Scary night- trip to the ER via ambulance (long)

Lauren S · #1 August 21st, 2009, 12:22 PM

OMG girls. I had the scariest, most horrible night last night. The funny part is that it was my first evening home alone with the baby. My DH left for a work dinner at 6:20pm. Just before 7:00 as I was finishing feeding the baby, my right eye started getting really itchy. I thought maybe I had gotten something in it. Then my ear was itchy, and then the palms of my hands. It was pretty bad, so I called my sister to see if you could take Benadryl while breastfeeding. She looked it up, and it said that it's not good. So I decided to take a cold shower to see if that helped. I put Brady in his bouncy seat just outside of the shower. Luckily he fell asleep.

While I was in the shower, my whole body started itching. I'm talking more itchy than I've ever felt before. I got out and started to dry off when I started seeing hives all over my body. My eye was swelling shut too. I called my sister back, and she said to take the Benadryl and that she was coming over. She lives about 15 minutes away. I stayed on the phone with her for a bit in case it got hard to breathe. I also called DH to see if he knew where his mom or sister were (who live up the road). I needed more Benadryl because the stuff I took was 1 year expired! He left his dinner and was rushing home too.

By the time they got to the house, the hives were so bad all over that you could hardly even see them because they were covering my whole body. I couldn't stop itching and was swelling all up. Every time I tried to get up from laying down, I felt light headed. I tried to stand and go to a cold bath for some relief, but I started to black out. Then I was nauseous and though I was going to throw up and have diarrhea. So DH and my sister carried me to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet in all my glory. I couldn't hold my body up, so they were holding me. Then I fell to the ground and my toes, fingers, and around my mouth was starting to turn blue. That's when we finally called 911.

Looking back, we definitely should have called earlier. They just kept asking me if I wanted to go to the hospital, and I could hardly focus. Finally I told them to stop asking me and just make a decision. As soon as I was in the ambulance on the oxygen, it started to get a little better. We got to the hospital, and I had to take some steroids and get a liter of saline. It took 4 tries to get an IV.

Anyway, long story short is that we think the allergic reaction came from taking Fenugreek which a LC suggested I take to up my milk supply. It was the 3rd day I had taken in, but I guess your body can react once you reach a certain level. I never take any herbs because I know they're not regulated by the FDA. But I was desperate to keep BF my baby, and he has been hungry. I'm not saying no one should take Fenugreek. I'm just saying be careful with it!

That was probably the most scary experience of my whole life. It stinks because I've had to pump and dump since last night because of all the Benadryl. Brady had to have all formula, and I know it hurt his little tummy because he wasn't used to that much. He threw up a couple of times. I'm still on the steroids, but they say they are okay to take while BF. Luckily my MIL, FIL, and sister stayed with him last night while we were gone.

Sorry that was so long! I still can't believe it all happened!

Elijah'sMommy · #2 August 21st, 2009, 12:37 PM

OMG how scary! You poor thing. I am so glad you had your sister close by to come help you and that your DH wasn't too far away. Thank goodness you got to the hospital when you did. I hope you are feeling better. Any idea how long you need to take the steroids?

caring21 · #3 August 21st, 2009, 12:52 PM

Oh wow that is so scary! My goodness it's a good thing you finally went to the hospital though. Allergic reactions can be very dangerous. I'm glad you're feeling better though and that your familly lives near by. I'm going through my hay fever allergies at the moment and I feel so crummy. I'm going to ask my Doctor on Tuesday if there is anything I can take for my itchy mouth, eyes, ears and nose and sneezing...

KCMomma · #4 August 21st, 2009, 01:24 PM

OMG Lauren that is soooo freaking scary. I can't believe that happened to you. Crazy thing is that I was just thinking about taking that to help with my supply now I"m totally thinking twice about it. I'm sooo glad you are ok now. I know you really want to BF but WOW it's NOT worth all that. Hang inthere sweetie. I'm so glad you are ok!!!

