Tessa Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Hi, please, can someone help me? I am confused and worried. I was told by my eye specialist that I have two ptergiums in each eye (A Pterygium is a raised, cream colored growth usually on the nasal side of the white of the eye. They sometimes get yellowish or reddish. Before the growth extends onto the cornea it's called a Pingueculae. When it extends onto the cornea it's called a Pterygium)More info: SurgeryOn my last visit to the specialist, I have been told that I should undergo surgery...She told me to think about it and to return when I have decided the surgery... Well, in fact, I am having problems (blurred vision, reddish eyes, extension to the cornea and near the centre of the eye...)and I should not wait for it to get to the iris... Besides having to confirm with the specialist that the surgery will be modern... I mean, not only removing the ptergium but also filling the gap with a trasplant of tissue to avoid the 50% probability of it to grow again sooner and larger if not transplanted...I have a big problem with the local anesthetic. and being on Medrol....I know that as it is a minor surgery with local anesthetic I should have 100 mg. IV of Hidrocortisone before the surgery, plus a special care of Blood pressure and heart rate during the surgery process... But what about the local anesthetic? I Have POTS (plus what I mention on my signature below) and had a very bad reaction to an infiltration of a local anesthetic some years ago. It was novocaine. I also had a similar reaction to Nitroglicerine...Any suggestions? Comments?I have an appointment on Monday at the specialist for food allergies and wondered if I could ask him about my problems with these drugs and the surgery... But what should I ask or how should I mention all this as on my last visit the doctor refused to admit it was an allergy (even though she mentioned on the report to avoid the drug in the future)... Thank you for your help, I am looking forward to hearing from you,Regards,Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wareagle Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 As far as local anesthetics go just tell the doctor that you can't have any with epinepherine in them. NO EPI!! I've had several procedures with local anesthetics that don't have the epi and did just fine. At the dentist they use carbocaine...but there are others out there. It's actually quite common for people to have sensativities to epinepherine so you shouldn't have a problem getting them to use something without it. Good Luck and keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa Posted January 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Wareagle, thank you for your answer. I am really thankfull for your help. But I am still not sure if it is a problem with Epi, as Nitroglicerine has no EPI, does it?I think it could be a problem of low blood volume and no vasoconstrictor response...(just the opposite) I wish I knew what to do... I really need the surgery but I am so afraid of it... My reaction to Novocaine and Nitroglicerine was so scary!Even the specialists scared to death when it happened... Can Eye anesthetic drugs cause side effects? Hypotension, tachicardia, etc.?Regards,Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa Posted January 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 By the way, I forgot to mention that my GP prescribed a kind of epi-pen to use if I have a severe reaction to food (as I am showing signs of an anaphylactic reaction to some fruits)... I have never used it but do you mean I could have a reaction to it if I use it?Ooppps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Your reactions to some fruits may be "oral allergy syndrome" - I have this and have a list of many fruits that I can't eat due to swelling and itching of my lips, mouth and throat. I do carry an Epi-Pen just incase of a very severe reaction (have never needed to use it). My allergy specialist was quite worried about giving me an epi-pen as it would cause high BP and very fast heart rate. He wrote to my cardiologist who said that in an allergic emergency (can't breathe or full anaphylactic shock) that i should use the epi-pen but must get an ambulance immediately so that my HR and BP can be monitored. For less severe reactions I have a primitene mist inhaler (adrenaline inhaler, in the UK is a named-patient prescription) which I spray into my mouth (possibly works locally in the mouth and throat to stop the reaction).Allergy / told to avoid medication - some people have allergic reactions to medications (usually one or more of rash, itch, wheeze, anaphylaxis). Some people have adverse reactions to medications, these reactions can be very severe / dramatic but if they are not caused by the immune system they are not an actual allergy. The medication should still be avoided to prevent a repeat of the adverse reaction.Nitroglycerine (= GTN) - this medication relaxes the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.Adrenaline (= Epinepherine) - this medicine constricts (tightens) blood vessels and causes a fast heart rate. For most people the tiny dose of epi in a local anaesthetic mixture won't have any noticable effects (except for less bleeding and longer-lasting numbness). People with POTS are often sensitive to the epi and feel palpitations / tachycardia. I always ask for local anaesthetic without epi.Local anaesthetic - some people with EDS don't get full benefit from local anaesthetic, sometimes different meds work better than others.Regarding the eye surgery I would write / fax / e-mail the eye surgeon clearly stating what reactions you have had in the past and giving contact details for the specialist you saw after the lidocaine reaction. Ask for the surgeon to investigate what anaesthetic option is best for you given your previous problems. Include a list of all your medical diagnoses and a list of your current medications.Flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tachy Phlegming Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 I also had a big problem with a small amount of local anesthetic put into my nose. My mouth and then my fingers got numb. It felt like I was going to pass out. I had told the doctor to be very careful (but also that my pulse had gone sky high on epinephrine [so I didn't want that at first]) -- and in fact, had I been given a higher dose of the anesthetic, I think the doctor would have needed to order emergency care. He didn't seem to want to give me epinephrine at that point even though I would have tried a very small amount (and asked for it) in