Mailbag: How Did the Injection Go?

I have a lot of people asking me how my Medial Branch Nerve Block Injection went.
The short answer: Horrible.
The long answer: I didn't want the injection in the first place. But Pam at Esis said I get it or they stop my work comp claim and checks for non-compliance. So in fear of losing my ridiculously small amount of income, I complied under duress. I also called a lawyer in hopes they could shed some light on this situation but they didn't call back on Friday.
Monday: The appointment
Monday I had a friend drive me to the Surgery Center. I still wasn't wanting the procedure and signed the consent form under duress. Literally, I put that on there before I signed my name. I got all set up and the doctor came to see how I was I was doing. I said I wasn't really comfortable with this idea and he said it would be fine. We'd be done in no time.
Okay... so if my patient signed a paper under duress and said they weren't comfortable with this procedure, wouldn't you start asking questions? Maybe it's just me.
I got back there, got the injections and was sent back out to the comfy chair. It didn't help anything. Actually, I was having sharp pains in the middle of my back and my back felt like I just couldn't move it. It hurt pretty bad. Worst than when I came in. They called my ride and he came and picked me up.
Going Home
I had to take a pain pill for the ride and it barely did anything for me. Once home (after a few stops and about 4 hours later), I took another pain pill. I was itching pretty bad and my skin felt rough. I didn't feel right at all. But I figured if I laid down I would be okay. My friend went home after asking me a million times if I was okay and said to call for anything, at anytime.
First signs of a reaction (hindsight is 20/20)
I was trying to relax in bed, in horrible pain, when my other friend called to see how I was doing. I told her I didn't feel right. I knew something was wrong but couldn't put my finger on it. She came right over and checked my blood sugar (perfect!) and my blood pressure. My blood pressure was 84/54.
Miles immediately gave me Gatorade to drink, a treatment we use since the cardiologist told us to try it when Miles B/P was low. After 2 drinks of gatorade (maybe a cup and a half?) and two b/p checks, my blood pressure was back up and I felt a little better. Steph checked my skin because I was REALLY itching by then and I was covered in a rash. It was mild and I just brushed it off. Probably because I didn't want to move anymore than I absolutely had to.
Angioedema attack
Steph ended up leaving with the instructions to call for ANYTHING. ANYTIME! Seriously! I was like "Okie dokie" and tried to find a comfortable position to fall asleep. I did dose off for a little bit. When I woke up, I felt like I was having an angioedema attack. Having had this since I was 9 years-old, I know how dangerous and life-threatening it can be.
I managed to get out of bed and to a mirror where I gasped in horror at my face. My lips were HUGE, my eyes were swelling and my face looked puffy. Here's some pictures of angioedema to scare the crap out of you. Imagine finding your face like that.
I immediately texted Steph "I need to go to the ER stat!" and called the doctor office to let them know I was going. When they answered, I could barely talk because I didn't realize how swollen my tongue was. Usually my tongue doesn't swell like that. Just my lips, chin, throat and eyes. So I was a teensy freaked out about it.
I hit down one on the phone and dial knowing I had either talked to Nikky or Steph last and hit send. I didn't care who I got a hold of. I got Steph and she was on her way. The ambulance here could take a while, Steph got here in five minutes (or less?). She managed to call Nikky on the way and screamed into the phone that she was taking me to the ER.
ALLERGIC REACTION!
I got there and picked up the emergency phone (the doors are locked after hours. You get buzzed in) and said the only thing I knew they would understand me saying... "Allergic Reaction!" I was buzzed in before I said "reaction".
Boy that was close
Once in there, they had to pull my records from the CHC here (my regular doctor) for my allergy list because it was really hard to understand me. My tongue was so swollen it wouldn't fit inside my mouth anymore and my throat was really rough and hoarse b/c my throat was starting to swell. They finally just asked if I can have Benadryl. I nodded. They gave me a shot in butt of Benadryl and the reaction was under control in about 5 minutes.
The doctor wasn't going to send me home unless I had someone with me watching me. So Steph called Nikky and Shane and they made a plan so I could be released from the hospital.
I got a babysitter :)
I found someone to sit with my kids and Steph took me to Nikky's house. Shane sat up with me until my next dose at 2:30 a.m. That was hard to stay awake after 1. I was so tired! But after my next dose, I fell asleep. I woke up at 6 a.m. when Shane told me to take my next dose and then fell right back to sleep. They took turns sitting up with me and making sure I got my next dose. Just before each dose, I would start swelling a touch so I knew I had to take it promptly!
"I know all about allergies"... yea, right.
Once I miscounted my time and I was late with a dose. I was starting to swell and my abdomen started cramping HORRIBLY! I called the on call doctor to see if he wanted me to go back to the ER. The on call doctor must not be familiar with angioedema at all because he didn't think abdominal cramping was an allergy but told me he knew a lot about allergies. Apparently not. If you read this link,  and scroll down to other symptoms, it states that abdominal cramping is another symptom and I have had abdominal cramping with my bad attacks before. But he didn't feel it was related and made me feel like a complete idiot for calling. I really need a doctor who knows about allergies better than this.
The ER nurse calls to check on me
Anyway, eventually I went home later in the evening. The next day the ER nurse called and asked how I was doing. I have to say, I was impressed by this. I told her that I was taking Benadryl every three and a half to four hours or I started swelling. She suggested I start taking a Zantac or two a day on top of the Benadryl. It's an antacid but also is a type 2 antihistamine. Benadryl is a type 1. So I started it that night.
Healing
The next was VERY different! Much better and only improving. I am up to every six hours now for Benadryl. My abdominal cramping finally stopped in between doses. All my swelling is almost gone and my eyes are the only thing that looks a little puffy. My chin is a teensy discolored and my tongue is still sore from swelling so much. But I feel a lot better.
Thinking Ahead
I think my next appointment will be a chat with the doctor about allergies, angioedema and symptoms and how I am NOT agreeing to any more invasive procedures. I called a lawyer and he said the "non-compliance" thing does not apply to invasive procedures so I can refuse the next time.
But, there you have you have. My week has been spent in bed on Benadryl and Zantac, staying cool so I don't set off my angioedema with a heat related attack.
I am so loved :)
My friends are awesome! My kids have been making sure I get enough to eat and keeping coffee brewed for me. Every one has been calling to check on me (even the ER nurse) and stopping by to make sure I am okay. This week, I totally feel loved :)From The Baker's Acres! Read more at http://www.dotchilatham.com