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  • Mom's Latest Medical Scare

    Around midnight last night I'm suddenly called downstairs by Dad. Mom was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Dad needed me to stay downstairs for a bit to comfort Mocha, our dog, who was naturally freaking out. All Dad could tell me about what was wrong was that there was some swelling and Mom was having breathing problems.

    I was naturally very worried. Mom's medical issues are almost never mundane, and hearing that it was breathing problems? Very troubling. Dad came back a couple hours later to grab Mom's phone and his Kindle then went back to the hospital, but had no further updates for me.

    This morning, I come downstairs to see Mom is home, and apparently fine. I gave her a hug, and asked what happened. Near as they were able to tell, Mom had an allergic reaction to her blood pressure medication-- the same medication she's been taking without issue for the last five years. However, the pill she took last night was from a new batch that had just arrived that day. So clearly there might have been something different with the formula or something.

    In any case, Mom's throwing out that "bad" medication and updating her medical alert card about this possible allergic reaction. She's fine now, she can talk and breathe normally. Was just a very scary situation.
    PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

    There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

  • #2
    Oh jeez, I'm glad to hear she's ok. Wonder what was up with that batch that triggered it...
    By popular request....I am now officially the Enemy of Normalcy.

    "What is unobtainium? To Seraph, it's a normal client. :P" -- Observant Friend

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    • #3
      I've heard of that happening. If it was a new batch of pills, I could almost see one of the inactive ingredients being a possibility.

      Either way, I'm glad she's ok.
      "If your day is filled with firefighting, you need to start taking the matches away from the toddlers…” - HM

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      • #4
        Wow--glad she's ok. Suddenly freaked that I live alone.
        "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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        • #5
          *hugs* Glad it wasn't any more serious!

          Is it worth contacting the manufacturer with the batch numbers of a (good) pack and a (bad) pack and asking if there is a specific difference? They might want the (bad) pack back if they aren't aware of a difference for testing.
          I am so SO glad I was not present for this. There would have been an unpleasant duct tape incident. - Joi

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          • #6
            That really is scary! Glad to hear she's back home and doing fine!

            Quoth Crossbow View Post
            I've heard of that happening. If it was a new batch of pills, I could almost see one of the inactive ingredients being a possibility.

            Either way, I'm glad she's ok.
            I was wondering that myself ... even a change in the dye batch, if the pills are coloured. (Nice to see I've learned something from my abortive run through the Pharmacy Technician program!)

            Quoth Food Lady View Post
            Wow--glad she's ok. Suddenly freaked that I live alone.
            I know the feeling -- especially everytime I go to the basement. Mom slipped and fell a couple of times on those steps; luckily she was never more than bruised but she also had one neighbour who was constantly checking up on her. I'm starting to think of getting one of those emergency call bracelets or necklaces. Another option, if it's available: an elderly woman I used to know belonged to a 'check-in' group: each group member was assigned to call a specific other group member at a specific time daily. If they got no answer, the person making the call then called emergency responders.

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            • #7
              Glad to hear she's feeling better. It is possible for people to develop an allergic reaction to something over time or when there is a certain amount of it in the system. Case in point, my mother is allergic to many antibiotics - she was put on one that they were sure she would have a reaction to but we were running out of options. No reaction so everyone thought it was odd but they cleared the problem so no one was complaining, but after a third course....a bad reaction occured.

              Does she have any allergies you are currently aware of in medication? Might be an idea to explore any ingredients they might have in common as a means to narrow down the chances of something happening again. Very glad to hear she's OK and is discontinuing taking those pills. Hope she can get a safe alternative sorted soon.

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              • #8
                Glad she's okay! One other thing to check - are you guys SURE that her pills were actually what they were supposed to be? Pharmacists are only human, sometimes mistakes are made.
                When you start at zero, everything's progress.

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                • #9
                  I hope she hasn't thrown them out yet.

                  If she still has them, she should take them to her pharmacist to identify the manufacturer, and have a note put in her record that that particular manufacturer causes an allergic reaction and she should get a different maker's version (preferably the one her pharmacy used to use if available).

                  Pharmacies, especially the chains, tend to buy from whatever wholesaler gives them the best deal that month. So it can change from time to time. It's likely that Mom got a batch from a new generic manufacturer that uses an inactive ingredient that triggered the allergic reaction. If she can figure out which one, she'll know who to avoid, because this could happen again.

                  If her pharmacy can't get the manufacturer that agrees with her, she should go elsewhere.
                  They say that God only gives us what we can handle. Apparently, God thinks I'm a bad ass.

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                  • #10
                    So glad your mom is ok.

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                    • #11
                      I hope you can get your mom to talk to her doctor about maybe getting an Epipen in case this happens again.

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                      • #12
                        Thanks for the concern and advice, everyone. I did mention the "hold onto the 'bad' medication for the pharmacist" idea to Mom, who said that her Aunt (who has some medical background herself) said pretty much the same thing.

                        It may not have been the blood pressure medication, but one of the other medications she takes (I forget which one it was for, off the top of my head), but she'll bring her concerns up to the pharmacist.
                        PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                        There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

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                        • #13
                          Know I am late on this, but *hugs*. Having a loved one sick or hurt is never fun. Sending positive thoughts your way.
                          Engaged to the amazing Marmalady. She is my Silver Dragon, shining as bright as the sun. I her Black Dragon (though good honestly), dark as night..fierce and strong.

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                          • #14
                            Some good news!

                            Mom's been battling infections in her leg for a while. With the circulation problems she has, it's not always easy for her to fight them off, and it's contributed to the lymphadema she has in her legs. It's contributed to the outbreaks of cellulitis she's had in the past.

                            Well, Mom saw her infectious disease specialist today, and pronounced the infections in her leg cured! This means Mom can now look into scheduling a knee replacement later this year.

                            Given Mom's health issues, it's always good to get some good news for once.
                            PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                            There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

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