Had my drug allergy testing results today!

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Tessa
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Had my drug allergy testing results today!

Post by Tessa »

Hi, my dear friends :smile:

Do you remember the "nightmare" of the drug allergy testings carried out and what we talked about them?
No?... :oops: Well, do not be ashamed for that... Take a look to the past, if needed :smile:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ergic+test

Now that we all know what I am talking about, let´s continue... :wink:

I have got the results by post. A nice one page document (most of the document mentions my medical history and a very small part the results)

:smile:


Even though I scared to death when they tested me for the Novocaine allergy... (when I thought they were...) According to the medical report, they did not tested it. Instead, I was given Mepivacaine.
This was done to determine if I had an allergic reaction to it and - because they think that I had no reaction to it - they recommend this local anestetic.

There is no comment to the possible allergic reaction that they were going to confirm for Novocaine... but they give an alternative option.
Does this mean that I have to consider myself allergic to Novocaine and ask doctors for Mepivacaine? :???:


With regard to the reaction to Nitroglicerine while on the Tilt Table Test:
This is what is mentioned on the report:
"We think that the reactions explained by the patient, above all the one to Nitroglicerine, are
more likely caused by an adverse reaction (or secundary reaction) than to an allergic process. Therefore, the patient should avoid Nitroglicerine - as precaution".

I have been investigating and have been able to confirm that adverse reaction can also be life-threating... In fact, it was a scary reaction, even for the Cardiologist...

:shock: I am not shocked because of this "result" but because they do not give any further suggestion... What am I supposed to do? To ask doctors to avoid Nitroglicerine, Novocaine, Dolantine, etc... What about If I am unconscious and they want to give me Nitroglicerine??? Or Novocaine???

About the reaction that I mentioned to Dolatine, Dormicum & Buscapine while having an endoscopy done, they say it probably was a
decrease of the heart rate and therefore more probably an adverse reaction than a immune process. Even though, they recommend to avoid these drugs.

And that´s it.

No further suggestion... About what I should do about this (they gave a copy for my GP) and that´s all.

What do you think about all this?

Wayne, I am with you. I do not think that this is the right procedure. In fact, as you all know, it did not start in the most accurated way...

Even more, they have based most of their report on what I told them and just get rid of the problem by telling me to avoid these drugs.

This is incredible! I apologize but I am feeling angry, frustrated, hopeless...

Your comments will be most appreciated.
Thank you for reading and taking your time to answer. I will love to know what you have to say about it.

Love,
Tessa
DX Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency= Panhypopituitarism,POTS & MC. Anaphylactic reaction to foods & some drugs.
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
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tex
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Re: Had my drug allergy testing results today!

Post by tex »

Tessa wrote:Even more, they have based most of their report on what I told them and just get rid of the problem by telling me to avoid these drugs.

This is incredible! I apologize but I am feeling angry, frustrated, hopeless...

Your comments will be most appreciated.
Thank you for reading and taking your time to answer. I will love to know what you have to say about it.

Love,
Tessa
Hi Tessa,

I have to agree with you that it appears that they just repeated what you told them. Still, it is better than nothing, and now, with that report, you should be able to get a "Medic Alert" bracelet, with warnings about nitroglycerin, novacaine, etc.

I also believe that they are probably correct when they say that you are not allergic to those drugs, (in a classic sense). But, of course, you surely cannot tolerate them, because of the adverse way that they affect your POTS problem. As far as your body is concerned, you are allergic to them, but the way you react doesn't fit the classic definition of allergic.

If you get a "Medic Alert" bracelet, I would expect it to say that you are allergic to those medications. I think that whoever authorizes the Medic Alert bracelet message will interpret the report in that way, in order to avoid confusion, since that wording is more easily understood by emergency personnel, in an emergency situation. Remember, though, that's just my opinion, and I'm not a doctor.

Love,
Tex
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Post by Mars »

I think I agree with Tex, Tessa. I would rather be safe than sorry. Another idea I would suggest is that you provide family members with a copy of that letter for their wallet/purse. Keep that letter (or a copy) in your wallet in case of an accident where you could not inform the medical profession of your "allergies".

I also would be angry - it doesn't seem that they conducted a very satisfying test on you. At least not what I would expect.

Take care of yourself and stay healthy!

Love,
Mars
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
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Post by Polly »

TESSA!

Hola, mi querida amiga!

It's good to "see" you again.

How frustrating this has been for you. :roll: I have to agree with your docs (and Tex)........these are adverse reactions and not allergic or immune ones. And they most likely occur because of the underlying POTS. Did the docs relate the adverse reactions to the POTS? It is not unusual for people with POTS to be highly drug and chemical-sensitive.

I recently stumbled across this website, written by a patient, that is one of the most accurate and comprehensive discussions I have seen on POTS:

http://home.att.net/~potsweb/POTS.html

This website mentions several times that POTS patients are likely to have adverse drug reactions.

