Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Another Interesting Day At The Doctor's Office


Ridgewalker

Recommended Posts

Ridgewalker Contributor

Surely it will get better from here......

To sum up-

Lucas has been glutened twice since school started (1st grade,) missing three days of school combined.

Ezra immediately caught a bug upon entering preschool. I know this is common, but I hoped he'd already built up resistances from being exposed to his brother, who's been in school for two years. The bug developed into a bad sinus infection with a nasty cough. There's been several nights where he's coughed so hard, he chokes on it, and then vomits what looks like a 1/2 gallon of mucous.

He'd missed a couple days of school last week before we realized it was a sinus infection. Friday of last week I took him to the doctor, and she put him on Emycin (erythromycin) for 10 days. He went to school Monday and Tuesday, as he seemed to be getting better, but then he started vomitting the mucous again, two days of ickyness... So I took him back to the doc today.

While we were in the waiting room, I was trying to keep him entertained, tickling, smooching, etc... I pull up his t-shirt and see that he has broken out in tiny red bumps all over his torso.... :huh: ...Ohhhh, crap.

So, obviously I show the doctor, and she's like, Oh God, it's another drug reaction. But his sinus infection is cleared up, it's just clear mucous drainage that's causing the cough to linger. So she writes out a script for prednisone and tells me to give him Benedryl for the next 24 hours or so, both for the allergic reaction.

The "another drug reaction" refers to the incident last winter when we found out that he's allergic to Amoxacillin. We ended up in the ER on Christmas night with my poor 3-year-old covered head to toe in hives that were so numerous, that it turned into those big hive-plaques; he had more hives than clear skin.

So at least the reaction today was caught instantly, and prevented from getting worse. I didn't think to ask her at the time, but... She did say that it's going to start getting difficult now, his number of tolerable antibiotics is shrinking. So I'm taking this to mean that he's allergic to all cillins and mycins? If you react to one, is it likely that you react to the whole family? I wish I'd asked, but I just didn't think of it at the time. I'll probably call Monday and ask.

I'm starting to think I should maybe get him a medical bracelet... It wouldn't have occured to me, if it hadn't been for the recent discussions here about them. Obviously, if something happens where somebody thinks he needs immediate antibiotics, if I'm not there, that would be really bad. Sure, it would be a long chance that that would happen, but you never know... So that's my update!

-Sarah


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ptkds Community Regular

Sorry I can't help you much about the types of antibiotics he would react to. I am trying to figure out my own new allergy to ibuprofen!

But I would definetly get him a Med bracelet, especially since he is in school. If he were at a friends house, field trip, etc, then you won't be there if something bad happens. And the nurse may not be able to pass along the info in time.

ptkds

crittermom Enthusiast

Wow Sarah! That's a tough beginning to the school year. I certainly hope things get better. I think a medical bracelet is a great idea. With severe reactions to drugs like that it would be a great safety net. You can get them in fun designs on the internet, Katharine loves to where hers. She has a glass bead one that the beads are all different colors and textures. Now we have a blue leather braid so it doesn't break or get in the way at school.

As far as the antibiotics, I am no help. My kids have generally been ok with meds except Katharine is allergic to Bactrim with much the same reaction. She was irritable and broke out in a rash all over her trunk front and back. The people in the Health food store I use here swear by "natural antibiotics". I don't know anything about them and generally go by traditional meds but in light of your situation maybe it is something you could research. I was taking some different meds for my Fibromyalgia and had terrible reactions to both of them. Itchy, hives, trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, the whole nine yards. Luckily I caught it fast enough, actually my husband put 2 and 2 together and caught it and I could treat it with the benedryl that I didn't have to do the ER. OK now I have to praise my hubby for a minute, he was so worried about me he stayed up ALL night to make sure that the benedryl didn't wear off and that I wouldn't go into shock. Gotta love him. Anyway back to you, it turns out that the chemicals in the two drugs were different what I was reacting to was the filler or other substances in the pills themselves. Don't know if this will help, but boy will I be thinking of you guys. I hope everyone is feeling better soon!

