LATEX ALLERGY!!

[Frugal Nurse]

A terrible thing happened to me yesterday.

I had an anaphylatic reaction to latex.

Lesson to be learned!!

I was dumb- I knew I had an allergy... but it didn't seem that bad- a bit of itching... welts.. went away in time. It's been over a year since I had a reaction. (which prompted me to leave patient care) So, I just figured it went away.

DENIAL!!!

So, yesterday... I needed to use a pair of gloves. All that was available was 'sterile' non latex procedure gloves or latex exam gloves.



Thought bubble above my head:
Should I be wasteful and open a super duper packaged pair of non-latex sterile procedural gloves? or can I just put these latex gloves on real quick.. do what I need to do... and wash up. Two minutes!

Well... I reasoned ...........poorly....
"it's been so long, I'll bet that it went away... no wait! maybe! just maybe! it was the soap I was using.. yeah! that's it.... I had a soap reaction!"

On with the gloves! The exam went well- until I started to swell.
First with hives... then swelling.. then lips, then tongue - numb. and I started to feel funny... tight- panicky.

I FREAKED!!!! Scared the dickens out of myself!
(which caused a nice adrenaline rush btw)

I didn't want to panic the poor patient- so I calmly excused myself- ran back to another part of the clinic where I knew there was a stash of 1:1000 epinephrine vials.

Holy crap!

The doctor that I work with saw me running ~ then fishing in the cabinet for the epi- of course HE was trying to get control of ME. But the sensation was unbearable and quick! and I could barely talk and I had that tunnel vision!

I think I left him speechless- when I drew it up.. and stuck the needle right into me! It's amazing how quick that stuff works!!

He told me later that he thought a patient needed it and was not happy that I wasn't telling him about it. (yeah we can laugh now) He said I had so much fear in my eyes that he didn't know what to do.. and that he didn't like that all. In fact, I do recall him yelling to me trying to figure out what was happening... all seemed like a fog to me. He apologized.


But I am telling you! that was such a scary experience!!

I brought home a loaded syringe with me- just in case there was a rebound... but nothing else occurred.


Even though it was quitting time, the good doc stayed with me for another 2 hours to be sure the numbness was receding. I was in the best place to be had the epi not worked... so it was best for me to stay.


Today, I have 2 Epi Pens, one for the office and one to carry with me always. My secret Latex allergy is no secret anymore.
Moral of the story?


Please! tell those around you if you have an allergy to something! A food allergy. An environmental allergy! Like a latex allergy while you are working IN a hospital!! Sheesh! what was I thinking!
It could save your life! I was in the position to be knowledgable about what I needed and where I could get it.. but most, if not all, would not have that advantage.
And carry the pen with you! God! I teach that all the time!
Nurses make such bad patients!!



All's well that ends well.

[Jamauk]

I'm so glad everything turned out ok and that you knew what to do!!!

I've been there!! I had a nut allergy and I grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds one day and within five minutes I couldn't even get a sip of water to fit through my throat. I was at work and my manager took me into the bathroom, I dropped my pants and she stuck my epi right into my thigh.

Paramedics came, gave me oxygen and took me to the ER where they gave me a shot of adrenilene and a shot of benedryl (both by IV). It was the weirdest sensation in the world - I felt the adreneline go all of the way through my vein and hit my heart - then I felt the benedryl work its way up my arm and BOOM (I was asleep). It was bizzare!

Scariest day of my life!! However, on a good note, since I've had children I am no longer allergic to nuts or sunflower seeds.....
(I still get nervous, though everytime I feel a small itch in my throat)

[PrairieRose]

I never knew that a latex allergy could be so severe. I thought it was one that just caused welps and itching and redness.....wow. So glad you were able to grab a shot and get relief. How scarey for both of you.

[Jskell911]

I am so glad you are OK! I guess it's easy to think quickly when dealing with a patient (your training and experience after all). But I am utterly AMAZED at how wonderfully you handled the situation.

[janelane]

omigosh, I didn't realize a latex allergy could be that terrible, or that fast! I'm glad you're okay, too.

Mine's penicillin. I'm so sensitive if even a drop gets on my skin, it's enough to start a reaction, so I can definitely sympathize.

I hope you're feeling well today