Latex

[defaero07]

Who's here allergic to latex or not?

[eng188]

I suspect not, but precautions are always taken in hospital. My x-roommate with SB is, but I think it's limited to rashes. No anaphylaxis ever.

[Dodger67]

Put me down in the "Not" column.
AFAIK I'm only allergic to poplar tree and daisy pollen but it isn't serious, just hay fever.
I'll be sniffing and sneezing in about a month - note to self: stock up on anti-histamine pills.

[Summer25]

big time! I have gone into anaphylatic shock during a surgery. Was on a ventilator for 2-3 days and in ICU for 4. After that surgery though I can now be in a room with it without sneezing. When I had orthodontic braces I wouldn't be touched with latex, but in a room with it and would start sneezing and swelling up. I usually missed a day of school each month because of it. I am also now allergic to tomatoes and pineapple since the anaphylatic episode.

[LisaJoy]

I'm not allergic to latex. Just seasonal allergies -- I take Claritin for about a month in the spring and in the fall.

[Christine1970]

I am allergic to latex

christine1970

[Lifeisgood]

Thankfully, I am not.

[Gymp]

I'm"not" allergic to latex.

I've developed a sensitivity to penicillin,after being prescribed it many times for various infections over the years with no problem,then one day it was prescribed and I developed a rash after taking it.

I was prescribed Clindamycin for a foot infection once,after taking it for 2 days I developed a bad case of diarrhea,I stopped taking it but the diarrhea continued for months on end.I'll never take that stuff again!

Gymp

[defaero07]

i guess i could fall under the not category myself.:dance2:

[Lifeisgood]

Nope, not allergic.

[Alvy]

I've been tested positive for latex allergy. But no major episodes of allergies. Just rashes and swollen red eyes. =)

[Summer25]

I've been tested positive for latex allergy. But no major episodes of allergies. Just rashes and swollen red eyes. =)

Just becareful. Anaphylaxis can happen at any time.

[Alvy]

Just becareful. Anaphylaxis can happen at any time.

That's nasty. I bought nitrile gloves for myself as I'm currently in a science course and my school doesn't supply non-latex gloves. However, am surrounded by latex gloves during practical sessions. At the hospital, they usually have a hard time finding non-latex gloves as well. I try though. Will it be bad? =/

[Dodger67]

Anaphalaxis can kill!

[Alvy]

What I meant was, would it be bad to be with others who use latex products but not myself because i'm the only one who uses non-latex gloves during science practicals in class. Given that I have mild symptoms, would it take a sudden turn for the worse like anaphylaxis?

[Summer25]

What I meant was, would it be bad to be with others who use latex products but not myself because i'm the only one who uses non-latex gloves during science practicals in class. Given that I have mild symptoms, would it take a sudden turn for the worse like anaphylaxis?

