Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 9/15/2009

Question
When i was 20 i was given penicillin due to being un-well and i was on a vast amount at the time. Something told me on the 12 day to stop taking them, so i did. 2 days latter my body, face, tows no place un touched was covered in a rash that was so bad i nearly couldn't see. I went to the doctor and he gave me allergy pills, the day after that i was taken to the hospital and they sent me home. 3 times i was rushed in until the final day my blood pressure was so low i couldn't stand. My neck was swollen and they made me wait in the waiting room for 3 hours, i was passed out on the bench and my mum didn't know what to do as they were too busy. I was in hospital for a week. After that i was told never to take penicillin or anything ending in penicillin ever again.
Age 23 i was sick with some strange tongue swelling which i kinda left and didn't want to waist the doctors time, but the next day i was in pain so i made an appointment which lead him to rush me to the hospital. I was scared and confused and so was my mum. I saw a lady doctor who could not understand it and was asking me strange questions. Suddenly she got a rather large needle out and soaked up some liquid and said "im going to give you a shot of this" i asked what it was and she said Penicillin! Me and my mum was like Nooooooo!!!!! We explained why and didn't understand why it wasn't on my records. She told me i would be fine and not to worry.
She injected it.
She also gave me a massive amount of pills to take, 9 in fact per day. I mite add that these were penicillin.
It came to the 2nd to last day of taking the last of my pills and yet again something said "don't take them"
I stopped, i got scared and waited as i knew it would take two days if it would happen again. Those two days were coming a lot sooner, i was so bad i was un able to move any part of my body, my feet were so big they were the size of footballs. My body started to shut down.
I was rushed in by my mum who thought i was going to die, i was in the care unit for 3 days, i was trying to scream but my vocals were being crushed by the swelling of my body. I was in hospital a long time, no one really told me what was happening. On the Saturday they nearly lost me. The day i was leaving hospital the nurse said to me "next time you wont be so lucky" They thought that i wasn't going to make it this time, but i did. That lady who didn't bother to look at my records, listen to me was let off, no1 gave me answers to why this happened again.

My question to you is, my body does not feel the same after all this. My heart jumps faster every now and again which makes me feel uncomfortable. My skin in certain places itches so much i could draw blood, i have this very unusual rash on my feet that never goes, my blood does not flow through my legs very well any more. When i see the  doctors they just dismiss it. I really need some answers, I am 25 and still so young and now worry what my body will do next.

please help


Answer
Hi Eva
I am sorry to hear about your troubles. It certainly sounds like you have had a reaction of some sort to the penicillin - though a very unusual one. Normally someone who becomes sensitive has an immediate reaction (called anaphylaxis) from their immune system that can act like you describe - but within minutes. Your reaction is much more delayed and hence this may explain why someone thought it was unlikely to be an issue. Brave decision perhaps but is a possible explanation.

Now as to your continued issues that is totally outside my remit as an anaesthetist - I do have an interest in the immediate reactions but I have no experience of the delayed reaction you describe. Therefore it would be wrong for me to speculate what is going on.

Given what has happened I feel you have every right to ask for the opinion of a specialist e.g. an immunologist so they might be able to advise you on this. At 25 I would not expect your body to develop any different symptoms but you need some reassurance from an expert.

Apologies that I can't help further.

Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson