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
Cindy B MSN BSN RN, ASN, BSN, MSN
5 Posts
Thank You!! The Angioedema/Urticaria is definitely nothing to take lightly. I had ten years of remission and this flare has lasted a year next month.
I am definitely NOT an anti-vaxer. Firmly believe in vaccinations, but with my history I am going to pass on this one until it has been around for a period of time and am comfortable with receiving it. Thankfully I am at home working on my MSN in Education and not exposed to much of the outside world these days.