How are you doing in general? Is the MC under control?

Love and a :bigbighug:

Polly
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Post by barbaranoela »

Tessa------my good wishes flow from me to U also---

I hope U find the right answers and get to feeling comfortable with everything--

Heck, U have had a whole load of *dishes* :smile: overflowing with *stuff*---

Take care---
keep that :smile:
luve--Barbara
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Tessa
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Re: Had my drug allergy testing results today!

Post by Tessa »

Hi Tex, thanks for your answer. :smile:

Yes, indeed, better a written report than nothing. You are right. At least, It is a start in order to get a Medic Alert bracelet... I will tell my GP next time.
I talked with a friend last week about medic alert bracelets and he mentioned to me that he has not heard about it in Spain. In fact, he has a medical alert note close to his ID mentioning the drugs he is taking.

It is probably right that I had an adverse reaction and not an allergic one. At least it does not fit the classic definition of allergic reaction, but it is something I should avoid, for my own safety.

I will talk about a Medic Alert bracelet with my GP and if there is no option here... I will let you know...

Do not worry, Tex. I know that you are not a doctor. You are one of my friends abroad, who cares about people and who demostrates it here on the board, every day.
:thanks:
Love,
Tessa

Hi Mars

How nice to add your comments! :bigbighug:

I will give my husband a copy of the report and have a copy in my wallet. At least until I get a Bracelet...

I was angry - could not avoid it - but I calmed down today.
It was not the best drug test and not at all what I expected, not even what should have been done... And I doubt that they follow the European safety rules for that kind of testings... But as mentioned by Tex, at least I have a written medical report about my reactions.

Thank you for caring, Mars. :pulsinghearts:
Love,
Tessa
DX Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency= Panhypopituitarism,POTS & MC. Anaphylactic reaction to foods & some drugs.
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
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Tessa
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Post by Tessa »

Polly, mi querida amiga.

How are you?
Thank you for visiting my post :wink:

Yes, it has been frustrating. And I have been through a lot. It might be because of POTS (high probability).

They did not relate the adverse reactions to POTS because, unfortunately, they have no idea about POTS. :???: They wrongly think that a vasovagal syncope is the only thing that can cause such a syncope and thus wonder why my heart beats so fast or why I have all these (POTS) symptoms all the time... Thanks God the Cardiologist (even though not knowing about POTS) agreed to treat me... He even added that POTS and vasovagal syncope is the same... And we both know, Polly that during a vasovagal syncope your heart and blood pressure decreases, while during POTS your heart rate increases and your blood pressure can decrease or increase. (Mine is the first option: my heart beats very fast and my bp starts decreasing...)

Thanks for the link to the website. It is a very interesting one.
As you might know, POTS is a symptom, a syndrome, not a disease and therefore not the cause of the problems... My GP and Endocrinologist are trying to get to the bottom of it. I have an important blood test on Monday. to check my Aldosterone levels... Looking for an Adrenal problem and/or Addison...

Thanks for asking, MC is under control from the very start of the gluten and casein free diet. Another way to proof that both are linked together and that Dr. Fine is right. :thumbsup: (that´s my contribution for readers who are still doubting it)

Thank you for your answer, Polly :pulsinghearts:
I always appreciate your inputs.
Love,
Tessa :bigbighug:



Hi Barbara:bigbighug:

How are you? I hope you are better now.

Thank you for your good wishes. Always welcome.

Yes, I have been through a lot... And still continue with tests... But knowing what is going on is too important to let it go.

Take care, too my dear friend. :bigbighug:
Love, :pulsinghearts:
Tessa
DX Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency= Panhypopituitarism,POTS & MC. Anaphylactic reaction to foods & some drugs.
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
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Post by Pat »

Tessa,

I really don't know a lot about what you have been tested for but I am a dental hygienist and have heard my dentist (that I have worked for 23 years and trust completely) say that Novacaine is no longer used (at least in dentistry) but the term is used when speaking to patients because that is a term they understand, just meaning a local anesthetic. He uses Mepivacaine and has since I have worked for him. Don't know if that explains anything it is just some info I happen to know.

Pat
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Tessa
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Post by Tessa »

Thank you for your input, Pat

It is a relief to know that they are using it at the dentist. :thumbsup:

In fact, I have never had a reaction at the dentist using an anesthetic. Well, I told my dentist about my "allergy" and she changed the anesthetic for another one and told me it would be safe. (And it was). Maybe it was this Mepi...

I got the reaction while having an infiltration of Novocaine (neck infiltration).


Love,
Tessa :bigbighug:
DX Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency= Panhypopituitarism,POTS & MC. Anaphylactic reaction to foods & some drugs.
Gluten & Dairy free diet+hydrocortisone, Florinef, Sea Salt, Vit B Complex, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium...
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