November 01, 2005
Stretcher One
Some people spend Halloween as a ghost or or a Vampire or Elvis. This year, I was a prospective cardiac patient known as Stretcher One, Triage at WakeMed.
The headaches I've been having since last week finally convinced me to go to a doctor, and once there, I was diagnosed with a sinus infection. One of the drugs I was given to help fight the worst of the headaches is something called Imitrex.
It is supposed to help with headaches, only the best I can tell, the single 100MG Imitrex tablet I took could have come close to killing me. In the literature that accompanies most drugs these days, I think they call it a "potential side effect."
Within seconds of taking the pill I had a tightness in my upper left chest, followed immediately with dizziness and a rapidly numbing left arm. Luckily the guys in the big red and white truck with the flashing lights and stretcher were just minutes down the road, and I think the triple doses of nitro they hit me with on the way to the hospital seem to have kept any lasting damage from happening. It seems they weren't unfamilar with this side effect, which looking back, makes me feel both better and worse.
I missed trick or treating this year, but thanks to a top-notch ambulance crew that I never got to thank and some very good folks at WakeMed, this blogger should be around for many more Halloween's to come, which will make one five-year-old pixie I know (and her mother) very happy.
Perhaps I'll have more on the day's adventure tomorrow. In the meantime, I can only generate but so much sympathy for the ills of my dear brother.
Wuss.
That is scary. I am glad you're ok.
Posted by: seawitch at November 1, 2005 08:49 AMI’m certainly glad to know you weathered through your Imitrex ordeal. That’s scary, Bob.
My wife is a migraine sufferer – she has been since I’ve know her (37 years). Fiorinal (butybital) is a medication that seems to work well for her most times. However, when it doesn’t help she takes Imitrex injections. The injections knock out the migraine probably 90 % of the time. She has never experienced your reaction – thank God.
My prayers are with you. God bless
Next year you won't say "Trick or Treat!"
Just say "Treat, treat, treat."
Glad you are safe...First Responders Rule.
Posted by: Maggie at November 1, 2005 09:36 AMA decade or 2 back, my father was on gout medication. He had fluid retention in the knees and extremities. One of the no-no's in the drug literature was "avoid all salicylates"....
Of course the doctor doesn't bother to tell you that Aspirin is acytesalicyllic acid (the spelling is wrong, but it IS a salicylate) tongue swollen to the point of potrusion from the mouth and airway closing up and THAT CLOSE (fingers infinitesmillay separated) to an emergency tracheotomy....
And the cure? 25cc of liquid Benadryl....
As a matter of fact in case no one ever told you, Benadryl is the treatment of choice for a LOT of allergic reactions, the only question is whether you can WAIT for an oral agent to work.....
My wife had chemo for cancer. They give you chlorapromazine for the nausea, because it is an anti-emetic (no throw-ups). Of course that is ACTUALLY just a side effect, it's PRIMARY use is as a "geek whomper" - they give it to the folks at the funny farm cause it keeps them quiet - but it ALSO has the funny side effect of involuntary muscle contractions - like your head trying to crawl into your shoulder..... The treatment of choice? Benadryl.....
Glad you're OK.....
Posted by: Meredith C. Walters at November 1, 2005 09:58 AMGlad to hear you are ok, CY.
Shoulda called me, I had a ton of candy around.
Posted by: William Teach at November 1, 2005 11:59 AMYou've always got to one up me don't you???
Posted by: phin at November 1, 2005 01:40 PMDude, that is totally bogus. I would suggest not having any more heart attacks, but hey, that's just me.
Get better.
Posted by: John from WuzzaDem at November 1, 2005 04:39 PMGlad to hear you're ok...rest for now...punch the Dr. later
Posted by: johnny_yuma at November 1, 2005 06:19 PMNow that you know that they don;t give out candy at the ER, I expect you will stay home for Halloween next year!
Glad you are well.
Posted by: olddawg at November 2, 2005 11:12 AM