Futuremommy1 · #5 August 21st, 2009, 01:29 PM

Just peaking over from ttc #1 and wanted to say thank God you are okay! What a scary situation!!

::MummyToTwo:: · #6 August 21st, 2009, 01:36 PM

oh my gosh!!!! SO glad you are ok now!! how scary!!!

I too never took Fenugreek but I am allergic to grass and pollen so it wasn't worth the risk of me taking it.

How low is your supply? have you tried eating loads of oatmeal? there is a recpie for Monster Cookies over on the pumping board.

Have you tried to do some power pumping sessions? pump for 20 minutes, rest for 10, pump for 10, rest for 10 pump for 10 again.... try that once a day for a week and see if that helps. '

What type of pump do you have?

Sorry for all the questions!!

Jessy133 · #7 August 21st, 2009, 01:38 PM

OMG lauren! that is soo scary! I am so glad yoru family was there and was able to call 911! I am so glad that your feeling better.

BabyBird · #8 August 21st, 2009, 01:46 PM

OMG I am so glad you are ok now! I would be so scared and I am sure you were too! I am glad they got you to the hospital in time before your O2 dropped too much...it sounds like it was pretty low if you were turning blue. I am sorry you had to pump and dump...ironic that that is the reason you took the stuff so that you wouldn't have to give him formula. Get some rest and stay away from that stuff! I hope there is some other way you can help to increase your supply. Good luck.

Etph007 · #9 August 21st, 2009, 01:56 PM

OMG how scary! I'm so glad you're ok!!! Hang in there and feel better soon!

MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy · #10 August 21st, 2009, 02:02 PM

How scary! I'm so glad you are okay! I'm glad you have family so close that can help out in an emergency!

Em2528 · #11 August 21st, 2009, 02:21 PM

WOW Lauren, what a scary thing to happen. Im so glad you had some family close by to come right over and that you are ok!!

courtneytcu98 · #12 August 21st, 2009, 02:25 PM

Yikes. I am so glad you are okay!!!!!!!! I am glad that Nate and your sister finally made the decision to call an ambulance--you clearly needed some help. Ack. Who would have thought fenugreek would be the culprit? I took it when I was trying to build supply and it didn't really cross my mind about it having possible allergens. Tam gave you some great suggestions for supply building that luckily have nothing to do with herbs!

fromustobaby · #13 August 21st, 2009, 02:41 PM

That sounds incredibly scary...I'm so glad that you are ok!!

LindsLuvsSi · #14 August 21st, 2009, 02:55 PM

Wow that's so scary! Glad you are ok! THat's awesome you have family that close that helped you and were able to be with Brady!

Lauren S · #15 August 21st, 2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

Any idea how long you need to take the steroids?

I think it's a 6 day supply. You take a few less pills each day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by *~*Mummy2Summer*~*

How low is your supply?

have you tried eating loads of oatmeal?

Have you tried to do some power pumping sessions?

What type of pump do you have?

I'm not sure how low my supply is. It all started because Brady is a lazy eater/bad latcher. I couldn't keep him awake enough to get satisfied. Feeding sessions were taking 45 minutes, and he was starving 30 minutes later. I tried pumping for 24 hours to see what I was getting, and it varied. Sometimes I would get 3oz combined from both sides, sometimes less. That was pumping every 2 hours.

Then I saw a LC on Monday. She said my supply was probably low and that was why he was falling asleep while feeding. It wasn't coming out fast enough, so it wasn't worth the work for him. We decided to let him feed 10 minutes on each side, supplement with formula if he was still hungry, and then pump to see if anything was left. That's when she suggested the Fenugreek as well.

Haven't tried eating oatmeal because I hate it!

Haven't tried power pumping either because I've just been pumping after feedings.

I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced. I usually set it on 3 to pump. I know I've seen you say before not to turn the pump up high.