Help? Something is Wrong!

[Kara29]

I've called my pharmacist............
My Doctor gave me Ferrous Gluconate and I had the same reaction and side effects of anaphalctic shock just on a smaller scale. They said this drug would not do that to me.

I took 325mg of this supposed "safe" iron drug at 1:30pm and starting noticing symptoms througout the day. Then I fell asleep and woke up feeling all of the symptoms that happened in the Hospital and no one believed me and they laughed at me. They told my primary doc that it was just a panic attack and that no one is allergic to iron....................BUT WHAT ABOUT something that the iron has in it such as a preservative or compound.

Well...............IT DID!

My hands and feet are buring and itching
My Head hurts like Hell
I'm tired
I'm Dizzy
I'm Confused
Starting to Itching
My heart is racing

When this happened in the Hospital they said it was a panic attack until they saw how swollen my feet were and I was passing out.

I asked for some benedryl/hydroxizine and they said it didn't need it. I BEGGED and 20 minutes later they gave me some. I got a bit better about 20 minutes later, although the swelling took almost 7 days to go down.

I don't want to wait in the ER for 18 hours to be laughed out of the ER because they all think this is in my head............

I have bad reactions to a lot of medications so I am not surprised.

I took 25mg of Hydroxizine and I've consulted with the on-call he told me to stop taking the Iron and if my symptoms get worse to call an ambulance.

I hate it when people say..........THAT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE SO IT CAN'T BE HAPPENING TO YOU????????????????

I can't tell you how many times I've heard that in my life and almost died, not paying attention.

These are the days I hate myself.....................Someday whatever ails me that has caused all of this will have a name and it will all make sense and hopefully help others.

Kara

[amaranthe]

You need to go to the ER! If you are having symptoms of anaphalactic shock, it can kill you! It is NOT something to mess around with! Swelling is a serious symptom that can happen in your throat, causing you not to be able to breathe! Please, please go to the ER NOW! Take some Benedryl and go immediately. You do not need to be worried about what ppl think. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment. You must do this! Your Dr may not have been familar with the symptoms....I dont know what his problem was. But, I assure you that the Emergency room WILL be familar with the symptoms and will know whether or not it is anaphalactic shock. If it does turn out to be a panic attack, that is something that also needs medical treatment. Whatever is causing this needs to be addressed and treated. This IS an emergency and I urge you to treat it as such.

I wish you all the best and hope you will be feeling much better soon. But, PLEASE get yourself some help NOW!

Much love,
Amaranthe

[mlzippy7]

Oh Kara I am so sorry! I do understand when drs say well it has never happened before. I have been told this several times and I always say well there is a first for everything and since they call me the "rare" case anyway it is not that out of the ordinary.
Please don't wait too long to get checked out. If things get any worse please go.
Hang in there and I really hope things get better for you soon!:pray::pray:

[leelee88]

Kara, I have to agree with the others!!

When I was having those weird attacks like what you are describing but no swelling the Drs acted if I was crazy.. BUT I could care less.. I had this same kind of attack after I had a bladder instill YES a bladder instill!! The nurse said there is no way I was could be having an allergic reaction because it was instilled in the bladder.. I did not care WHAT she said I had someone drive me to the ER.. They still did not determine what I had or what caused it.. But I have had this attack a few times.. And it all relates to when I take or use different meds..I get a tingling feeling, my face starts burning my head tingles really bad, my BP starts rising I get sweaty and I have a hard time breathing.. While yes this could be an anxiety attack..I do not take any chances with it and you should not either!!!! And if you are swelling this is serious!!!!!

