You know those credit-monitoring commercials...we don't fix we monitor?

[jewellsmommy]

Apparently some emergency room docs follow that same philosophy! My experience reminds me so much of the life-lock dentist commercial.

 

If you have seen any of my ongoing sinus/teeth saga  :lol: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/643814-update-sinus-infection-wteeth-pain-previous-threadnew-issue/    Then you know that nothing seems to go normally for me.

 

I started a new antibiotic that I had not had before. I got really nauseous but blew that off as usual antibiotic induced behavior. But when I passed in front of the bathroom mirror I noticed that I looked more speckly and splotchy than usual. I took off my shirt and it was quite pronounced. I called my dh in. Of course what he first noticed was that I was now shirtless.  :001_rolleyes:  Then he asked why it looked like I had chickenpox. In the time it took to have this conversation the rash appeared on my face.

 

He took me to the ER. They took me right back. My breathing was fine, but they repeatedly had trouble getting my blood pressure. It was really weird. The doctor came in and I explained the situation. He labeled it  "a pretty decent allergic reaction." 

 

He wanted to know why I was on Avelox so I gave him my CT findings report.  He seemed to quickly become fascinated and wanted the whole history of the infection.  He left the room while saying he wanted to "take a shot at this."  

 

When the nurse brought me pills a half hourish later, I thought for sure they would be benedryl -nope. The doc wanted me to take clindamycin right then and there. Confused, I asked to see the doc. I reminded him that I had just an antibiotic for the night. But he kept saying that these were bad infections yada yada. Yeah. I get that. My docs are working on it...but what about the allergic reaction?? I took his clindamyacin while scratching my untreated rash/hives.

 

He told me not to take the Avelox anymore because next time I might stop breathing, but doesn't actually give me anything for this reaction. The nurse comes in with the discharge papers. The diagnosis and medical advice is all about the sinus and teeth/bone infection - duh, I already had that diagnosis.

 

I asked, "this is an allergic reaction, right?" Nurse- "yes, very much. follow the doctor's orders carefully. blah blah dangerous blah blah. :001_huh: What orders!?! I pointed out that there was nothing about the reaction. I don't want my regular doc to have to take my word on the fact that I had a reaction and can't take the med he wants me take.

 

"Gee doc, i know there is nothing on the report about a reaction but I promise I had one. They just forgot to mention it!" Yep, I can just imagine how that would sound  :lol: .

 

So, ER doc comes in and says, "good point, here ya go." (new discharge papers) The 'acute allergic reaction -medication' was like a side note under Additional Diagnosis. sigh. No instructions. I asked if I should take a benedryl for the itching. He says, "oh definitely, as soon as you get home take some benedryl."  :huh:  :glare:

 

Really! over 3 hours... I get the dx I already had, Nothing for the reaction! What? Go home and fix it yourself. (I'm stopping intermittently to scratch as I type this btw!) I guess I'm supposed to keep taking benedryl til I don't itch or until the rash goes away?? I'm trying just one pill but it doesn't control the itching!

 

And I get to take the clindamycin every 6 hours -yay antibiotic #4.

[Mabelen]

Oh, my lord! I don't even know what to say other than you, poor woman! Obviously your medical case was mesmerizing enough for the ER doctor to forget to actually give you a proper diagnosis. I hope your infection clears quickly and there are no more fascinating medical twists!

Edited April 27, 2017 by Mabelen

[Jean in Newcastle]

Unless my breathing was difficult, I wouldn't have gone to an ER. I would call my doctor- the nurse line. I would have reported the reaction and asked them to call in something else. And I would have taken Benadryl at home.

 

 

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[jewellsmommy]

Unless my breathing was difficult, I wouldn't have gone to an ER. I would call my doctor- the nurse line. I would have reported the reaction and asked them to call in something else. And I would have taken Benadryl at home.

 

 

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Part of the problem was that once some anxiety kicked in, I couldn't tell what was legitimate allergic reaction and what was being escalated by anxiety. I considered not going, but the rash was spreading so quickly I just wasn't sure. And the last time I thought my symptoms added up to one thing, I found out I was way off and doctors were astounded that I was walking around with all this infection and didn't come in sooner. I never seem to win this game.  :lol:

[jewellsmommy]

I swear, sometimes Urgent Care and/or ER docs think they are like Doctor House or something.  We had a very similar experience in an urgent care.  DD21 has adult onset asthma.  She is still in the process of getting it under control.  She is seeing an asthma specialist.  We already know all this.  But, every single time she has to see an urgent care or an ER for an attack that her rescue inhaler isn't helping, it's like they want to diagnose and start all new treatment.  We already KNOW the problem.  She's already SEEING a specialist.  In fact, the last time, we already had an appointment schedule for 3 days later, it's just that she was unaccessible on an emergency basis in that situation (specialist is in Indy, we live 2hrs away, she is at college an hour from us and an hour and a half from the specialist, etc etc)  We JUST needed her breathing again. 

