COVID-19 Vaccine: "Thank God for the Angioedema!" | Nurse in Action

Excited to get the Covid vaccine! Reaction starts right away! A trip to the ER turns out to be a blessing in disguise!

COVID-19 Vaccine: "Thank God for the Angioedema!" | Nurse in Action

Time to bite the bullet!

I was going to get my first dose of the Moderna vaccine. I was pumped up and ready. After all, we had been giving it for three weeks and everyone was still standing! We had one or two reactions-mild that got better with PO Benadryl. One had to be sent out for a swollen lip to the ED. We didn't know what the outcome was. Today was my turn to get the vaccine. I was confident though. I have never had allergies to meds or food. My husband took it and felt fine.

What could go wrong?

I asked one of the LPN's to record my getting the vaccine while the other LPN gave me the shot. Didn't feel a thing. Got my Covid vaccine sticker and went to the next room for observation. The observation nurse was on lunch and the one covering him was drawing bloods on a patient as we were also having our usual busy clinic day. So basically I observed myself! I didn't mind because I knew we were scrambling for staff for lunch coverage. Within three minutes, I began to scratch. Initially I thought that I was just giving myself permission to scratch while alone in a room!

But within five minutes, I knew this was not good

My lip started getting numb like after a Novocaine shot at the dentist. I peered outside and didn't see anybody by the 10th minute. I called out the nurse's name but he was in another room drawing bloods behind a closed door and didn't hear me. As I was the last patient of the session, the nurse who gave me the shot had left for another area to cover lunches. By the 15th minute, the itching was intense. At the 15 minute the observation nurse came back from lunch and into the room.

"You are free to go! Your 15 minutes are up."

"I don't think so. I am itching all over and my lips feel funny".

He took one look and called the medical director. She hot footed in and suddenly there were lot of staff in the room. I was tachycardic and hypertensive. I could see the worry in her eyes though she tried to play cool! She gave me IM Benadryl 50 mg and 40 mg of prednisone PO STAT. The itching lessened a bit and the lip got better within the next two hours. They released me and I went to my office and slept through my break. Finished my work in another two hours and went home feeling woozy! Made sure my windows were down to let in the freezing cold in, and keep me awake! I drove carefully and also had my nurse friend on my Bluetooth talking to me till I reached home.

Once I reached home ...

The itching began in earnest and the lips started swelling. The tongue got heavy and the chest tight. I took 50mg of PO Benadryl but it wasn't helping. So I called the medical director who Facetimed me. She told me to go to the nearest hospital ER if needed at any time. She upped the prednisone to 60mg, and started me on Zyrtec and Pepcid. My daughter went and picked up the meds and I started feeling a bit better. I noticed though that I was having a slight wheeze with chest heaviness. The worried medical director kept texting and checking in on me. I fell into an uneasy sleep, hearing myself wheeze.

I woke up in the morning with a tight chest and throat feeling funny. I took my inhaler puffs as I have Advair disk and the Albuterol pump at home from an asthma diagnosis. The last time I used the pump was over 10 years ago but I always walk with a new one as I had a bad attack 20 years when I struggled to catch my breath. I took all the other meds prescribed and felt slightly better. I went for  morning mass and had a hard time not itching myself when all I wanted to do was to rub my back against the bench! When I came home the itching worsened and now the tongue and throat felt like it had a coating on it.

I decided to go to the ED

I was triaged quickly, got an EKG (Sinus Tachycardia) and did not have a long wait before being ushered into the ED. I was put in the bed next to the nurse's station and saw them all eyeball me for respiratory distress as I walked past them. In quick succession, the RN Abby and the provider team-resident,chief resident and attending came and discussed the issue. I was started on Normal saline, given IV push of Benadryl 50mg and for some reason, I could not sleep! They send basic labs, did a second troponin level and send me home on Prednisone 50mg  for 2 days and Benadryl OTC PRN. That was yesterday. Today I am still itchy, throat feels funny but I feel better than yesterday! I was told not to take the second dose of the vaccine due to the severity of the allergy.

