So, I'm allergic to sulfa

[FlyingDumbo]

What a fun day! I started on antibiotics Monday. By tues I had a couple of blisters on my tongue. Thought maybe I bit my tongue. By this morning, my mouth had more painful blisters. Called my md, was told by triage "nurse" that it was unrelated to meds and I should gargle with salt water. I knew better. I ignored my instinct. But I want to feel better so I Kept taking antibiotic. My mouth got worse and throat started to hurt really bad. Ended up in ER treated for allergy to bactrim. Apparently mouth blisters are a common allergic reaction. It also turns out the people who tell you they are a triage " nurse" at my Md. office are actually just medical assistants. Seems like that should not be allowed. My doctor seemed shocked that her MA told me it was nothing. Moral of the story, trust your instinct if you know something is not right. So now need to wait or these blisters to heal. Tomorrow is going to be a long work day. I'm miserable. Usually Benadryl makes me sleepy, but I'm not tired.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Didn't you say the other day you had "impetigo" that looked like blisters on your mouth? Had you started on bactrim at that point?

 

[FlyingDumbo]

That's what they gave me the bactrim for. To treat that. They said the blisters in my mouth are not related to the impetigo and do not look anything like it. The impetigo is virtually gone, you cannot see it anymore, but I am not one to stop antibiotics until I'm told. It looked like a little red spot. I was told to take them for 7 days. They changed me to keflex. I am falling apart! I feel like I need a few days off to just sleep, but that won't be happening anytime soon. The urgent care doc said blisters are a very common from bactrim. Before this last year, I think I had taken antibiotics maybe once in my life. Now I feel like I am constantly sick.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's what they gave me the bactrim for. To treat that. They said the blisters in my mouth are not related to the impetigo and do not look anything like it. The impetigo is virtually gone, you cannot see it anymore, but I am not one to stop antibiotics until I'm told. I was told to take them for 7 days. They changed me to keflex. I am falling apart! I feel like I need a few days off to just sleep, but that won't be happening anytime soon. The urgent care doc said blisters are a very common from bactrim. Before this last year, I think I had taken antibiotics maybe once in my life. Now I feel like I am constantly sick.

I can sympathize. While I've not been confirmed to be allergic, I do have reactions to sulfa. Headaches, nausea, hives. The doctor basically gives me Keflex now whenever I need antibiotics.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It sounds like you going through a very stressful period. Are you able to get any time to yourself to just wind down a bit? I know it's hard when you have a newborn, but try to forge some time out for yourself every day if you can. Take a bath, read a book, listen to music, light a candle, etc. This will help boost your immunity as well as make you feel better. There is a book called The Wellness Book you might find helpful. http://www.amazon.com/The-Wellness-Book-Comprehensive-Stress-Related/dp/0671797506

MAs should not be giving out medical advice over the phone, IMO. But regionally, it might happen, idk.

I am also allergic to Sulfa.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Ill be honest, it upset me that the MA identified herself as the Nurse when she is not a nurse. Seems intentionally misleading.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ill be honest, it upset me that the MA identified herself as the Nurse when she is not a nurse. Seems intentionally misleading.

Do they have an RN available for questions?

Our MAs switch us right over.

 

[tigercat]

I am also allergic to Sulfa drugs. It has been so long since I was found to be allergic to it I can't remember what happens. I just know that it is in my file and I make sure Dr.'s know it before giving me drugs.
tigercat

 

[myhouseofmouse]

yeah found out I was allegic to Sulfa after I had my wisdom teeth taken out. end up with C.Diff ( which is were it kills the GOOD bateria in your body, which is something you actually need to have) I ended up being sick for almost two months...not a good time!!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Sulfa allergies are extremely common. Everyone in my immediate family is allergic to sulfa.

OP, at least you know now and can avoid it in the future. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yikes, I just had an all-over rash.

 

[Chikabowa]

I'm allergic to Sulfas as well. I learned that while in college when on day 10 of a 10-day course I broke out in the most painful hives ever. I had never (and never since) had an allergic reaction. It took quite a few days to get it under control... But I'm super careful of Sulfas now.

Just an FYI... Last year I burned my hand badly while cooking (2nd and 3rd degree burns). I had to drive myself (and my 2 year old) to the hospital er. Turns out the silvadene cream used to treat bad burns is sulfa based. But since I was allergic they couldn't treat me. It was also very painful... But if you ever get burned to that point, you won't be able to use the treatment.

(I left the hospital in tears and was in soooo much pain. They gave me a prescription for pain killers and that was it. Luckily my dh is a firefighter - although out of town during this incident - and I went to the fire station right after leaving the hospital. They had a gel that they could apply to the burn that did not have sulfa in it and helped tremendously.)

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Yikes, I just had an all-over rash.

Me too. Finding out I was allergic to latex was interesting though.

Sent from me.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Me too. Finding out I was allergic to latex was interesting though.

Sent from me.

Another Sulfa and Latex here!

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I'm allergic to sulfa also. I throw up and break out in all over hives. Sucks

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I am so sorry!

My 9 yr old lost the tip of her pinky finger just over 2 week ago and was put on 10 days of amoxicillin, an antibiotic she's had before. On the 9th day, she started getting itchy and on the last day, broke out in all over hives. So to add insult to injury, she had hives on top of an amputated finger.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Another Sulfa allergy sufferer.
Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jennyjinx3]

I am so sorry!

My 9 yr old lost the tip of her pinky finger just over 2 week ago and was put on 10 days of amoxicillin, an antibiotic she's had before. On the 9th day, she started getting itchy and on the last day, broke out in all over hives. So to add insult to injury, she had hives on top of an amputated finger.

My DD9 is allergic to amoxicillin too. And DH is sulfa.

 

[Laura66]

Allergic to Sulfa here too. It's in my files and I always mention it to my doctors.

 

[Laura66]

I am so sorry!

My 9 yr old lost the tip of her pinky finger just over 2 week ago and was put on 10 days of amoxicillin, an antibiotic she's had before. On the 9th day, she started getting itchy and on the last day, broke out in all over hives. So to add insult to injury, she had hives on top of an amputated finger.

Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!