Patients who "really" are allergic to NSAID's A story

tcdtx · Feb 25, 2006

I used to work in the ER as a tech while I was going to nursing school, and I heard the things some nurses would say about patients claiming to be allergic to NSAIDs. We did have a lot of patients that would use "migranes" as an excuse to get medications; people who had never even been diagnosed with actual migranes.

It's an unfortunate situation, because when people who come in who are truly allergic, some nurses and doctors don't take them seriously. They are seen as a "drug-seeker."

I think ER nurses become "hardned" to some things, and it interferes with the quality of patient care. Personally, I will not ever work in the ER again, because I don't want to lose my compassion and empathy. :)

allnurses Guide · Feb 25, 2006

This is a story I think all ER nurses need to hear. I do work in healthcare. I have aspirin sensitive asthma and I cannot take ANY NSAID's. I went to the ER with a migraine.I was diagnosed with them about 5 years ago.Thankfully I have had very few.
I went into the ER throwing up, sensitive to light and basically almost going crazy from the pain. When the nurse came in I told her and she gave me an ice pack and walked away.
The doctor was in the hall and I heard the nurse and him talking.I clearly stated I could not take NSAIDS. I heard the nurse say I was "another migrainer allergic to NSAID's" I didn't hear anything else.
The nurse came in and hooked up an IV she said that she was giving me something for pain and nausea.I thought, ok she knows what she is doing.
30 Minutes later I "came to" I had had an anaphylactic reaction to Toradol. I turned blue, my throat closed up and I blacked out.
I suggest that nurses never "assume", I almost died because someone didn't believe me.

Wow, I would never give an NSAID if a person said they were allergic, even IF I thought they were "faking" it to get Demerol or something.

I'm glad you are ok.

steph

Martibear · Feb 25, 2006

I am a nurse in the ED & I don't believe I've lost my empathy or compassion. When you see people day after day seeking narc's & saying they have a NSAID allergy you do become a bit "hardened" to certain situations. I would NEVER give any med, even to a "drug seeker" if they stated they were allergic to that med. That is very unfortunate that you had such an awful, scary experience GeriatricSunshine. All ED nurses are not that way, I would have definatley spoken to a Unit Director or someone about that situation! Something like that should never have happened. Also I express empathy & compassion to my patients I see in the ED. Why do ED nurses get such a bad rap?

allnurses Guide · Feb 25, 2006

I am a nurse in the ED & I don't believe I've lost my empathy or compassion. When you see people day after day seeking narc's & saying they have a NSAID allergy you do become a bit "hardened" to certain situations. I would NEVER give any med, even to a "drug seeker" if they stated they were allergic to that med. That is very unfortunate that you had such an awful, scary experience GeriatricSunshine. All ED nurses are not that way, I would have definatley spoken to a Unit Director or someone about that situation! Something like that should never have happened. Also I express empathy & compassion to my patients I see in the ED. Why do ED nurses get such a bad rap?

I'm with you . . . .I work in our ER here in a rural county . . . I think most of us are awesome. :nurse:

steph

Trauma Columnist · Feb 25, 2006

I'm another ER RN and I'm very sorry this happened to you. Please, write a letter to the hospital's risk managment unit, the unit manager and copy it to the CEO, CNO and the Medical Director. This should not be allowed to continue!

weyschad · Feb 25, 2006

Thanks for reminded us all there truly are people out there who are allergic to NSAIDS. I seek so many seekers who say they are allergic. We will not give them meds they say they are allergic to unless it has be proven by a specialist that they are not allergic. It is scary that now some medical staff assume every one is seeking narc.

I would pay a visit to the ER to let both Doctor and Nurse see the person they came close to killing due to an assumption. I did that when my mother was seen and misdiagnosised. Hope they see a human and not a diagnosis or an assumption

palmtree61 · Feb 25, 2006

My son woke me up in the middle of the night after taking a new prescription for growing pain...Daypro...ER he was hot, face and tongue swelling quickly...and a rash...ER visit and 4 hours later a rebound...he is so sensitive to NSAIDS...other doctors have not believed him and given him drugs that have since caused seizures and a heart attack even!!!!! He is 24!!!!! They too think he is seeking drugs...but are soooooooo wrong...Please believe your patients. I was just in the ER at the hospital I work in with viral menigitis...in severe pain..I told them I was allergic to dilaudid and morphine...they didn't believe me and gave me morphine...when I developed a rash and itching..they gave me more morphine and benedryl...what is up?

Kidrn911 · Feb 25, 2006

Well if they gave you something intentionally you should sue them. Sounds like malpractice to me. I never gave anything or would I give anything to anyone that said they were allergic to it.

Only thing I have ever doubted was an allergy to benedryl, even then I don't give.

spidermonkey · Feb 25, 2006

bethin · Feb 25, 2006

I am so angry about what happened to you. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire I sincerely hope you are planning to talk to the CEO of that hospital and maybe even a lawyer. Also, I would be writing some pretty nasty letters to the nurse and doctor.

Did the nurse even apologize for what happened?

fotografe · Feb 25, 2006

I have learned to now state up front that I am NOT a drug seeker. I have bulging discs in two places and sometimes have episodes of pain so severe I wish someone would hit me over the head with a hammer to knock me out. I also have a longstanding gastric problem that has gone misdiagnosed for over 25 years. It turns out in addition to GERD, (aggravated by NSAIDS I took for my back) the acid sometimes triggers esophageal spasms that feel like a heart attack. When I once told the ER nurse I could not take Motrin, I could hear her out in the hall relaying to the MD that I was "Allergic" to NSAIDS. (Add sarcastic tone). The MD asked what I could take, and I said the only thing I know of that does not affect my stomach is tylenol, but it isn't really effective on the pain. I ended up with an IV for Toradol. It took care of the back pain wonderfully. I was ready to be discharged when I had the worst epigastric pain episode I had ever had in my life (and I have had some doozies.) I was sure I was going to die right there. I found out later that Toradol is a very strong NSAID that even given IV can cause severe gastric side effects. I can't believe they gave that to me when I told them of my stomach issues. I am glad that I wasn't really "allergic". So sorry this happened to you.

This is a story I think all ER nurses need to hear. I do work in healthcare. I have aspirin sensitive asthma and I cannot take ANY NSAID's. I went to the ER with a migraine.I was diagnosed with them about 5 years ago.Thankfully I have had very few.
I went into the ER throwing up, sensitive to light and basically almost going crazy from the pain. When the nurse came in I told her and she gave me an ice pack and walked away.
The doctor was in the hall and I heard the nurse and him talking.I clearly stated I could not take NSAIDS. I heard the nurse say I was "another migrainer allergic to NSAID's" I didn't hear anything else.
The nurse came in and hooked up an IV she said that she was giving me something for pain and nausea.I thought, ok she knows what she is doing.
30 Minutes later I "came to" I had had an anaphylactic reaction to Toradol. I turned blue, my throat closed up and I blacked out.
I suggest that nurses never "assume", I almost died because someone didn't believe me.