was going on. I ended up spending the entire day in the emergency room getting all sorts of tests, scans, imaging, and so much more. It was after six when I was finally released with several prescriptions and I’m just starting to feel a little better. It is going to take a few more days to be back to 100%.
I plan on getting a medical alert bracelet to let people know I have an allergy. I never want to experience that again. If I had just let it go thinking the Benadryl would eventually work I’m not sure what would have happened. I’m not blaming the EMTs because they told me that was what the hospital would do and if I got worse to either call them back or go to the hospital.
The worse thing about an allergic reaction is that you don’t know you’re allergic to something until it happens. In fact one of the EMTs asked me if I was allergic to peanuts because sometimes people with peanut allergies are allergic to the nasal sprays. There is something in them that is similar or whatever. I never had been but I have an appointment with my doctor to get checked just in case.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
Aw!! I’m so sorry this happened to you! I have 2 kids with peanut allergies and they are so scary to live with. I hope it was just a reaction to the spray and not a food allergy also. I’ve had so many people say that allergies aren’t real or laugh about them, but they really can be so scary!
Rita says
That is what I am hoping as well.
sANDY kLOCINSKI says
Ugh! i’VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT i HAVE NEVER HAD A LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIC REACTION. i AM ALLERGIC TO SULFA. wHEN i WAS A BABY IT MADE ME BREAK OUT IN HIVES (OR SO MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME). oTHER THAN THAT i AM ALLERGIC TO NICKEL AND WILL BREAK OUT IF i WEAR JEWELRY WITH A NICKEL COMPONENT OR IF THE SNAP ON MY JEANS TOUCHES BARE SKIN
Rita says
I haven’t really had an big allergies either until now.
Donna Cheatle says
I’m one of those people who DO have an allergy to peanuts. it was adult onset, so it caught us by surprise. if i hadn’t gotten to the er, i’m pretty sure i wouldn’t be here today. its very scary to develop allergies as an adult because you just don’t see it coming. i also have an allergy to all sulfa drugs, which we again found out the hard way. now i keep a set of epipens with me at all times.
Rita says
It is scary. I never had anything like it. I am allergic to cats which came on as an adult but this one took me by surprise because it was so severe.
Donna Cheatle says
I was bitten by a brown recluse spider a few years back. you know, the one that causes people to lose limbs and die. i had no idea i was even bitten until i started to have a reaction. within a day the site where i was bitten got redder and redder and more swollen. the second day i could barely walk. The bite was on my thigh. we went to the er, they ended up doing emergency surgery right there in the er. they gave me all kinds of meds to stop the venom from invading my bloodstream and put me on bedrest for at least 10 days. 2 days later i was back in the er because a developed a fever of 105, and was violently vomiting and hives were everywhere. I could barely breathe. i was again rushed into emergency surgery where they had to carve out more of the bite site. my allergic reaction to the meds i was taking for the infection caused the infection to get stronger and spread farther. it was touch and go for a few days. luckily i finally started to come out of the danger zone. I was put on an iv that i had to keep for the next 12 weeks. I was never so scared in my life!! i now have a very healthy respect for any allergies. never take them for granted!! I hope you start to feel better soon!!
Rita says
OMG! I got bitten by one of those as well about ten years ago. I was walking THROUGH the woods and it got me. It itched so bad and was right below my butt on my upper thigh but int he back. I thought I had gotten a bug bite until it broke open. I had to go the ER then too and they cut out that piece of my thigh. It was awful! They gave me a shot to deaden my thigh except I react weird to things like that and it didn’t take affect until i was getting out of the car to walk into the house. I felt every single cut, they had two nurses hold me down while they did it. What was worse was my mother had to change the bandages for me each day while it all drained (because they left it open) and talk about nurse ratchet!
Sarah L says
Severe allergies are indeed no joke. Did you find out what you were allergic to?
Rita says
I have not yet found out what I am allergic to. We know I am allergic to the spray for sure but the doctor is checking if it is also peanuts.
Tina W says
There is nothing more terrifying than the feeling of not being able to breathe. Hope you get answers so this does not happen again!
Rita says
Thank you so much. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DOCTOR THIS WEEK AND HAVE BEEN AVOIDING PEANUTS FOR NOW JUST IN CASE.
Deborah G. says
That sounds so scary!! Happy you will be ok!
Rita says
Thank you so much!
Leela says
That sounds awful! My husband is allergic to a few things and one of those things ended up being a drink when he went out to eat. Three days in the hospital. It was a nightmare.
Rita says
I can just imagine!
Rust says
I just had an emerg room emergency dUe to allergies to prescription meds! You just never know …..glad you are better!
Nancy says
Allergies have only started bothering me later in life. Saw my new doctor last weeK (the former one wasn’t a good listener & impossible to reach) & she told me i need an allergy pill & nasal spray daily. I have been prescribed an epi-pen (something you might consider) but have never had to use it, thank goodnesS, even after a recent bee sting. My advice is to always listen to your body (as you did) & get help when necessary. Hope you feel much better soon!
Rita says
I am certainly talking with my doctor about the epi-pen. We were waiting for all of the various tests to come back before we decided on a course of action. I have an appointment tomorrow with her. I’m so glad I didn’t just write it off as nothing.
Kayley says
Oh no! I am glad you got treated and are feeling better. you are right, allergic reactions are serious and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Tamra Phelps says
I’ve been that person who winds up in the ER after taking a medicine. It’s definitely no joke, it’s downright scary.