It can all of a sudden turn bad. Before my anaphylatic episode I couldn't even be in a room with people that were using it. I would imediately start wheezing, sneezing, and swelling up. When I first started to become allergic to latex all I would do was break out. No one could figure it out until I was given a latex balloon and swelled up and couldn't breathe. So, I went from just breaking out around the area to wheezing and an asthma attack in a matter of months. I then had to have orthodontic braces and had the same thing happen each time I went back to the orthodontist. I would miss at least a day if not 2 days a month because as I got more into the process, the reactions would last longer. Now, they of course wouldn't use latex gloves on me, but it would be in the room. I usually scheduled my appointments in the morning, but it still didn't help much. Then at the age of 18 I had the anaphylatic shock episode and was on a ventilator for 2 and a half days. Now, we never were told that was what it was, but my doctor that did the surgery made a huge issue about latex the first time I went back after the surgery. I also lost my voice for about 3 months because of the vent moving and either bruising my vocal cords or paralyzing them. I stopped seeing him, then I started having issues again with my kidneys that other doctors didn't want to do anything with. The first time I went back, I found out they went completely latex free. Go figure...lol. He did the surgery that needed to be done and I was home at 3 days due to him saying "I was safer at home, then I was at the hospital." I still had drains in and he still sent me home lol. He also now refuses to see me at the hospital that the anaphylatic shock happened at. He only will see me at the major trauma hospital in the area. Oh and I went back after the anaphylatic shock to get records and absolutely none were found except for the surgery and doctor notes. The surgery notes had been totally redone to look like he was putting me on the vent just for the fun of it, plus the recovery notes only had one piece of paper saying a medication they put me on and a few BP readings. I had woken up twice in the recovery room. Once, I didn't have the vent and I asked what time it was. At that time it was about 5pm. The next time I woke up it was almost 9pm and I was STILL in the recovery room. I however, had the vent in and they were trying to get an iv. I looked to my left and the guy that was getting the iv in was wearing latex gloves. My mom walked in at that time and I freaked out. She saw him and started yelling at him. Within 5 minutes I was broken out in hives, because that was the only reaction I could have, since I was already on the vent. That issue was NO WHERE in the notes. However, we do have when my BP crashed. It was right after I swear I woke up the first time. My BP went from completely normal to 10 minutes later 60/40. But back to the subject, I now can be in a room with latex. No one knows why this happened. I got a tattoo about a year after the surgery and had no reactions from being in the store. I actually was in it twice in 2 days. I however, did develop an allergy to tomatoes and pineapple right after the surgery. My IgE allergy level about a year after surgery was literally off the chart. I think the normal level is under 100. Mine was over 500. So, I will never know what can happen next until it happens. I could totally go back to the wheezing, sneezing, allergy attack or I may stay like this and be ok in a room with it. No one can tell me what will happen. So at all times I carry an Epi Pen and asthma inhalers. I also have a medic alert bracelet, which I should wear more. So, all I can tell you is to becareful.

[sheena]

Fortunately, I haven't developed an allergy to latex, or anything for that matter.

[cadon's mum]

On a recent hospital visit i had to rugby tackle a nurse who was going to touch Cadon whilst wearing latex gloves. He had big signs on his door, his cot and a red band on his leg, there was even a box of blue nitrile gloves on the side next to him. She was very young and very rude, her reply to me when i asked her if she could read was " well he's not actually allergic is he?" and she tried to carry on with the procedure. I had to push her out the door. It made me sooooo angry, where are these people trained?

[sean]

Not, phew!

[sean]

PS. Highly allergic to continence promoters, surgeons, nurses ect, I feel irRASHional around them.LOL!!!

[Sheena51985]

I've had an allergy to latex since I can remember. I went to cath myself one day when I was like 6 or 7, with a red latex catheter back then, and the next thing I know, the "area" involved was swollen. After washing my hands, I had put the catheter back in its sterile environment, and then after that, at some point, touched my eyes/face. Next thing I know, my eyes are swollen shut and lips are swollen. I looked like I had gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson..and lost lol..I laugh about it now, but it got to a point where even Barbie dolls started affecting me, so I had to get rid of all of them.

I've learned to smell latex, so I pretty mucb automatically know if something is latex so I know whether or not I can touch it. I can be in the same room with things like balloons and such. I'm fine, as long as my skin doesn't touch them. If my skin does come in contact with it, I IMMEDIATELY wash the area with soap and water and I don't touch the area for a period of time after that. Then, I'm usually fine.

[starre]

not, thankfully.

[Trout Bum]

Yes, Allergic to the powder, and the glove. Sometimes food that's been prepard by someone wearing latex gloves can cause me to express symptoms.

I run from it in the same way I run from 1st year Med Students! HA!

[stub20]

Yeah, I had tests done when I came up in a rash once, and it came up that I had a mild form of it. Soon after I had an anaphylaxic shock. Since then taken precautions every time.

[bcain]

I get mylar balloons now instead of latex ones. I carry vinyl gloves in the diaper bag, if medical persons cannot find their own, I can give them some.

I am sensitive to latex myself, Sarah hasn't had a reaction yet, but I'm trying to be very careful.