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Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, September 14, 2015

Back in the land of the living?

When a person has a total hip replacement, they are doomed to have to take a mega dose of antibiotics any time they have a dental appointment after that.  About six months after my surgery, it was time to have my teeth cleaned.  I told the dentist about the hip replacement, and I was given four huge Amoxicillin capsules of 500 MG each an hour before the appointment.  Afterwards I met my daughter and a good friend for lunch at a local restaurant.  Everything seemed fine until that afternoon.  I suddenly became horribly ill, and was laid up for three days.

Upon notifying the dentist, he said he had never heard of such a violent reaction to Amoxicillin, and suggested that it sounded more like food poisoning from the restaurant.  The next couple of appointments, I took a different antibiotic with no adverse reactions.  I figured it must have been food poisoning.

Last Thursday, I went to a dentist in Klamath Falls.  I became lax about mentioning the Amoxicillin, and downed four more pills.  I did not go out for lunch afterwards.  Everything was fine until that afternoon when I once again became violently ill.  I spent the last four days and nights sitting in the bathroom with a bucket in my hands.  You can figure out why.  It took until late Saturday night before I was even able to keep down a small sip of water. 

Poor Emma.  I could barely get her out the door twice a day before I had to try to make it back inside in time.  She was a real trooper, and unlike her owner, had no ‘accidents’.  This is when traveling alone really sucks.

It is now indelibly etched in my mind to never again take Amoxicillin.  This reaction was much worse than the first time.  Lesson learned!  I kept the TV on 24/7 to help keep me from going over the edge.  I’ve never tried to watch so much TV in my life.  I couldn’t even read blogs during this time, but today it appears I’m finally recuperating.  Thank goodness.  I never want to go through this again.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

42 comments:

  1. I also am hypersensitive to many drugs. It is never fun when a new "find" is made. Congratulations on finding out what the trouble is. Now it goes on a list to hand to every doctor every time you see one, even if you have been there before.

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  2. OMG I hope you a feeling better.....I hope you had someone close by -just in case....sometimes u need an injection to stop the vomiting.

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  3. OMG I hope you a feeling better.....I hope you had someone close by -just in case....sometimes u need an injection to stop the vomiting.

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  4. That idiot dentist needs to go back to school--many people have a violent reaction to Amoxicillin--I am one of them as is my father-in-law!!!

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  5. Just because the dentist had never heard of someone reacting to that med before doesn't mean that you didn't. Pills are chemicals and what affects one person doesn't always affect another person the same way. The next dentist or doctor that wants you to take that should get an ear full because that wasn't food poisoning you had. Welcome back to the living.

    It's about time.

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  6. I'm so sorry about that reaction - wow, I can't imagine being that sick here in my motor home with Katie. Or at ALL! I, too, have to take mega Amoxicillin before a dentist appointment because of open heart surgery in my youth, but I've never had a problem with it. Thank goodness. My dentist won't see me unless I've taken mine. There is a good reason for pre-medicating - I understand your life can depend on it. I wonder if there's something else you can take. Anyway, make sure your dentist (or doctor) knows about your allergy and can prescribe something else, or a smaller dose. Bummer.

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  7. I'm glad you're feeling better. At least you know it was the medication that makes you so sick. Now you know better than to take that particular one...especially since the second episode was worse than the first.

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  8. Glad you are feeling better! Howard, my hubby, was given Amoxicilin and became very ill.

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  9. Oh no! Worst feeling in the world, that kind of sick, and even worse when you are all alone. Glad you are better at least. What a bummer, Judy.

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  10. Poor you and poor Emma, you had a bad reaction...better drink some Gatoraide and eat some yogurt:)

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  11. I am also alergic to Amoxicilin. Nasty stuff. Glad your feeling better

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  12. Welcome back.
    Sure not fun, now do make sure that you never take it again.

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  13. Glad you're feeling better, Judy! here, in Lyme disease country we know all about the horrible reactions to anti-biotics. The doctors do, too.

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  14. What an awful experience.... glad you're feeling better now.

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  15. Oh Judy I am so sorry to hear about this. How awful. I don't remember your posting about this before. So glad Emma was a help to you and that you are feeling better. Sounds awful x 10.

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  16. Oh for heaven's sake, Judy. We are so sorry to read about your terrible bout with flu like symptoms. It sounds horrible. I have never heard anyone having an adverse effect to Amoxicillin. That is what they give every kid for when they are little for every thing. Glad you are on the road to wellness.