Abby: My primary Nurse

I thought of a conversation I had with Abby, my primary nurse in the last ten minutes before I was discharged home. I knew Abby professionally as we worked together in this ED in 2007. As we caught up with each other's life, she told me that she was worried about her 11th grader going to college. She was overwhelmed and did not have a clue on how to get started and help her daughter.

I was an expert on this subject, learning it on my own and helping my older two navigate the systems from the college application, FAFSA, importance of volunteer work, extra curricular community based activities and how to write a great college essay! So I reassured her and gave her pointers and told her to take one step at a time. She was very thankful!

"Annie! God must have sent you here today! I have been so worried but feel lighter and more confident after talking to you! Thank you so much! You don't realize how much this means to me!"

There were tears in her eyes.

She continued, "Sometimes I wonder if God is listening!"

I smiled at her and patted her gently on her hand.

"Of course he is listening! Why do you think I came in today on your shift with angioedema, not knowing what you needed to hear until we talked! Thank God for the angioedema!  He loves you so much that he sent me to you! I'll take 10 of these if it will help someone! I am glad I came here today and could help you!"

We laughed and exchanged numbers. I promised to send her a step by step guide once I got off the Benadryl haze!

So here I am typing this up, itchy still, hoping my throat will clear and my chest doesn't get tight again. I have a telephone app with the hospital allergist any minute now. We'll see how this goes as I navigate the next few days on these meds doing my zombie walk!

Resources/References

CDC: Information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

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spotangel

About spotangel, DNP, RN, NP

Chronic Care Coordinator

Wife, mother, author, teacher. Loves God above all!

24 Articles   519 Posts

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Hope you're feeling better today! That sounds like quite the ordeal - I'm so sorry you experienced that reaction ? 

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Specializes in Canadian Nephrology nurse.

Everything happens for a reason!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

What an ordeal to go through to prevent getting COVID-19.  Wishing you improved health. Glad you can continue to use your "AN Voice" to educate and entertain our members.

?

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Specializes in ED, Tele, MedSurg, ADN, Outpatient, LTC, Peds.

Thanks!  Feeling much better now!

Seen angioedema in the ED and treated it.

Experiencing it was something else! I am glad it didn't happen to someone else! I saw the allergist today and was told not to take a second dose(I wasn't planning too? !) Took lots of blood for further analysis-----! I did speak to the Moderna customer rep who also told me not to take the second dose! Interestingly Angioedema is on their website and is a contraindication!

What I  also learned today is that despite having 2 health insurances (my husband's and mine) the Epipen that was prescribed is not covered! Apparently I have to apply for a PICA card and still pay a copay of $150!

Anyway I will keep you posted on the EPIPEN Saga---!

Anything to keep you entertained @NRSKarenRN

Keep safe all!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

My son had anaphylactic reaction to 1/2 cashew nut age 5-- when his voice went up an octive, off to the ED 5 min away, similar to your experience. Overniight stay for IV steriods + Pepcid.   2yrs ago, Epipen was $325.00, this Winter copay was ~$75,

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Specializes in ED, Tele, MedSurg, ADN, Outpatient, LTC, Peds.

That's scary @NRSKarenRN. I hope he walks with an Epipen! The doc sent it to our hospital pharmacy and I will follow up with them. Hopefully I can get one! It's very sobering and I worry about people who cannot afford it or have access to it. It has opened my eyes to yet another issue to keep in mind for my patients and the general public. Will keep your son in my prayers.

In terms of the vaccine, my clinic gave 850 doses and had 3 reactions. The rest were all fine and they are getting ready to give the second dose to the first responders starting this Thursday. My son, who works with the homeless, got his first dose  two days after my reaction and was fine.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Spotangel, this occurred ~30 yrs ago;  testing reveled severe nut allergy, he recently told me reaction to Seafood too, He's a Chef, reads labels religiously, has Epipen at work and home along with Benadryl.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.                                                                                

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
On 1/18/2021 at 1:58 PM, spotangel said:

Annie! God must have sent you here today! I have been so worried but feel lighter and more confident after talking to you! Thank you so much! You don't realize how much this means to me!"