Nikki'smom Apprentice

Oh no! Poor Ezra and Lucas! I hope they both feel better soon.

Not sure what to tell you about the antibiotics. Def call the dr monday to see.

I thought the same thing as you with my son I thought since he was exposed to his sister in school and he was in preschool last yr he would be fine in kindergarten. less than a week into school he started this awful cough and cold which is still there! He is acting fine he just sounds awfull and can't stop cough. UGH! Sickies are no fun.

confusedks Enthusiast

Sarah,

I am allergic to all antibiotics. I react in the same way, when I was young I had welts/hives all over my ENTIRE body. My parents gave me benadryl, and my mom and I were just talking about why I was never given a medical alert bracelet. She basically said, "if you ever needed antibiotics, they would be through an IV" and apparently my ped when I was young told her IV antibiotics would be fine...? I never understood that, but whatever. Also, what my mom said is that if you weren't able to talk, etc. they wouldn't give you oral antibiotics anyway. Now, this whole thing sounds fishy to me...*sigh*. I think a medical alert would be a good idea if you feel more comfortable knowing he has that on.

As far as the allergy to the antibiotics, is there any family history of any antibiotic allergies? My dad is really allergic to the sulfa group, I'm then allergic to that, penicillin, etc. Now, we don't know if I have grown out of them, but we are too afraid to try them. Apparently that is common though. Also, I just googled antibiotics and it seems it is really common to have a side effect of rashes. Hives were under the allergy to category. I would definitely call your dr. on monday and ask any questions you have.

Kassandra

Nic Collaborator

My son got hives like that from Augmenten. I believe that Augmenten is in the pennicillin family (am I right?). He does not react to any other antibiotic including all pennicillins. These were the big welty looking hives that covered his entire trunk area.

Nicole

buffettbride Enthusiast

Oh Sarah! I'm so sorry! You and I seem to mimic eachother.

My youngest son who is non-Celiac has acquired an icky cough, but no real infection. It's been dragging on for weeks though. Thankfully no medicine allergies (I'd get the alert bracelet for that). He is allergic to peanuts though.

Our first 2 weeks of school with my DD who is Celiac were great. Then 3 glutenings in 2 weeks. We seem to be back on track, but it was looking ugly for a while. I just cried wondering WTF I was thinking sending her to a school full of gluten! Her pleas didn't help much because she's so emotionally unstable when glutened for DAYS after glutening.

I'd say the "cillins" and "mycins" are out altogether as they are all derived from the same place (kinda like gluten--doesn't matter if it's wheat, barley, or rye... if it's a bird it's a bird!)

I've noticed with this stuff, it really ebbs and flows. I'll feel VERY confident and under control about it for a while, then it all just falls apart. Soon enough we pick ourselves up and start heading in the right direction again.

My thoughts are with you that things turn around soon!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Ridgewalker Contributor

Thank you soooo much, everyone, for your replies!!!

Ended up taking Ezra back to the doctor yet again today. He was up all night last night with this cough that just won't go away. Coughed pretty much non-stop from 7 pm last night till about 4pm this afternoon, throwing up more mucous every few hours.

Nothing I did, nothing I gave him was doing him any good! I decided this is just ridiculous, and took him back to the doctor again, for the third time.

So... now he's got pneumonia. (This is the third time since he was 18 months old that he's had pneumonia. Actually... maybe the fourth time- I've lost count!? :o )

Since he's had allergic reactions to two different antibiotics in the past nine months, I'm going to have to watch him really closely... She also prescribed more steroids to try to reduce the swelling and inflammation...

But you know what's wonderful? The most wonderful thing in the world??? Robitussin with Codein! For the first night in WEEKS, my poor baby is sleeping soundly and quietly. This is the first night in weeks that the sound of his body-wrenching barking coughs hasn't come from his room again, and again, and again...

