Well I am just getting over having had a severe allergic reaction to an amoxicillin pill. Turns out I am very allergic it seems to all penicillin-based medications most likely. This has been a recurring pattern for me each time I have had surgery or received some medication. This represents the fourth time in my life where upon taking some kind of medication (this time for a minor eye surgery), I had a bad allergic reaction. However, this time was severe. I am going to have to get one of those special bracelets that alert medical professionals not to give me certain medications in the event I end up in say a car accident or what have you.
However, this reaction was particularly severe. I am lucky that the doctor did not tell me to take two pills instead of one, or I might be dead now. The night started off with me vomiting, developing a high fever, and full body rash. I luckily didn't get hives, but it was a nasty red rash nonetheless. My body and face swelled up very badly, and I lost my ability to taste food (which is just now coming back---let me tell you, you don't realize how much you enjoy the ability to taste food until you lose it!). The rash did not really itch much, but I was bedridden for days. I had to go to an urgent care facility where they found I was severely dehydrated from the vomiting, and htey gave me an IV and told me to take Tylenol every four hours to bring down my fever.
One of the worst parts was how hot I felt. My face felt extremely hot and my head overall felt very hot. This is one of the maddening parts of the reaction. After a few days, I woke up and my head and face felt cool! I literally felt reborn I have to tell you. It was like I had been subjected to the pits of hell and was now being reborn. How nice it was to just lie in bed and feel cool! People sure take that for granted. The rash became very itchy later that day, which was utterly maddening, but luckily the itch died off the next day. I have since been recovering.
My heart rate has been abnormally high, I am going to have to get this checked by a doctor if it continues into next week. While I have been feeling much more "normal," I have found that my body is still very tired and needs a lot more sleep. It's like I would sleep the whole night, a normal length, and feel very tired upon waking still. Also, my skin has been flaking off. My father did some research and told me I might have a version of what is called Stephen Johnson Syndrome, which is a condition that can be triggered by an allergic reaction to a penicillin that can cause the epidermal layer of the skin to slough off. However, this is a severe reaction that requires hospitalization and treatment in a burn unit. It is believed by many from what I have read that Stephen Johnson Syndrome is itself a lighter version of what is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which is a condition in which the epidermal layer detaches completely from the body due to a severe allergic reaction.
As bad as my reaction was, it could have been a lot worse, so I thank God I didn't have to go through that ordeal and my heart goes out to those that do. For me, it's been more like having gotten a full-body sunburn. Rather than peeling, as said my skin has been flaking off. My head has constant dandriff right now, and my back and arms have especially been flaking. My face was flaking for a day or so and my neck has been as well. My legs are now beginning to flake too, but thus far my chest and stomach area have remained normal. I suppose the rash didn't get those areas as badly.
It undermines however how precious life and good health is. One moment you are healthy as can be and one pill later and you are on the verge of death. I know it sounds very cliched, but seriously, never take life or good health for granted. Always be cognizant in particular about your health and do your best to preserve it as you age via eating healthy and obtaining basic exercise.
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