I am sure many of you have heard about the old Chinese, "May you live in interesting times"! My recent trip to the States for Thanksgiving with my mother was very interesting! Fortunately, the illness I had just before leaving England was not appendicitis and the antibiotics what they are supposed to and rid me of the urinary infection and ache in my side. I did, however, arrive with a cold, which soon resulted in an unexpected and unpleasant outcome.
In order to stem the tide of my streaming eyes and running nose I moseyed on down to the drug store to seek a cold remedy. As tends to be the case, I was overwhelmed by choices in selection but soon settled on one that said it was for people with high blood pressure. "Ah", thought I, "Just the thing for me!" And, indeed, the cold symptoms abated within a few hours...
At two in the morning I awoke, feeling very uncomfortable, rather hot and very itchy! When I looked in the mirror I was absolutely horrified. I was covered from head to toe in a red weals and totally uncomfortable. I was also worried that I had something contagious while staying in a place with many elderly people, including my mother! Every morning at around 5.30 a nurses' aide comes to my mother to put special support hose on her legs. So when she came in I stopped her and explained the situation to her. She thought it looked like an allergic reaction and called a nurse to come and have a look. The nurse agreed and brought me an antihistamine, Benidryl, and I waited. I also stopped taking my newly acquired cold remedy, Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu.
Happily, 24 hours later and the redness and weals and itching had all but disappeared. Later that day, while talking to my sister she said that she had only once had such a reaction and it was when she had taken some cold medication many years ago! The same medication!
By Thanksgiving I was completely recovered and we had a lovely celebration. You know, though what they say about troubles coming in threes? There was one final element to come -- but that was waiting for me as my visit was just coming to an end -- and no, I'm not going to relate that -- just yet!
I have seen the commercial for that cold medicine on TV so many times. It must be so scary to get a reaction like that, but good that there was a nurse nearby. I'm glad you were able to see you mom.
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful to them for their help! All in all it was a great visit with my mom.
DeleteSounds like hives, I've had that and I would rather have the cold! Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteHope your "third" was not too awful.
A cold is definitely more comfortable!
DeleteDear Broad, like you, I would have been horrified when I looked in the mirror. I'm just thankful that the welts and redness did not affect your throat and breathing.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the next installment! Peace from Dee
It was shocking to look in the mirror! Horrible!
DeleteThanks for the cliffhanger. Can't wait to hear the rest. I hope you're having a warm and safe weekend.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment it is very mild here -- no doubt it won't last long! The house seems to get colder than it gets outside!
DeleteI hope the good visit outweighed everything else. I guess we'll see. Keep well.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good visit -- and it did outweigh everything else -- no matter how much I could have done without!
Deleteso glad you're feeling better - allergic reactions are scary
ReplyDeleteI was definitely fortunate the symptoms abated so quickly...
DeleteScary! So glad you got help right away. I carry Benadryl in my bag at all times because years ago my husband had an allergy incident after eating oysters that got him to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteBenadryl is definitely good stuff -- and certainly did the trick for me. Good idea to always have some with you.
DeleteI'm glad the Benadryl took care of your allergic reaction. That must have been scary! I'm also glad you appeared to have avoided having to seek medical help in the US. I'll anxiously be waiting to hear the end of your story!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to have help at hand -- that's for sure. Not to mention that the advice I got was the right stuff!
DeleteGosh, that must have been a very uncomfortable experience, Broad. I'm glad the anti-histamine did the trick so quickly. I always emerge form a long flight with a cold - I blame the recycled air.
ReplyDeleteNow agog for the next instalment......
I must admit, I often end up with a cold after long haul flights -- and agree that recycled air is not good for you.
DeleteSorry to learn of you misadventure. Glad it got straightened out. When you were describing the problem, it sure sounded like an allergic reaction of sorts; glad the nurse knew what to do.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
I felt very lucky to have so much sympathetic help and such good advice, as well. The staff where my mother lives are quite wonderful.
DeleteGlad the reaction to the cold remedy went away quite quickly. Must have been frightening at the time though. Hope you stay well.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be back in England -- safe and sound!
DeleteI'm so glad to hear you got to visit your mom for Thanksgiving but I'm sorry to hear you had such a cold and bad reaction to medication. I do know that trouble travels in 3s. It always make me tense until it is all over with. Hope your lead up to Christmas goes "swimmingly". Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Joyful. And Merry Christmas to you!
DeleteOK, love, you've kept us in suspense long enough. What was the third trouble?
ReplyDelete(I hope it is - was - something not TOO bad. I'm saying a prayer, just in case.)
Ok, Sully, you've shamed me into writing about it -- and thanks for the prayer! XO
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