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  17. Glad you're feeling better. I think doctors prescribe way too many antibiotics.

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  18. Oh, yuck. Nothing worse than being violently ill! And there's not much better than how good you feel when you're healthy again. Happy you're back to normal.

    Make sure every health care provider you see in the future is warned of the allergy to amoxicillin and is made aware of what your symptoms are.

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  19. Well that sounds totally awful. I am glad that you're back on your feet, and I'll bet that you NEVER forget to refuse Amoxycillin again!!

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  20. I have had 2 hips replaced, one in 2011 and one in 2013. I did the Amoxicillan thing the first time but for the second hip the dentist said that new studies have shown that after 6 months you no longer need to take antibiotics. Here is a link to an article....http://healthydebate.ca/personal-health-navigator/do-people-with-artificial-joints-need-antibiotics-before-a-dental-visit

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  21. I have always been required to take 4 amoxycillin before any dental procedure because of a stent implant in 2004. The last 2 times I visited my dentist they told me I don't have to take it anymore. I'm not sure if it's been found unnecessary, or maybe because it's been over 10 years. Personally I don't think anyone needs that much antibiotic in their system all at once. Glad you're feeling better.

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  22. I am fairly sure that there are different drugs that you can substitute for the Amoxicillin, or a different method of taking them, instead of all at once. Talk to a Senior Pharmacist (they often know better than doctors!) about possible substitutes and run that by the dentist next time. I had both knees replaced, a friend had a shoulder replaced ... and I am pretty sure we both took Keflex before appointments. Glad you are feeling better!

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  23. I'm not surprised that you had a reaction to Amoxicillin. I will not bore you, or your audience, with the list that I found when I did a Search for Amoxicillin - Side Effects. I had to page down 3 times to see the entire list. It is a wonder that anyone can take that stuff and not suffer from something.

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  24. Jimmy's surgeon told him the same thing about taking antibiotics (since he's had total knee replacement surgery). I don't think he's allergic to any drugs, but I'll tell him to beware of taking four Amoxicillin tabs! You must be really allergic. Glad you're finally back in the land of the living! Yikes!

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  25. So glad you're feeling better. I certainly can relate to your ordeal. Happened to me with colonoscopy/surgery prep a few years ago. Had me taking mega doses of 2 different antibiotics in a 24-hour span. I wasn't surprised when I became ill. Too much for me. Anyhoo, not pleasant.

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  26. Oh my! Never fun to be that sick, but it sure would have been good to have someone around to check on your, take care of Emma and provide some support!

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  27. Nasty! Terrible way to learn a lesson, glad you are over it. Now put that bucket away and get back to the birds, it's what you do best! :c)

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  28. I have been sick with the stomach flu...sure is not fun...glad we are both better!!!

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  29. So glad you are feeling better. Just read about your experience on Merikay's blog. Poor you and poor Emma.

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  30. Oh my gosh!!! Being alone and sick has to be awful. You definitely have a problem with Penicillin / Amoxicillin. I would avoid any antibiotic ending in "cillin"...All my kids are allergic to Compazine...This is unfortunate because that is commonly given to stop vomiting...Sure glad you fell better...You must have dropped bunches of weight...Better load up on ice cream and burgers!!

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  31. This just sounds awful. Glad it's over.

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  32. Hi Judy, I read your blog along with others. About the Amoxicillin, please be very care full eating mushrooms also. My DR says they go hand in hand with Penicillin and Amoxicillin allergys.

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  33. Been there, done that for a knee replacement....:(

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  34. So glad to hear you are feeling so much better. I have a sensitivity to some of the antibiotics ... but mine is more of a hives type reaction that goes away quickly as soon as I stop taking them.

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  35. Does not sound like fun, but at least now you can prevent a repeat event.

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  36. I am so sorry you had to go through that without a "nurse" to tend to your needs. Poor thing! Glad you are on the mend. Al is allergic to any kind of penicillin too. Make sure each pharmacist knows of your allergy because another dose might be worse.

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  37. Glad you are all better, allergic reactions are never nice

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  38. If you do not yet wear a Medical bracelet or necklace, now might be a good time to start. Clearly if administered Amocicillan while in an ER, the results could be pretty catastrophic!

    I use a RoadID. My med history is complicated. So mine is fixed so that if you put in the pw on the back, you can log in and get all sorts of med info, even a photo of me. Cheap.

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  39. So sorry for you. I agree you need to have a medical bracelet. Glad to hear you are still alive.

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