Amberalysis Paralysis
I've had a lingering sore throat/cough/headache/congestion/etc for several weeks now. I reluctantly went to the clinic at the drugstore last month and they called it a sinus infection and gave me antibiotics. It didn't help.
So.... last night I thought I'd make a "quick stop" at our local Med Check (apparently I need find a primary care physician...) thinking I'd just get a new prescription. Easy peasy, right!?
The next thing I know, I'm wearing a hospital gown and being sent for chest xrays (which ruled out walking pneumonia).
Then they gave me a simple, routine breathing treatment to clear out my breathing. It's called Albuterol. No biggie. A few minutes of breathing this magical air and I'd be on my way.
Not so.
You know how medicines have that little fine print listing severe side effects that rarely happen? I guess they are for people like me.
My heart began to race.
I was light-headed and confused (more so than normal...).
My arms and legs began to tremble.... then go numb..... then PARALYSIS set in. When I say paralysis, I mean I could not move any part of any limb. My hands were stuck in a 'claw' position (I could have easily carved a beautiful ice sculpture).
The doctor clearly looked scared himself which didn't make me feel any better.
As time went on I started getting movement again in my limbs and finally went home after my 2 1/2 hour "quick trip" to Med Check. I got home and my hands were so weak I could barely hold a drinking glass.
(I read later that out of 56,000+ people they studied on this breathing treatment, 79 got paralysis).
I'm gaining strength back in my arms today and would say I'm 99% normal in my limbs now.
As for the cough? Who knows. They gave me lots of cough meds, congestion meds, and a bottle I'm afraid to squirt up my nose.
And that, my friends, is how I got Amberalysis Paralysis!
So.... last night I thought I'd make a "quick stop" at our local Med Check (apparently I need find a primary care physician...) thinking I'd just get a new prescription. Easy peasy, right!?
The next thing I know, I'm wearing a hospital gown and being sent for chest xrays (which ruled out walking pneumonia).
Then they gave me a simple, routine breathing treatment to clear out my breathing. It's called Albuterol. No biggie. A few minutes of breathing this magical air and I'd be on my way.
Not so.
You know how medicines have that little fine print listing severe side effects that rarely happen? I guess they are for people like me.
My heart began to race.
I was light-headed and confused (more so than normal...).
My arms and legs began to tremble.... then go numb..... then PARALYSIS set in. When I say paralysis, I mean I could not move any part of any limb. My hands were stuck in a 'claw' position (I could have easily carved a beautiful ice sculpture).
The doctor clearly looked scared himself which didn't make me feel any better.
As time went on I started getting movement again in my limbs and finally went home after my 2 1/2 hour "quick trip" to Med Check. I got home and my hands were so weak I could barely hold a drinking glass.
(I read later that out of 56,000+ people they studied on this breathing treatment, 79 got paralysis).
I'm gaining strength back in my arms today and would say I'm 99% normal in my limbs now.
As for the cough? Who knows. They gave me lots of cough meds, congestion meds, and a bottle I'm afraid to squirt up my nose.
And that, my friends, is how I got Amberalysis Paralysis!
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