Third Medication Reaction in June: An Autoimmune Update Post

 I guess the third time will be the charm because I discovered that I am having a reaction to yet another medication.  It's the strangest situation, I'll tell you.  I wear the Visible armband to help me track my activity levels and how they affect my chronic pain and chronic illnesses.  It works wonders for me and at this point, I have to say that using the device may have saved my life, in a way.  The device works by tracking your heart rate and heart rate zones.  It gives you points for the activities, and the goal is to stay under a certain number of points.  Well, I was not earning any points during any activities because my heart rate was in the 40's and 50's.  I started some medications for the second allergic reaction, and the Famotidine has a rare side effect of Bradycardia and if you know anything about me, you know that I always get the rare side effects and reactions.  I'm just lucky like that.  

I had to do some research using the AI on my computer to figure out which medication has that as a side effect, and luckily, the AI was right.  I stopped taking the medication and the side effect has subsided already.  I'm lucky that this situation didn't get worse for me.  Heart rate issues are so dangerous and not something to be taken lightly.  I'm grateful that I had the sense and the wearable technology to alert me to a problem with my body that I was not understanding.  I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I already knew that something was off, but the wearable technology let me know for sure that something was horribly wrong.  We are so lucky to have this technology available.  I can honestly say that having it saved my life with this heart issue.  Even my husband seems to be grateful that I have the technology to help me.  He understands now why he has to pay $20 a month for the Visible service.  As of today, it is well worth it for me!

Now that I have gotten that all figured out, I texted my doctor's office to let them know that I have had yet another reaction and I have asked them to add it to my list of drugs that I should not take.  My doctor is on vacation until the week after next, so she is going to have her work cut out for her when she gets back!  I feel bad because she told me to behave while she is away and my body has done everything except behave!  This whole situation is quite concerning because my immune system is clearly going haywire!  I'm grateful that I finally have an appointment with my new rheumatologist next week because I need some answers as to whether or not these reactions are related.  I mean, who reacts to Pepcid?  I have never heard of that before.  I've taken it in the past and was completely unaware of the possible reaction.  It's just mind-blowing to me right now.

Because of these reactions, I am afraid to try any new medications now.  I just can't keep putting my body through all of this.  It stresses me out way too much when something goes wrong with my health.  I have medical PTSD and past trauma in medical settings, so this all freaks me out so much.  I feel stuck, hopeless and helpless when something goes wrong.  My allergy list on my medical chart is getting long these days.  There is a long list of drugs that I cannot take now.  I need to update all three of my pharmacies and my Medical ID also needs to be updated to these allergies.  Ugh!  There is just so much work when something like this happens, you know?  I'm tired already and I haven't even started yet.  

Until later...