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

SOS

...maybe the eggs were scrambled with milk and the person had a reaction to the combination of eggs AND milk. I can have limited amt. of egg and limited amt. of milk but anything with both in it (pumpkin pie) or at the same meal or too close together hours-wise, I can have unpleasant GI reaction. Not a true allergy, but maybe that person has a problem only after eating scrambled- with- milk eggs.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

If a woman complains of discomfort and swelling after sex with condom use, she may have a sensitivity or allergy to latex condoms.

Some women DO have an allergic-type reaction to semen...please treat her kindly.

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Specializes in Pall, rehab.

Some women DO have an allergic-type reaction to semen...please treat her kindly.

yes its surprisingly common in ladies, but, nope... this person was a man!! well, teen bloke. told me he woke with a rash after a wet dream. weird, but true. scarily, I saw the rash!

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I] am an OB nurse and I think I have heard the "best" allergy of them all.... One day I went in to a patients room to do a lady partsl check to see if she was in labor. I put on my sterile glove and then put K-Y on to help ease the check, and as I am ready to check her she "STOP" and I just looked at her thinking she was nervous and needed a min before the check... She then said to me, "You can't use K-Y on me, I allergic to it"... Needless to say I almost died... I said I will be right back, took the glove off, walked out of the the room, shut the door behind me and then DIED LAUGHING...The nurses still get a kick out of that one, and this happened a couple of years ago... Makes ya wonder.....:lol2:

I don't understand why you thought this was funny? Lots of people are allergic or sensitive to KY jelly.:confused:

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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.

Oh my gosh!

I am so glad I read this post. I looked up OAS and FINALLY figured out what is wrong with me! lol! I'm allergic to apples, cherries, strawberries, and many other types of fruit. How cool that there is a name for what I have..hehe

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Sorry, but the mom in me can't help but remind you that if you have an anaphylactic allergy to Toradol, you shouldn't be taking oral NSAIDs either. Same for aspirin and be very cautious with anti-diarrhea meds. There is an aspirin-like compound in Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol and others, so if you're allergic to one, you need to steer clear of all. HTH! :)

Mom to a daughter with anaphylactic reaction to Kaopectate.

Thanks..I don't take any oral NSAIDS... I handle Immodium okay though, except got real sick this weekend and am on Flagyl now :(

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

Had a patient a few months back ....the charting from the ER nurse listed drug allergies and reactions. The one that stood out was Drug-Cats-Itchy neck

lol

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Specializes in telemetry.

Oddest:

Benedryl. Caused an anaphylactic reaction.

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i think there ought to be a study on toradol, all nsaids allergies. in our er it seems these meds are all grouped together, there must be some relation. forget studying cancer or the likes, i think research in this could perhaps lead to a big medical breakthrough. we have also found that most pt's with this misterious grouping of allergies also have n/v with "plain tylenol" , usually the" geriatric form" ( or pronounced "tinall"). this unfortunate group of people seem to always be able to take a medication that starts with " ummmm..... dila......" or many times " ummm..... perco something". we have also found that many of these people with n/v that are waiting in our er lobby can consume large doses of fritos and doritos with no apparent difficulty. well, if any one would like to join me in this all important research project let me know.

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Oddest:

Benedryl. Caused an anaphylactic reaction.

See my thread reply #152, pg 16. :redbeathe

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Having serious allergies myself (including having had a few decent annies) it amuses me when pts tell me they're allergic to something and they're a little off in their description!

Like one told me she was allergic to peanuts and would like DIE if she had any form of them... all the while having a chocolate bar with pureeed peanut filling... and well, she's still alive!

Another pt told me their allergy to Fluclox was so bad their hair would fall out.... his wife then piped up and said "oh yeah, ever since he was 40 whenever he had Fluc. he'd loose his hair... and its still in his system, the last he had it was about 10 years ago and look at him, he's still bald.

Me wonder if people don't really understand what allergies actually do....

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Specializes in LTC/Subacute Rehabilitation.

Coumadin - Causes Increased Bleeding (This woman was also convinced that the Gastroenterologist found a peice of stool in her colon that was going to kill her- She only drank half of her colonoscopy prep the night before and refused the other half because of diarrhea)

Morphine/Demerol- Confusion

Narcotics - (Sister was a drug addict)

Codeine- Nausea

Also heard various antibiotics cause GI upset, especially Augmentin

The list can go on and on..........

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