*Weird* Patient Allergies

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What are some of the weird allergies/reactions that patients have told you they have? I can't remember so many that made me go "hmmmmm.." but not long ago, I came across these two (on the same person!):

Caffeine: causes tachycardia (really?)

Cocaine: anaphylaxis (perhaps you took too much??)

Specializes in Corrections.

I had a patient that was allergic to eggs... "but only the scrambled kind". WHAT???

SOS

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Specializes in geriatrics,med/surg,vents.

quote"In the past, one thing that use to bother me was when medical staff asked, "Do you have any allergies?" So, I would start listing them and then they would all snooty and huffy and say, "Any allergies to medications?". Yikes....sorry! Maybe they should have asked me that specifically in the first place. You ask any allergies. Now when asked, I ask them if they specifically mean only med allergies.

Where I work, we do ask for any allergies. It doesn't matter what it is. We want it listed."

I don't understand why food allergies would be disregarded,don't they say that you shouldn't get the flu vaccine if you're allergic to eggs?What if you're allergic to dyes that are used to make the medicine?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC.

I just had a pt that was allergic to A1 steaksauce!

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.
to the one who is allergic to chicken & latex, i'll never hand you a rubber chicken!!!!!!:no::lol2:

bwa-hahahahah! i'm going to have to remember that one! that is too funny!!:lol2:

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Specializes in ICU.
a friend of mine is allergic to.......christmas trees!!!! :lol2:

fakes ones are fine but if he even goes near a real one....look out!

i get a rash all over me if we have a real tree in the house at christmas so we always have to have a fake one.

also get a rash from radishes and lavender.

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I had a Pt come in with a severe reaction that progressed onto anaphylaxis very quickly, Pt had eaten escargot (snails) at a french restaurant. I researched a little, it is not uncommon, people who have asthma are at most risk, sad for the ones that do luv snails in lemon & garlic butter!

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Specializes in Women's health, Ped's, clinical trials.

Allergic to Cortisone?????? My favorite....

But I do love the Toradol/Tylenol/NSAID allergy. Also Vicodin is the allergy also. Only Dilaudid helps the pain. But only through IV.

And if you are allergic to Geodan, Elavil, don't you date try to tell me that you have no psych history

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Specializes in Burn, CCU, CTICU, Trauma, SICU, MICU.

"heparin makes me bleed!"

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While working at a kids camp I had a camper tell me he was allergic to "all fresh fruits and vegetables".

Nice Try

I'm actually allergic to all fresh/raw fruits and vegetables, it's called Oral Allergy Syndrome. I'm sure he was just being a typical kid, but don't dismiss something until you know the facts.

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Specializes in Medical.

i am so glad i have no allergies (or adverse reactions) to anything - except opsite, if i leave it on for several days. some of these allergies must just suck :(

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Specializes in CV/CCU, Education,Stepdown cardiac, Tele.

I had one patient tell me women(allergy)- because they made him poor (reaction)

Go figure

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Specializes in Pall, rehab.

:yeah:Some of these are corkers! But I'm gonna have to brush up on my US terminology, cos I dunno what half these drugs are (I am Aussie)...

But I have heard my fair share of doozies, and I have a couple of good ones in my family myself!

Ones I have heard:

Hairspray, if she gets it on her skin, her skin gets dry and crackly :lol2:

Panadol brand paracetamol (I believe you call it acetaminophen), but not Herron brand paracetamol (they are made in the same factory!)

table salt, he gets "puffy" if he has too much

Cepacaine (oral pain relieving liquid), makes his mouth go numb :bugeyes:

Plain milk, but not chocolate milk

and my personal favourite, SEMEN!! :bow:

Weird but true family allergies:

My son is allergic to the cherry-vanilla flavouring in childrens panadol, most washing powders and his OWN URINE!! I kid you not, we would have to change his nappy (huggies) every hour or he would get the most god-awful blistering rash, from day 2 this started! If he squirted himself on the leg or somewhere, he got the rash too, so it wasnt just nappy rash!

I am allergic to Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is the stuff that makes soap bubbly, so no soap in our house! And, I never have to wash up! The hospital I work at hates it though! They have to order special cleanser in for me. I am also allergic to synthetic oestrogens (there goes that line of contraceptive), Metoclopramide (severe vomiting and EP side effects), Midazolam (psychosis, and yes, only midaz does it... the others are fine :bugeyes:), the zinc and preservative in novomix insulins (which can be a royal pain being a diabetic), and due to severe gastric erosion and IBS, I also list all NSAIDs, aspirin and iron supplements. I now also have to list any multivitamin containing Iodine, as I have Grave's disease, and the excess iodine can trigger a relapse. I am a medical nightmare! Oh, and BTW, being allergic to KY is not unusual... I am too. And to sticking tapes.

My mum is allergic to soy, pork, tuna, shellfish, black tea, the enteric coating on many meds, salbutamol and bleached toilet paper.

Half my family is allergic to penicillin, and the other half to Paracetamol (!). Apparently my GP had never heard of a Paracetamol allergy before! Lucky, I got neither, I have enough to contend with, and nobody except my poor son got both (well, he is allergic to the flavouring, not the drug, but still have to tell them or they give it to him!).

:smokin:

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