[hdb1982]

WHEN WE TALKED TONIGHT YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING OR I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU TO TAKE YOUR BUTT TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY. Did you develop more symptoms after we talked? You sounded kinda out of it then, if things have worsened you need to go to the ER babe. NO if ands or buts about it. All of the things going on are serious but the swelling is not something to take lightly. There could be fluid building up on your body, which could travel to your lungs, your throat could swell shut, your tongue could swell etc etc. Please go to the ER. We have talked about this. Why sit in the ER for 5 hours without being seen when you can call an ambulance and be seen immediately. If you do take yourself please don't let them push you around. If you do end up in the hospital again please call me tomorrow and let me know. I will PM you my cell number in case you didn't write it down when I called you from it tonight.

[stef000]

did you get to the ER???
are you feeling ok now??
i hope your ok
let us all know
take care
:pray::pray:
hope you are ok
:grouphug::grouphug::kiss::pray::pray:

[Briza]

Kara, please don't hate yourself. It saddens me so much to read those words you wrote! If anything, get out your journal, and turn those feelings into written words towards those in the medical field who have laughed at you, done you wrong, and are the cause of those self-deprecating thoughts. Write it down or type it up. That can be very therapuetic. I pray you are on the mend :grouphug:

[ICNDonna]

I hope by now you have seen a doctor and got some help.

:grouphug:
Donna

[BrittanysDance]

Kara - I dont know if this applies to you or not but here's some info for you...

FERROUS GLUCONATE 300 mg TABLETS - LENNON

COMPOSITION:
Each tablet contains 300 mg Ferrous Gluconate equivalent to 34,75 mg elemental iron.
Contains Tartrazine.

PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION:
A 8.3 Erythropoietics (haematinics).

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:
Erythropoietic (haematinic).

INDICATIONS:
The treatment or prophylaxis of iron-deficiency anaemia.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
Ferrous Gluconate should not be given to patients receiving repeated blood transfusions, or in cases of existing haemochromatosis, haemosiderosis or other anaemic conditions, unless accompanied by iron deficiency. It should not be administered concomitantly with parenteral iron.

WARNINGS:
Prolonged administration of doses in excess of those recommended may result in iron overload. This product contains FD and C Yellow No 5 (Tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including Bronchial Asthma) in certain susceptible individuals. Although the overall incidence of Tartrazine sensitivity in the general population is currently thought to be low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin sensitivity. Ferrous Gluconate should be used with caution when the following medical problems exist: alcoholism; allergies; asthma; hepatitis or hepatic function impairment; kidney disease; intestinal tract inflammatory conditions, such as enteritis, colitis, diverticulitis, and ulcerative colitis; peptic ulcer; rheumatoid arthritis; sensitivity to iron.

Maybe you have a sesitivity to the dyes??

I hope you feel better sweetie... (((((hugs)))))

[Kara29]

Added to my million other allergies, now I am allergic to this Iron and the one they tried to give me in the ER. The symptoms did not develop until later that night when I started moving around the house.

I am also allergic to potassium

and Dextrose 5, Lactated Ringers

I can only have regular Saline in my drip or it will pee ever 2 minutes or feel like it anyway which really makes me wonder if my IC/PNE Symptoms are nerve damage................I don't know I just know when any of these things are given to my, I scream!


It never ends.........................at least I am here and alive to type this to you all!

Thanks for your continued love and support.

Kara

[SharonA]

Whew!!! I just now read the beginning of the thread and was very worried about you. I am glad you updated to tell us that you are still with us. I am so sorry you are going through all of this. (((Hugs)))

[kellymh]

Hi,

I feel so sorry for you, I have many allergies to meds, I get hives and swell and once a neurologist told me that my hives with tongue swelling was all due to anxiety. I saw him twice and told my family dr. that I would never see him again. I have many problems with meds, I feel for you. Nobody understands what it is like to call the dr. and tell them these meds don't agree with me or that your having a reaction, they always say, this has never happened before.
What do they know? I hope your doing much better, sometimes it takes alittle time to get back to normal after a reaction. Hang in there!