I am a tired, but happy camper.

-Sarah

buffettbride Enthusiast

I'm glad little Ezra finally got some rest! Hopefully you can now too. I hope he gets to feeling much better soon!

Ridgewalker Contributor

:D Thank you! ((Hugs!))

-Sarah

kbtoyssni Contributor
But you know what's wonderful? The most wonderful thing in the world??? Robitussin with Codein! For the first night in WEEKS, my poor baby is sleeping soundly and quietly. This is the first night in weeks that the sound of his body-wrenching barking coughs hasn't come from his room again, and again, and again...

I agree that codine cough meds are the best! I have Whooping Cough and without them I would be 100 times more miserable than I already am.

I hope you can get your little guy's immune system up and running again soon.

gfpaperdoll Rookie

Is Ezra gluten-free? I have a friend that coughs when she gets wheat - she also cannot eat dairy, I think she is allergic to wheat in addition to the gluten problem. Her husband is thrilled now that she is gluten-free because she does not cough all night anymore.

I had walking pneumonia for a year when I was a child. I am also allergic to sulfur drugs and a lot of antibiotics.

Ridgewalker Contributor

No, Ezra isn't currently gluten-free. He was about 99% gluten-free during the summer, because his brother is 100% gluten-free, and they ate the same things. Every once in awhile he might get a pack of crackers (Ezra.) But then in August, he started pre-school where he eats breakfast, lunch, and a snack. I've looked at the menus, of course, and there is gluten at every meal. :( I don't know if gluten is the culprit, but Ezra has been sick ever since he started school.

Unfortunately, if I wanted to put Ezra on a gluten-free trial diet, I'd have to pull him out of school. His preschool is a state-funded program, and to have him on any special diet, anything different than the normal menu, (even if I provide all the food) I have to have a letter from our doctor ordering it, and why. I guess I'll have to take it day by day, and continue to watch him carefully.

Ezra seems to take after me a lot... I had pneumonia several times as a child, and a few times as an adult as well. The last time I had it was about two years ago, and it was very stubborn. It took a month of alternating antibiotics to get rid of it.

-Sarah

mama2 Apprentice
Surely it will get better from here......

To sum up-

Lucas has been glutened twice since school started (1st grade,) missing three days of school combined.

Ezra immediately caught a bug upon entering preschool. I know this is common, but I hoped he'd already built up resistances from being exposed to his brother, who's been in school for two years. The bug developed into a bad sinus infection with a nasty cough. There's been several nights where he's coughed so hard, he chokes on it, and then vomits what looks like a 1/2 gallon of mucous.

He'd missed a couple days of school last week before we realized it was a sinus infection. Friday of last week I took him to the doctor, and she put him on Emycin (erythromycin) for 10 days. He went to school Monday and Tuesday, as he seemed to be getting better, but then he started vomitting the mucous again, two days of ickyness... So I took him back to the doc today.

While we were in the waiting room, I was trying to keep him entertained, tickling, smooching, etc... I pull up his t-shirt and see that he has broken out in tiny red bumps all over his torso.... :huh: ...Ohhhh, crap.

So, obviously I show the doctor, and she's like, Oh God, it's another drug reaction. But his sinus infection is cleared up, it's just clear mucous drainage that's causing the cough to linger. So she writes out a script for prednisone and tells me to give him Benedryl for the next 24 hours or so, both for the allergic reaction.

The "another drug reaction" refers to the incident last winter when we found out that he's allergic to Amoxacillin. We ended up in the ER on Christmas night with my poor 3-year-old covered head to toe in hives that were so numerous, that it turned into those big hive-plaques; he had more hives than clear skin.

So at least the reaction today was caught instantly, and prevented from getting worse. I didn't think to ask her at the time, but... She did say that it's going to start getting difficult now, his number of tolerable antibiotics is shrinking. So I'm taking this to mean that he's allergic to all cillins and mycins? If you react to one, is it likely that you react to the whole family? I wish I'd asked, but I just didn't think of it at the time. I'll probably call Monday and ask.

