Allergic to the delivery room?

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I noticed almost right away that as soon as I was in the delivery room I started sneezing and my nose would run and my eyes would itch...I tossed it aside as nerves. Hubby jokingly said that I was allergic to the delivery room. It's always there (even if I walk through it to the storage space behind it, if a table is ready there or I can smell the Betadine I sneeze, sniffle and itch).

Yesterday I had a delivery that had some complications so I was in there for about three hours charting and monitoring my patient. Two bottles of betadine were opened. Then about 5 hours later I had another delivery and was in there about an hour and a half.

This morning? Woke up to both eyelids swollen. I mean, puffy swollen. I can still open my eyes, but is it possible that I am allergic to the delivery room? What on earth? Anyone else ever have this happen? or hear of it?

*Disclaimer---I'm not asking for medical advice at all! If the swelling is still here in a few hours I'm heading do the urgent care to check it out. Just wanna know if you've heard of it/seen it happen.

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Maybe you are allergic to the betadine (iodine allergy) since even smelling it makes you start to sneeze and sniffle, or it could be the latex gloves.

A nurse where I work also had trouble with the latex gloves. she was getting hives and bad skin reactions, so they switched her to vinyl gloves, or something similar. She got better, but went to be the baby nurse in a C/S one day, and had an anaphylactic reaction that put her in the ER. The doctor said it was from the latex gloves the docs and surgical techs were using--and that the powder from them got airborn and that is why she had such a problem. Apparently, the ER is the only place we use the latex gloves anymore. She doesn't go to C/S deliveries anymore.

So it could be latex, could be the betadine, could be mold in the ceiling, could be a lot of things. I would contact employee health and see if they can help you rule out what it is. And definitely see a doctor. Hope you feel better!!

[amoLucia]

Yes, I believe it is possible to be allergic to something in the work environment. One position in a LTC had 2 areas on one wing that caused me to start wheezing. One pt's private room had all kind of dried flower arrangements and fluffy things, so I attributed it to that (I snivel & sneeze when I go down the floral and/or candle aisles). But I never figured out what it was that caused me to have problems in the med room on that unit. I hated it going into that room but it was unavoidable. (I think it was mold.)

Also, I really have BIG TIME problems when they strip and wax/polish the floors (of course, on 11-7). One night coming in to my unit, I turned the corner and immediately got hit with the fumes. Started to WHEEZE with a stridor - staff was ready to call 911!! I carry an emergency inhaler but it couldn't work fast enough. I was lucky that the 3-11 agency nurse wanted to stay for the double shift.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Learning About Latex Allergies

Workplace Hazards - The Washington State Nurses Association

Four common allergens at work--and how nurses can combat them

Please contact your PCP in the AM to discuss your symptoms as recurrent exposure increases severity of reactions. You may need to be referred to an allergist for testing.

You then need to discuss with your nursing program your reactions so can be properly prepared in clinicals.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

So I went to urgent care and the doctor there told me that NOPE it's not pink eye...zero possibility (I was hoping it was!)

So I explained what happens when I walk into the delivery room and that I was in there for a really long time the day before...and she said it very well could be a betadine allergy. She suggested I see my PCP for allergy testing as well as (1) try to wear a mask for the next delivery, see if that helps (2) if the mask alone doesn't help, try zyrtec (3) make sure I see employee health to see if they can do something about it...maybe get rid of betadine for something else, ensure I have a mask...SOMETHING.

I am terrified if I do the testing that I will indeed have an allergy to betadine and that I may lose my job! I'm a new grad! They wont wanna bend over backwards to keep me there! My reviews have been great and the staff loves me, so maybe that will help, I'm really not too sure, I'm just TERRIFIED! I love my job, but I wouldn't mind if I had to switch to another floor, that beats getting fired. I dont really see the MDs wanting to change the way they practice because I"m allergic. I dont see the hospital spending money on other supplies to help me...what can happen?

The Urgen care doc did say that I better figure it oout because it can turn into an anaphylactic reaction at any time if that is what the allergy is...and if it's not betadine, I dont really see them spending money to figure out what MY problem is if I'm the only one having the problem!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

There are alternatives to Betadine like HibiStat & HibiCleanse. Find out what your facility does if a patient has an iodine allergy (not uncommon)

Also per OSHA they are obligated to create a safe work environment. Contact employee health ASAP. Some occ health docs/NP's are very adept at determining workplace allergens.

Good luck. Contact employee health, be sure to tell them of your urgent care visit.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Thanks justbeachy I'm so worried about telling the :/

[RNLaborNurse4U]

I have a latex allergy - it can be worked around! I've been an L&D nurse for 11 years.