adverse reaction post D&C

Earlier this week I had a D&C and hysteroscopy (?) under general anesthetic that I was dreading due to a past history of trauma and abuse. They were actually really good to me and helped me get through it despite me being terrified in the operating room. Eventually sent home with my partner groggy and crampy but ok around 4 pm.

At 7 pm however I felt like I was going to be sick but then within a very short time period I couldn't speak, my tongue was massively swollen, jaw clenched and painful, neck tilted and I felt like I couldn't breathe! Horrible and terrifying! my partner called 911 and thankfully an ambulance was there quickly and they ascertained that I was having an adverse reaction to the anesthetic (I have no known allergies..). Epi didn't work but on the way to the hospital (I am in a rural area) tried injection of benadryl which helped a little and then finally an injection of cogentin in the Trauma ER. They didn't know what I was given for the surgery as it wasn't on my records yet but said it was a dystonic reaction.

I see the surgeon in about 10 days to schedule the hysterectomy so am obviously concerned about this happening to me again with a more involved surgery. Incredible terrifying!

Has anyone had something like this happen to them?

Thanks,
D

Hi dcoriolis

I would be terrified too!

Please tell your doctor about this incident. It is very important that they know. They may be able to give you a different anesthetic, or give you a companion drug to help fight this reaction in the first place. I am just guessing, but as long as they know about it they can prepare and react.

Good luck to you.

The anesthesiologist will have a record of exactly what he gave you. Check with him.Your hospital/surgery center also will have a record. It's important you know so you never have this reaction again. I had a laparoscopy,hysteroscopy, D&C under anesthesia 2 months before my hysterectomy. My hospital bill showed all drugs and a charge for everything the anesthesiologist gave me. There has to be a record somewhere. The hospital where your procedure was done can not bill your insurance company without an itemized statement of exactly what drugs they are charging the for.

I have lots of allergies and my doctor decided to give me IV Benadryl during surgery just as a percaution.

Definitely discuss you anesthesia reaction with your doctor. If you cannot tollerate general anesthesia, you could always have a spinal block with sedation.

Good luck.

Thanks for all of your replies. I see the surgeon next week and was assured by my doctor that they will be able to tell me exactly what I was given and although the risk of something like that happening again are there it is really rare. Apparantly there are lots of options of what drugs they can give me and perhaps something beforehand to decrease the anxiety.

When you meet with your doctor ask about an epi pen for emergencies. You didn't have your last reaction until you were home, so your doctor may decide that you need an epi pen. Myself and both my daughters have epi pens. Fortunately we've never had to use them, but it's a huge peace of mind to know we have them just in case.

Good idea Abagayle, unfortunately however the paramedics gave me epinephrine but it didn't help at all. Apparently it is not classified as an 'allergy' but adverse reaction and affects the body differently. Who knew? I will ask however to see if I can get some of the cogentin they gave me in hospital to take home with me.

Ahh, that actually makes sense. I have 5 antibiotics I'm allergic to, and one I can't take but they call it an "intollerance" instead of an allergy. The intollerances can be just as scary, but it should give you a little peace of mind to know they are not as life thretening as a true allergy.

Sounds like your doctor knows what's going on and is on top of things.

Good luck to you.