LightChucker
Enlightened
Recently, I almost died from a severe reaction from a routine epidural steroid injection to my lower back (L4-L5). The treatment was on Friday afternoon. The next day, Saturday, I had a sudden and very severe reaction. I could NOT get enough breath. I thought I was dying. I was wracked with pain everywhere, I was shaking all over, and I was sweating profusely. The ambulance medic could not get an I-V going, because my body was swollen.
To make a long story short, I was treated with I-V Benadryl, morphine, and valium. It was the Benadryl that saved me. They did a bunch of other tests, but nothing showed up. Within about 5 hours I was all better and released. It was as if nothing had happened. They told me to take some high doses of over-the-counter Benadryl and that I would be fine. NOT!
On Sunday afternoon, I had another attack. We called "911" again - same set of symptoms; same treatments; same results. This time they admitted me to the hospital. I was there until Tuesday. All tests were negative.
The thing that is bothering me is that the doctor, and others in the group, all told me that it was not possible for this to be a reaction to steroids. Well, I know this is a lie. I have had 3 of these treatments. There was no reaction to the first treatment, but I did have an event with the second treatment. It was again the day-after. That time, my face turned red and hot - very unpleasant. I went to the doctor's office on my way home from work. The doctor's nurse looked at me and said, "You are having a reaction." She went on to say that it happens to some people, and that I should just take some Benadryl. I was never as bad as I was with the third treatment. That one cost me 2 trips by ambulance and 2 days in the hospital.
It bothers me that the doctors lied to me. They are obviously afraid of something. So, I am trying to find other people that had similar experiences.
Have you heard of this kind of thing happening before?
Thank you,
Chuck
To make a long story short, I was treated with I-V Benadryl, morphine, and valium. It was the Benadryl that saved me. They did a bunch of other tests, but nothing showed up. Within about 5 hours I was all better and released. It was as if nothing had happened. They told me to take some high doses of over-the-counter Benadryl and that I would be fine. NOT!
On Sunday afternoon, I had another attack. We called "911" again - same set of symptoms; same treatments; same results. This time they admitted me to the hospital. I was there until Tuesday. All tests were negative.
The thing that is bothering me is that the doctor, and others in the group, all told me that it was not possible for this to be a reaction to steroids. Well, I know this is a lie. I have had 3 of these treatments. There was no reaction to the first treatment, but I did have an event with the second treatment. It was again the day-after. That time, my face turned red and hot - very unpleasant. I went to the doctor's office on my way home from work. The doctor's nurse looked at me and said, "You are having a reaction." She went on to say that it happens to some people, and that I should just take some Benadryl. I was never as bad as I was with the third treatment. That one cost me 2 trips by ambulance and 2 days in the hospital.
It bothers me that the doctors lied to me. They are obviously afraid of something. So, I am trying to find other people that had similar experiences.
Have you heard of this kind of thing happening before?
Thank you,
Chuck