order not to feel faint.I did not come up positive on a test for allergy to local anesthetics (which is the reason I thought I might be okay without the epinephrine) -- so that test may not give you the information you need. Nonetheless, it is my understanding that these days, some hospitals and doctors just call any adverse reaction to a medication an "allergy" sort of as a convention even though it is not technically accurate and actually rather misleading. I protest a little because of the scientific inaccuracy (which also leads us to think we need allergy tests for medications to which we have adverse reactions) but ultimately, I only really care about getting a treatment which doesn't harm me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertie Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 I reacted to an anesthetic my ENT put up my nose. He said there was no EPI in it but my heart felt like it would burst out of my chest. I had a headache & felt drugged for a few hours after. Even tho I can't normally have epi I carry an epi pen jr. in case of allergic reaction. I figure if I'm dying what difference does it make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Thank you for your kind answers... Sorry for not having posted before but I had a bad episode on Friday night and I am still unwell and very tired. Woke up at 4 am with acute chest pain, that irradiated to the back, as well as sweats and problems to breath due to the extreme pain... I hope to be able to answer your comments as soon as I feel better. Thank you.Love,Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tearose Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Well, I had a small cyst on my eyelid that the eye doctor decided to use a local for that, and it was not in the novacaine family....I had a horrific time, heart took off and Dr. had to stop cutting to get me to bend forward and not hit the floor.....she said if she knew how badly I was going to react she would never have done a local. She said from then on, I should plan on being in a hospital for even minor surgery. She said the eyes are even more sensitive and she was all apologetic for even suggesting this proceedure in the office. She said she "learned about POTS" from me.My guidance is to ask the doctor if they are REALLY SURE they know what they are doing. If you want, I can give you my eye dr. phone number for your eye dr. to call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerbella Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 I have the same problem and I'm allergic to all the caine's. I had a bad recation to lidocaine infusion for pain. Most times at the dentist they can't find my nerves and end up giving me so much that I itch like crazy. Try itching your face and nose while they are working in your mouth. After seeking helf from the allergist, I have to stay away from the EPPI that is in them. I also have to take 5o mg, of bennadrly as a premed 1 hour before hand and need to carry this letter around with me. I went to Dr. Maria Castells. Recently, a vascular sugueon told me that Bupivacaine (rINN) (pronounced /bjuːˈpɪvəkeɪn/) is a local anaesthetic drug belonging to the amino amide group. AstraZeneca commonly markets it under various trade names, including Marcain, Marcaine, Sensorcaine and Vivacaine, that I can have this as the body does not recoginize it. He also advised me to take the bennadrly as well just because I'm so sensitive to all meds to be on the safe side.hope this was helpful.xxx'sBellamia~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa Posted January 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Hi, I am feeling better now, so I have the time and energy needed to answer your helpful posts.flopThank you for your answer. I thought it could be oral allergy syndrome too. In fact, it has been what the allergist thinks it could be. I went to the office of the allergist on Monday and had the skin tests done. Negative, of course.He then asked for a blood test. I am waiting for the result. Following your suggestion, I am writing down everything clearly for the ophtalmologist and hope that they will understand and accept it.Thank you for your answers, Tachy Phlegming , Alicia, Tearose and BellaMia.When I had these reactions, I went to the allergist to test drugs but besides not checking the drug itself, they tested another one and said they recommended the use of: Mepivacaine as a local anesthetic.Yes I will ask if they really know how to treat me Tearose. Thank you for your suggestion.By the way, I see that I forgot to mention how my reactions were.I had a Novocaine (close to the neck) infiltration at the specialist office. Some minutes later we left and waiting at the information desk to ask for another app. (standing), I started having an acute chest pain, lightheadness and syncope. My husband informed the specialist who took me to the ER.When I finally woke up, I was in bed at the ER. It seems I had been with a IV (no idea what they injected)... For a long time... The reaction to the sublingual nitroglicerine took place during a TTT while standing.Had syncope. The problem is that even though they tilted me back down with my legs up, I did not recover consciousness for too long. They were all very worried (even the Cardiologist). Even my husband could hear their screams from outside... They were thinking to use an IV injection to recover me when I started to recover consciousness. 5 minutes after the sublinglual nitroglerine my blood pressure was 64-26, heart rate 50. (still!)No idea what it was when the syncope took place. They had no readings. I am sure they did not wanted to inform about it because I suspect my heart stopped beating and my bp was even lower... !I bet that was anaphylactic.I also feel I am hypersensitive to some drugs as for an endoscopy they used sedation (not anesthetic but just to sedate and it seems that I fell asleep for nearly 1 hour without reaction to them trying to get me back...)... I am having the app. with the ophtalmologist on Monday... To start the procedure to arrange the surgery... I am preparing everything I have to tell him... Comments about anything I should add?Thank you,Love,Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerbella Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 You poor sweet thing! I'm glad they came up with a solution for you. : ) All these years I thought I was the only one with this crazy body. I finally found where I belong. This is home sweet home. "Pots Place"xxx'sBellamia~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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