Kelly

[Kara29]

I'm here.......I had to go back onto my 150mg dosage of Lyrica 3 times a day instead of 200mg 3x a day, which we are trying to see if it helped to decrease my painful times. Nope......and in fact my Husband and own Mother (who are both my best friends) didn't want to spend any Holiday time with them b/c they felt I was acting funny and too tired on the upped Lyrica.

Putting the Lyrica behind us......I have not yet told my Doc (I know, I know it's bad) but my primary is funny about things........if they don't work he gets frustrated with ME like it's my fault I was allergic to that Iron pill. I plan on telling him at my next blood work up at the end of this month.

I will be resting until Friday of this week. Our annual Holiday Party at our home is going to be Saturday the 6th.......so if you don't see me around it's because I have to open my home to 30 people and you all know how hard that is for us chronically sick persons to handle.

So if you don't see me around here for a week or so that's where I'll be, in bed or decorating. Most of the cleaning is done (except the last minute vacuuming and sink wipe downs and toilet bowl swish.........

Love and Hugs to you all, I will be back next week. I hope you all enjoyed your Holiday's and had some pain free time to rest on.

Talk to you all next week!

Kara

[SharonA]

Kara...You are one amazing woman!!! I really don't know how you do it...Entertaining a large crowd with everything you go through, health wise. You are a true inspiration to me. I hope your Party is wonderful!! (((Hugs)))

[chia]

kara; hope all went well with your group for the holidays..i sadly had to give my cooking over to my daughter..it killed me at first..it was always my greatest time..cooking for my whole family..of 28 but i loved every min. of it..glad to hear you are doing it..proud of you but..you know..god won't strike u down if you back off of some of the things..if you have the undestanding family i think you have they would understand..i was going to ask you about lyrica..i started it 5 days ago..it is helping me so much..itake 75mgs twice a day..it has me out of whack. no way could i work or drive..how did you e ver manage on what was it..300mg..three tmes a day??did you try 75 bid?every day the funky feelings get alittle better..i was going to say..yes peole can have side eff. from iron.a chemical..the one in the other post.it gets over loaded and can not mix with several drugs..i have seen this more than once in my patients..so add it to you list..and if they keep telling u there is no way..with any drug ..anything at any time can happen..glad you are better..did it make you feel hot all over..my patients would comp. of this first..before the swelling ect..oh..with the lycria i am not taking any otc drugs at all!! i was doing 800mg of alive or advil every 4-6 hrs..i know ..i was stupid..but i was fighting tooth and nail not to have to get back on the hard drugs roller coster..now my 75mg ultrum with the lycria is working just fine..

[Kara29]

Yes I was HOT all over and then I ran to the bathroom and had severe diahrrea and then vomitted. It was like my body was trying to get rid of it all as fast as it could. Followed by the rest of my Body becoming severely swollen for a week. Then the same thing happened when I took the oral dosage at home. My Primary Care Doc has been trying to call me for a week. They want me in immediately b/c I have not been taking the iron at home for a month. So how are they going to get it into me if my body won't take or absorb it? I don't want blood transfusions. I can't get in Until the New Year. What I am hoping is that, maybe, I will have eaten enough over the Holidays to have the iron level go up on its own. See I am missing some of my intestines and I also have Celiac Disease so I don't absorb iron the way normal people do..............

I hope I can make it through the New Years Party without ending up in the Hospital again. I was in right before Christmas via Ambulance with my Husband in tow behind us, during a HUGE Snow Storm. We have to drive 4 hours to see our Friends that live near Albany for New Years. I've been in my PJ's Since Christmas, not looking foward to getting out of them for this party. I'm too tired to make it in to the shower.

This group likes to stay up late and drink until all hours of the morning. I can't compete. I'm going to have half a glass of champagne. That's where I draw the line. Unfortunately, we will be sleeping in the living room so I guess we won't be going to bed until the party dies.............I could always find another bed to sleep in if I need to I guess.

I can't wait for these Holidays to end!

I hope you all have a Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year!

Love and Hugs,

Kara