Anaphylaxis during surgery.

[lgalla2910]

Hi,
Thank you for reading and sorry for such a long post but I feel that I need to write my experience down somewhere.
After having a traumatic birth with my youngest son five years ago and all the issues relating to it since then I was advised to undergo an operation which would mean no more babies and no more issues (sterilisation and lasering the lining of my womb).
After being on the waiting list for around 6 months I received a phone call from the hospital letting me know that they had a cancellation at my local hospital rather than the expected hospital which was further away and only conducted minor procedures, asking if I would like to come in the next morning to have my procedures done after considering this I decided to take the offer and attend the following morning to have the procedure completed. I followed all the outlines no eating after midnight no fluids after 6.30.
The morning was spent waiting to be take for my procedure talking to various nurses and doctors having bloods taken and waiting for my turn.
I will admit I was slightly nervous more than usual having had 5/6 previous procedures done. At one o'clock the surgical nurse came to collect me and asked all the usual on the way to have my preop injections administered. on the way to the operating theatre we passed my surgeon and various other nursing staff.
All went well with the administering of the drugs used to put me to sleep for the op. This is the last real memory I have of Thursday everything next is from what I have been told by the doctors, nurses and my family. The operation was going well and the doctor was closing and stitching me up when I was given a anti inflammation drug called volterol when something went wrong. I had anaphylaxis which I have been told is a severe allergic reaction and I went into cardiac arest.
I woke up in the ICU at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening with my dad and his partner at my bedside and tubes coming from everywhere.
I spent Thursday night and much of Friday in the ICU where I was visited by alot of doctors who assured me that I was one very lucky lady because if it had not been for the aneastatist then I probably would not be here today.
I have been told that I now have a completely different recovery to look forward to as I not only have to recover from my operation but from the anaphylaxis aswell.
I am now at home being looked after by my DH and my two children and feeling so lucky that I ended up going to the hospital where I could receive the fast treatment which was necessary rather than the original hospital which I was on the list to attend.

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

Poor you
You would have had an anaesthetist at the other hospital too, though.

[Iamastonished]

Oh my goodness. How awful I hope you fully recover soon .

Also, make sure this is written all over your medical records.

[lgalla2910]

Hi I know I would of had an anaesthetists at other hospital the point that the doctor made was that the other hospital is not set up to handle anything like this and in my case it could have ended very differently.

[ToastieRoastie]

I hope you make a full recovery. A traumatic experience like that can play on your mind - I've always found that when I talk about bad experiences it lessens the impact. Do consider some counselling if you find yourself dwelling on it a month or so down the line.

[Lunde]

Very sorry to hear about your situation

I have also had a very bad reaction to volterol - not anaphylaxis - but it triggered a very severe liver reaction and acute jaundice. It ended up taking 3-4 months to recover and I must never take any NSAID medications again so no ibuprofen etc

[lgalla2910]

hi I have been told no NSAIDS also been referred to anaphylaxis clinic for testing for what else might cause this. I am now anxious about what medications I take which is not helpful when sore.

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

They would have the drugs and staff to manage the anaphylaxis but you would have to have been transferred - with your anaesthetist - by ambulance to ICU, yes. Being told 'it could have ended differently' because of this is an irresponsible comment.

[RedDwarf4]

lgalla2910 you sound lucky. I experienced something similar but my recovery took years as i had to learn to walk, talk & pretty much do everything again.

[2gorgeousboys]

I had a similar (although not as severe) reaction post surgery a few years ago. I stopped breathing. The doctors were unable to be sure if it was the Volteral or Morphine which I reacted to. I already had a known Codeine allergy. Under my consultant's instructions I now never take anything stronger than paracetamol.

Fingers crossed you recover quickly.

[allowlsthinkalot]

It is the same comment so many people make about home births michaelsheen