I'm starting to think I should maybe get him a medical bracelet... It wouldn't have occured to me, if it hadn't been for the recent discussions here about them. Obviously, if something happens where somebody thinks he needs immediate antibiotics, if I'm not there, that would be really bad. Sure, it would be a long chance that that would happen, but you never know... So that's my update!

-Sarah

My DD is allergic to ALL cillins and mycins too! Last winter we had two horrific reactions to them. That ended her up in the er a few times. And caused all sorts of (for a few mths) side effects esp after the 2nd reaction.My pharm said they are like "kissing cousins." so, it makes since to be allergic to them all. But I am not sure how common it is. I do know that b/c of the allergy if she ever has a UTI infection she would have to be hospitalized.... scary. Hope your lil one starts to feel better.

kbtoyssni Contributor
No, Ezra isn't currently gluten-free. He was about 99% gluten-free during the summer, because his brother is 100% gluten-free, and they ate the same things. Every once in awhile he might get a pack of crackers (Ezra.) But then in August, he started pre-school where he eats breakfast, lunch, and a snack. I've looked at the menus, of course, and there is gluten at every meal. :( I don't know if gluten is the culprit, but Ezra has been sick ever since he started school.

Unfortunately, if I wanted to put Ezra on a gluten-free trial diet, I'd have to pull him out of school. His preschool is a state-funded program, and to have him on any special diet, anything different than the normal menu, (even if I provide all the food) I have to have a letter from our doctor ordering it, and why. I guess I'll have to take it day by day, and continue to watch him carefully.

Ezra seems to take after me a lot... I had pneumonia several times as a child, and a few times as an adult as well. The last time I had it was about two years ago, and it was very stubborn. It took a month of alternating antibiotics to get rid of it.

-Sarah

How is your other son's doctor with celiac? Would he be willing to write a note to the school saying he wants Ezra to try a gluten-free diet based solely on him being sick as soon as he starts consuming gluten? Seems like too much of a coincidence to me, and traditional medical testing isn't going to be easy at this point. That really is too bad that the school won't even let you send his food.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - cristiana replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      5

      Feel like I’m starting over

    2. - knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    3. - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

    4. - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    5. - Wheatwacked replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      5

      Feel like I’m starting over


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,295
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    LaniH
    Newest Member
    LaniH
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Hi @Scatterbrain Thank you for your reply.   Some of these things could be weaknesses, also triggered by stress, which perhaps have come about as the result of long-term deficiencies which can take a long time to correct.   Some could be completely unrelated. If it is of help, I'll tell you some of the things that started in the first year or two, following my diagnosis - I pinned everything on coeliac disease, but it turns out I wasn't always right!  Dizziness, lightheaded - I was eventually diagnosed with cervical dizziness (worth googling, could be your issue too, also if you have neck pain?)  A few months after diagnosis I put my neck out slightly carrying my seven-year-old above my head, and never assigned any relevance to it as the pain at the time was severe but so short-lived that I'd forgotten the connection. Jaw pain - stress. Tinnitus - I think stress, but perhaps exacerbated by iron/vitamin deficiencies. Painful ribs and sacroiliac joints - no idea, bloating made the pain worse. It got really bad but then got better. Irregular heart rate - could be a coincidence but my sister (not a coeliac) and I both developed this temporarily after our second Astra Zeneca covid jabs.   Subsequent Pfizer jabs didn't affect us. Brain fog - a big thing for people with certain autoimmune issues but in my case I think possibly worse when my iron or B12 are low, but I have no proof of this. Insomnia - stress, menopause. So basically, it isn't always gluten.  It might be worth having your vitamins and mineral levels checked, and if you have deficiencies speak to your Dr about how better to address them?    
    • knitty kitty
      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.