I'm Allergic to Penicillin ...

Thank you ever so much for the comments on my last post. Little did I know then that I would in fact get much worse! I didn't have a cold / I didn't have flu - oh, no siree-ee! It was much worse than that!

On Saturday morning the OH had got up early as he was working - over the last few days I had been very lethargic, infact very drowsy indeed. I put it all down to the cold / flu!

I found it very difficult to wake up on Saturday morning but when I did - my God! My neck started to itch and then the whole of my body started too and it was then I realized that I was beginning to get covered literally from head to toe in a deep red rash! My initial panic was to think it was meningitis! A quick dash to the kitchen cupboard for a glass to press against the growing spots seemed to allay that fear.

I managed to get a message through to the OH and he was just about to come home anyway.

In the meantime I had began to look on the internet as to what could be the cause and then it dawned on me that all the symptoms could be from the amoxicillin that had been prescribed by the dentist!

I had complained to the OH at the time that there was no leaflet in the box about possible side effects.

Either someone had phoned in and queried something about amoxicillin and the receptionist had taken the leaflet out and forgotten to put it back in or the manufacturer had not done so. My gut feeling is that someone at the dental surgery was responsible.

The GP took one look at the rash and confirmed my suspicion that the rash was caused by the amoxicillin.

I've been prescribed antibiotics many times by the doctor in the past with no adverse reaction!

Saturday, Sunday and Monday was spent in bed - the rash was almost blood red and very nasty. I'm not ashamed to say that at times I cried out in pain as my whole body felt as if it were on fire!

By today, my body is just VERY, VERY, VERY itchy. I want to scratch away at my arms, legs and back.

The medication from the doctor is not doing much but at least the burning sensation has gone away!

Another side effect was that my lips swelled to three times their normal size - I can now tell you that it must be uncomfortable to be Lesley Ash and the trout pout look is certainly not for me!

The only good thing that's come out of all of this is that I did miss that dental appointment and I won't be re-scheduling it again in a hurry!

Anyhow, there are many people in the world far worse off than me so I will stop the self pity! At least whilst I am typing it takes my mind away from the strong urge to scratch that itch! The worst part is that I may have the rash for up to six weeks!!!

Last week I finished the scarf that I had started - you can see the photo that I took before the penicillin decided rather than to help me to attack me! The wool is from

http://www.fivemoons.co.uk/ and is a four ply. The colour name fits the wool perfectly - bougainvillea!

You see I had planned it all - a walk in the snow with the dogs wearing my nice new scarf  followed by a night out for a meal as Miss. K. was going to a friends house for a Birthday Party and sleepover! Alas, it was not to be! As John Lennon said "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans!"

I did take one photo of the snow as it began to fall on Saturday morning before I saw the rash!

I couldn't believe it yesterday when I looked at the comments on my last posting - I have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Ruth from http://www.dianstimpanalley.blogspot.com/! Thank you, Ruth!

I've not been awarded a prize before so this was a very special surprise. I will look into more of what I have to do and write a further post in a few days time - rash permitting!

Be back soon!

June.