There were tears in her eyes.

She continued, "Sometimes I wonder if God is listening!"

I smiled at her and patted her gently on her hand.

"Of course he is listening! Why do you think I came in today on your shift with angioedema, not knowing what you needed to hear until we talked! Thank God for the angioedema!  He loves you so much that he sent me to you! I'll take 10 of these if it will help someone! I am glad I came here today and could help you!"

A great article and a good warning about adverse reactions to medication, thank you for that but...

What is the above about? God decided that you were expendable just so that (random) nurse can get some advice!! It is called coincidence and it happens in life. What are the odds that you would run into someone you worked with years ago in place you used to work in?

This needs to be in the Spirituality forum not the Covid forum.

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Specializes in ED, Tele, MedSurg, ADN, Outpatient, LTC, Peds.

Noted Grumpy RN! (By the way, I am a huge fan of yours, been meaning to tell you---!)

I guess it's my outlook! I have had too many "coincidences" happen in my life to think otherwise. I have been to that ED as a patient a couple of times and with pts many other times but have never met her since although every time I've asked for her! Every time I have a "coincidental" meeting with someone it always ends about the same "You have no idea how much I needed to hear this today. Thank God we spoke etc etc".

Today on this inauguration day, I remember that it is also the 8th  anniversary year since I walked away from a car accident that totaled my car  and could have wiped out my family in an instant. I was driving and the car skidded on black ice, went out of control, hit the concrete divider twice, hit an 18 wheeler truck twice and went down a hill. The police expected to find dead bodies but 5 of us came out of the car with not a bruise. The police called it a miracle! An hour before the accident ,my then 7 year old told me innocently that she heard God tell her, "I will never fail you! I will never let you down!" So I see His hand in my everyday life and marvel at His love!

 So much as I respect you and your views, lets agree to disagree on this matter!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

So sorry to hear this happened to you and I sincerely hope you begin to feel better soon.  Take care!!

I have been very hesitant regarding receiving either of the vaccines, but this has definitely helped me make up my mind.  ICU nurse here with Idiopathic Angioedema/Urticaria (Angioedema is from head to toe and with no throat, lip involvement...weird I know) and "delayed" anaphylaxis to two drugs and oral contrast for CT scans (not allergic to shellfish).  When I say "delayed" anaphylaxis I had a weeks worth of sulfa antibiotic in my system and quit taking the drug three days before my throat started to close up.  The oral contrast for CT scan took almost 24 hours for my reaction and the Lasix took several weeks.  I don't want to be several days out and then begin to have a reaction.  Don't have an epi pen because my throat not being involved.  

This definitely shows how differently our bodies react to medications and injections.  

 

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Specializes in ED, Tele, MedSurg, ADN, Outpatient, LTC, Peds.

Thank you for your concern!

Idiopathic Angioedema! That sounds scary Cindy!

The purpose of even writing this article was to bring awareness  of the reaction I had even though I have had no allergies. I very much wanted to take the vaccine. However, I was told not to take the second dose and that we were on "frontier territory' as this vaccines has not been tested out in all groups especially people with autoimmune issues. So much as I advocate for getting vaccinated, I would say use your judgement to make that decision and keep yourself safe at all times by following protocols of distance, hand washing and masking when required. I am hopeful that today marks a change in our pandemic strategies and that common sense and science will prevail. Lets keep other protected to  honor the 400,000 we've lost in our country, the countless others around the world and the one's we struggle to save now at our workplaces and our homes! May we be that light that will shine for others to reclaim hope and come out of despair!

To Quote Poetess Amanda Gorman today, ""For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it – if only we are brave enough to be it."(The Hill We Climb).

 

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