This week, I realized how lucky I am to have an old-school family doctor, whose specialty is helping people.
It’s hard to believe that, just a week ago, I was partying at the AMFA with friends and family and now I’m covered in hives and can’t leave the house.
Doctors
For my melanoma, I’ve been receiving the IV immunotherapy drug called Keytruda. Up until now, I have had few problems other than being super tired. But, last week, that all changed when I took an antibiotic called Keflex. I had taken it before but, this time, BAM. I broke out in hives. Keytruda had made me hyper sensitive to it.
I called my GP and they worked me in to his schedule. His nurse gave me a steroid shot in the butt, and we all thought, “That should do it”. Being a holiday week, the good doctor even gave me his cell phone number in case I had problems.
The next day, my mouth, lips, and tongue were swollen. I called my GP again for another steroid shot and this time got the pills, too.
But they didn’t help much. As I write this, it’s been almost a week with little change for the better. To eat, drink, or talk is painful.
The Trouble with Specialists
With little change in my condition, I called the good doctor, again. He was concerned. This is out of his area of expertise so he asked me to call my oncologist at CARTI for advice. To make a long story short, I did; there was no advice other than go to the emergency room so they could give me more Benadryl.
Since then, the good doctor has called me everyday to check on my progress and make suggestions while I wait it out with no help from my other doctors.
I now understand the adage, “what won’t kill you, makes you stronger.” These hives will not kill me, but it sure feels like it.
Get Kerry’s latest blog post every week by entering your information under Join Our Mail List in the side bar, checking the appropriate box, and clicking Subscribe. xoxoxo
