Hi. Just wanted to warn other ladies on here about what's just recently happenned to me. I'm currently recovering from a spell in hospital, where I was treated for an allergic reaction to penicillin. I had a urinary tract infection and sought treatment from my GP. Had them so many times before, but this is the first time I've had one whilst being pregnant (also my first baby). At 18 weeks pregnant, he said my options for clearing up the UTI with antibiotics were limited, and that I ought to try Amoxicillin. I previously had an allergic reaction to this 17 years ago at 18, when I had Glandular Fever at the same time. Apparently, taking Amoxicillin whilst having Glandular Fever will always result in an allergic rash. However, all these years, I have avoided taking any penicillin as most Drs I saw in that surgery didn't think I should attempt taking penicillin, just incase I genuinely was allergic, and it wasn't just the coincidence of Glandular Fever being present at the same time I had taken it aged 18.
Anyway, trying to condense the story a bit, but basically, my GP persuaded me to take Amoxicillin when my UTI was not clearing up after trying 2 different non-penicillin based antibiotics (Cefalaxin initially, then Trimethoprim when that didn't work). After being in pain with a UTI for 10 days and a week off work with it, I relented and agreed to try Amoxicillin as the GP said nothing else could be prescribed for me.
This was infact wrong. According to the antenatal unit midwives and obstetrician, I could have tried something called Nitrafurantoid, which is safe after 12 weeks. Had he done some further research, and not just gone by what was in the British National Formulary on antibiotics in pregnancy, or whatever NHS advice he had on his system, then I would have been saved an admission to hospital for a severe allergic reaction to Amoxicillin.
The whole exprience has been very traumatic. I got so poorly from the allergic rash, that I was taken into hospital by ambulance because my blood pressure was so low, that I couldn't stand up without passing out. I was given steroids intravenously and kept in the antenatal unit overnight for observations, where they tested me for kidney & liver function, and checked the baby regularly. It has taken over a week for the incredibly itchy rash to fade - which covered 90% of my body. The dermatologist said it was a moderate to severe allergic reaction to penicillin, and told me if I ever take it again then it could be life threatening as my reaction could be much worse, and I could stop breathing.
I am still recovering now - 2 weeks on from first taking the first Amoxicillin. Skin is falling off my face & neck and I still cannot stand up for any longer than to go to the toilet. I will be off work for another 2 weeks and need to sit with my legs out infront of me, due to the burst blood vessels in my legs and general faintness from shock.
My words of warning to other pregnant ladies are this:
- If your GP seems unsure of what to prescribe you, and your gut feeling is that they want to give you something you are uncomfortable with - do check it out with your midwife and or the antenatal unit. The obstetricians and midwives at the hospital knew that it was safe to give me other antibiotics and also antihistamines to help recover from the allergic response. My GP didn't even think he could give me antihistamines to control the rash, so it escalated more than it needed to and led to me being hospitalised.
- Do your own research on medication before visiting the GP - the midwives at the hospital told me that GPs often feel unsure of what to give pregnant women and err on the side of caution, leaving you in pain / hoping stuff will go away, rather than give you something that they're not sure about. Apparently we should insist on treatment and ask that they clarify anything vague with midwives. They all refer to the British National Formulary for medicines/pharmacies, and although this is a reference for them, it can be open to interpretation.
Hope no one else goes through this. Do stand your ground if you think you have an allergy and a GP is trying to get you to take something you feel uncomfortable taking. And if you happen to be in the same circumstances as me - i.e. had a reaction to penicillin when you happenned to have Glandular Fever last time, and so an allergic reaction could never be ruled out or ruled in, then do be warned - I definitely have an allergy to penicillin after all!!!!
Not a well bunny now, but I am hoping this message reaches other mums to be on here and that they can avoid this happenning to them - then at least some good has come out of a terribly mismanaged situation!!!
