OT--Vitamin D Allergy | Arthritis Information

My husband just tested for a Vitamin D level of 23.

He just took a weekly vitamin D supplement, and now he is having an allergic reaction. Face hot, body rashy. Called the NP, she said take 2 benadryl, and come into the office (which is only 5 min away) if he is not better in an hour. They are only open until 2 pm. Husband is following doctor's orders but of course I wish he's just go straight in, he has our 2 year old with him, but the 4 year old is with my mom. He is worried about getting sleepy from the benadryl and then not properly reacting so he is going to try to stay awake. He has past history of going to hospital for bee sting allergy, etc.

I have to get back to work so don't have time to look into this now, other than that I'll keep calling him...any experience here?

Thank you!!!

Wow Katie! Gee I hope things are alright. Get him to ask about an epipen (sp?) when this is all over and please let us know the out come! Good luck! Hi Katie... this is actually serious.

For minor reactions like swelling at the site (bee sting) and rash with no other symptom, Bendadryl can be enough. But, considering this episode and those with bee stings, he really should have an Epi-pen in case he progresses from rash or itching or flushing (appears sunburn) to any or all of: numb lips, nausea, light-headedness, a feeling of swelling in neck(it doesn't have to be visible), trouble breathing. The injected epinephrine will hold off a worsening of the anaphylaxis just long enough for paramedics to arrive but it is only of temporary help. Tell him to never drive himself as his blood pressure could drop suddenly causing him to go unconscious.

Please do let us know what happened and how your husband is doing.

CathyMarie

I forgot to tell you this piece of info, that many people don't realize. Anaphylaxsis is a life-threatening allergy to something you've had before without difficulty. That's why us nurses always carefully observe patients when we give meds. The person could have taken, say Penicillin, many times in the past, and then bang... it all goes wrong. I experienced this firsthand myself when I was first diagnosed with RA. I had been given cortisone shots for hip bursitis in '80, taken Celebrex and again cortisone shots in '99, for a severe case of plantar fascitis and way back in the '70s, I was on Prednisone a lot for ulcerative colitis. But in '02, the first 2 meds given to me to hold me until my upcoming first appt with rheumatologist, were first Celebrex, then after that awful 12hrs in ER, they tried Prednisone. As anaphylaxis hits you harder each time, I was much worse and it took 20hours to stabilize me. So, we must all watch ourselves like hawks. I also take Vit D, my level was 19.

Good luck, CathyM
CathyMarie, thank you SO much for posting. I copied and sent this right to my husband. He has had the same epipen for years, it is still in our house but expired in 2005. He is SO STUBBORN that I have tried to get him to have it refilled FOREVER and he hasn't done so but I will make sure he does so now! Better to be a nag that have a husband in the hospital, or worse, I guess, and he stays at home with our kids (I work) so I really need to MAKE him do it.

I finally got him to the GP last month, after two years. He seems healthy but triglycerides were 250 (he's going on Niacin) and ALT was 120 so we'll be looking into that.

I have talked with him several times today. He says he is still dizzy but he thinks its from the benadryl and the sunburn feeling is gone...