 

Exactly. I am seeing the ENT tomorrow! But it was like I presented a fun, new video game to play.  :lol:  Meh, rashes are boring...now sinus & multiple teeth abscesses that's where the fun's at!

[Jean in Newcastle]

Exactly. I am seeing the ENT tomorrow! But it was like I presented a fun, new video game to play.  :lol:  Meh, rashes are boring...now sinus & multiple teeth abscesses that's where the fun's at!

 

I hope that it doesn't seem like I"m picking on you, but I feel like I need to stick up for the ER doc here.  He triaged you - ie. took inventory of what was going on and put it in order of what was most urgent.  The rash really wasn't urgent though he should have done a much better job of communicating that to you.  Your infection is urgent.  I know that it is being taken care of, but from his perspective, if you were having to stop one antibiotic because of a bad reaction, in good conscience (or medical practice) he could not leave you without another antibiotic - even for one night. 

Edited April 27, 2017 by Jean in Newcastle

[jewellsmommy]

I hope that it doesn't seem like I"m picking on you, but I feel like I need to stick up for the ER doc here.  He triaged you - ie. took inventory of what was going on and put it in order of what was most urgent.  The rash really wasn't urgent though he should have done a much better job of communicating that to you.  Your infection is urgent.  I know that it is being taken care of, but from his perspective, if you were having to stop one antibiotic because of a bad reaction, in good conscience (or medical practice) he could not leave you without another antibiotic - even for one night. 

 

Yes. I do see that the antibiotic was very important. I took the clindamycin after he explained it to me -not a problem. I just wish they had also given me the benadryl so I didn't itch for 3 hours while there. It would have been nice to have some follow-up instructions too. I can wing it/figure it out on my own, sure. 

 

I know sometimes if a reaction is not severe, docs will have you continue with an antibiotic anyway (but take it with an antihistamine) because that med is the one they want you on. I wanted the opportunity to ask if that was a possibility. This doc said no, not a good idea. Ok I accept that. So, it was then confusing that this reaction was bad enough to not risk continuing, but not worth...anything in the way of treatment or advice. :confused1:  It was odd that I had to keep asking for explanations and asking for a treatment and then pointing out that there discharge papers were technically not correct...I just think they should have met me half way.  :tongue_smilie:  ;)

 

And, I don't feel picked on. I'm way to loopy for that.  :lol:

[VinNY]

I hope you are feeling better! I also have had reactions to Avalox and the side effects can get worse after having been on these types of antibiotics before. I was on Cipro twice over the past 17 years, avalox  (for a few days a number of years ago and then last year where I lasted one day before my body started to seem like it was shutting down.  For the future please make sure your pharmacist as well as your doctors are aware that you can not take drugs in the floroquinilone family. I was put on an oxiflacinn-  an eye drop last month and had a reaction. Had no idea it was in the same family and I did let that office know my allergies to Avalox  . Read up on this class of drug. Many pharmacists say this should be a last resort drug prescribed and many people are experiencing bad side effects.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Yes. I do see that the antibiotic was very important. I took the clindamycin after he explained it to me -not a problem. I just wish they had also given me the benadryl so I didn't itch for 3 hours while there. It would have been nice to have some follow-up instructions too. I can wing it/figure it out on my own, sure. 

 

I know sometimes if a reaction is not severe, docs will have you continue with an antibiotic anyway (but take it with an antihistamine) because that med is the one they want you on. I wanted the opportunity to ask if that was a possibility. This doc said no, not a good idea. Ok I accept that. So, it was then confusing that this reaction was bad enough to not risk continuing, but not worth...anything in the way of treatment or advice. :confused1:  It was odd that I had to keep asking for explanations and asking for a treatment and then pointing out that there discharge papers were technically not correct...I just think they should have met me half way.  :tongue_smilie:  ;)

 

And, I don't feel picked on. I'm way to loopy for that.  :lol:

 

I hope that you're doing better on new meds.  I agree that the ER doc was really bad at communicating what he was supposed to be communicating.  One more defense of the ER doc on the Benadryl though - OTC drugs that are given in the ER don't cost the same as what it costs you at the local pharmacy.  A dose of Benadryl at the ER could have cost you a lot of money.  He should have explained that to you and then advised you to get some on your own.  http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2013/06/27/outrageous-er-hospital-charges-what-to-do.html (specifically the part about how one aspirin can cost you $30.)

[creekland]

I just hope you're feeling better by now... and the new antibiotic works.