Day +60 Allergy 911

Things have been going along very well for me and my recovery.  I really feel pretty darn good.  If it were not for the fact that I am taking medication to help my new immune system,  I might forget that I had such a major treatment just a few months ago.  Well that is until Thanksgiving night.

As I was preparing for the evening meal, I realized that I had been itching all day long.  It really was quite annoying.  But there was a schedule to stick to, so I didn’t really have time to think about it.  Sadly our Thanksgiving plans did not go as we had hoped.  My dads wheelchair transport fell through, and he was not able to join us.  So dinner was put on hold, and the side dishes which had  not been put in the oven yet, started to bake.  Dan was the super hero of the night.  He called a friend who had their dinner all ready, and  picked up some turkey and all the fixings, and took them to my dad at his nursing home.  I was not able to go with him due to my still young immune system.

So why am I telling you all of this.  The delay in dinner allowed me time to actually rest.  I mean really rest.  Take a load off.  Sit on the couch and breathe.  It was at this point I realized I had been itching all day long.  My sister asked if I was using a new soap or something.  I thought about it, and there was a liquid soap in the shower I had used the night before.  It was new.  Then I thought about the possibility of the laundry detergent.  But that was the same old stuff we always used.  I just couldn’t figure it out.  So we went on with our night.

Dan got back from my Dads, and we finally had our dinner.  My sister stayed for a while but then she left and we turned in to go to sleep.  I settled into my nightly routine, took  my medication, brushed my teeth and got into bed.  It took only a few minutes until that annoying itch went into hyperdrive!  I could hardly stand it.  It was at this point I was sure it was my medication that was making me itch.

While I was in Russia I took a wide variety of pills.  One in particular was Bactrim.    Bacterium  is actually a combination antibiotic to treat bacterial infections.  I was taking this drug three times a day while I was being treated.  It is given to us as a precaution, since our immune systems are newly forming.  Dr. Federenko even sent us home with a months supply.  When I saw my hematologist I told him I was taking it. Since I did not have it with me, he was concerned it was not a high enough dose, so he gave me a prescription for the dose he thought I should have.

So I picked up that prescription and started taking it twice daily for a couple of weeks with no problem.  The next visit I had with the doctor, I actually took my medication with me and they took at look at it.  The nurse realized that the prescription for the Bactrim was supposed to be twice a day but only two days a week as opposed to every day as I had been taking it.  They made the change and I adjusted my dosage.  I was to take this drug twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.  Something about that change triggered my allergic reaction.

Of course it was Thanksgiving weekend and I didn’t even think to call the doctor, so I waited until Monday.  And yes on Monday I took the pill in the morning and yes it made me itch.  I called my doctors nurse, and told her about what was going on.  I was sure it was the Bactrim as I only had the problem on the days I took it.  She agreed and told me it was actually a very common side effect.  She changed my mediation.  She told me the new medication was a liquid drug called Atovaquone.  She said it tasted bad and I would have to take it every day as opposed to the twice a week with Bactrim.  “No problem”, I said.  “Whatever I have to do to stay healthy”.

 

Well she was right it tastes awful. It’s like every horrible liquid medicine we took as kids combined and multiplied. And just to make things easier, it looks like a very thick bright yellow paint. It really is awful but I do as I’m told, and I go along with the program. This drug is actually very important. One of the big fears with post HSCT patients is the possibility of getting Pneumonia. Bacterium and Atovaquone help to prevent this. So it’s a good thing even if it tastes bad.

On the upside, I’m not itching anymore and that is a relief.  I am now focusing on rehab and building muscle tone, so I can go back to work in better shape than when I left.  These medicinal precautions will continue until I am day +90, which is just about one more month.  I can do anything for a month right?