Nickel allergy

[ucsbgal1971]

Good news I think. Just had two patch tests of the actual cement that will be used if I have the surgery and I tested NEGATIVE!! The blood test was mildly reactive but the two patch tests resulted in no reaction at all. I think I can have the surgery. Have to contact my surgeon to see if he agrees. There may be a light at the end of this dark tunnel.

On another note, I recently went in for a second opinion. I have never had such a terrible experience. I started to explain why I was there and the doctor told me to "Shut up. I can read." Wow! The first impression wasn't so good. Then he read a list of my allergies and told me to "Get out of his office" Good grief was it something I said??? Actually it couldn't have been because I wasn't allowed to say anything. This doctor had one eye bulging out of his head so maybe his excuse is pain. I was somewhat concerned that he might be a blind surgeon. It takes all kinds.

I think I will live to laugh about this whole knee experience one day. I later found out he kicked a nurse in the head in the operating room and had to go to anger management classes. Do you think he was having a bad day? Not! I guess the lesson learned here is to read their ratings and take heed before wasting time and money for an appointment.

 

[Lovestoread]

Great news!

 

[Josephine]

Just had two patch tests of the actual cement that will be used if I have the surgery and I tested NEGATIVE!!

That is terrific news! I have been doing a lot of ringing round my contacts about this stabilizer but though I learned a lot there was nothing that would have been encouraging to you!.

I later found out he kicked a nurse in the head in the operating room and had to go to anger management classes

I have worked with surgeons like that. One deliberately stamped on my hand while I was reaching round his foot to retrieve a used swab, another threw a needle holder complete with needle at one of my scrub nurses, only missing her face because she ducked, and another got cross about a missing hypodermic needle and took me by the shoulders so hard I had finger print bruises, shook me and nose about 2mm from my nose, screamed in my face in a total tantrum like a 2 year old!

I was so traumatised, I shook for almost an hour afterwards. That one I reported to the manager but three levels of manager came to talk me out of my official complaint because he was a known bully and they didn't know how to deal with him! Most gutting thing was that although he apologised to the sister in charge of the theatre he never apologised to me.

There are some class A bullies around in surgery but the most ironic thing was a comment I heard from a clinical psychologist that the personality traits of surgeons isn't that much different from that of a serial killer! Think about it!

As for your bog-eyed 'friend', doesn't sound like the kind of doctor you want just now!

 

[ditzy dinah]

wonderful news UCSBgal!! way to go! by the way, of no relevance, but I was raised in Santa Barbara. Left when I was nearly 15.

Do you think he was having a bad day?[/quote]

the personality traits of surgeons isn't that much different from that of a serial killer!

OMG!!! Our lives in their hands !! Doesn't bear thinking about too closely does it?? Well you know what they say about brilliant people? They are usually deficient in other areas... social skills or lack of for these two arrogant surgeons, and that's just for starters! I bet they had difficulty sleeping nights! Can't have been happy bunnies!!

Hope your surgeon is happy to go ahead now, you won't want to try out another surgeon again ..once bitten twice shy!!

 

[Lovestoread]

How scary! Hope you high-tailed it out of there! Sounds like the last thing ou need right now! So thrilled for you to find out that you had no reaction! And Josephine, I can't believe you didn't get an apology....wait a minute, yes I can.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Good grief, Josephine! You worked under horrendous stress! Those surgeons should be charged with assault and you and the others assaulted should be compensated. I am not much of a suing kind of person but there is a limit. I can see the analogy of serial killer. I believe in Karma. What you cast out comes back tenfold. I wouldn't want to be them. They must have miserable lives. It is scary to think we are at the mercy of these crazy people.

Thanks for looking into the bone cement issue for me. I hope I will be safe. It is a gamble I guess. I tried to walk around yesterday without my walker and did not use the wheelchair at all. My knees complained to me all night about such mistreatment. That tells me I have to do something.

Ditzy Dinah, I loved Santa Barbara. I lived there from 1967-1973. Too bad employment isn't so great there or I would never have left. It has really changed though. It makes me sad when I go back and see all of the development. They have ruined the campus at UCSB. I understand they have some great orthopedic doctors up there, however. I wish I lived closer.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Lovestoread, On a brief note of irrelevance, I too am from the Chicago and Iowa areas. We lived in Iowa City, Des Moines, and Des Plaines when I was a child. My father and uncle were professors at the University of Iowa. It is a small world isn't it?

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Josephine, was wondering if you have an ideas about a possible reaction to the bone cement I experienced. The doctor first taped a nickel sized piece of hardened cement to my forearm. The reaction was zero. He then told me to go home and turn the hardened cement into powder, put the power on a piece of tape, and then tape that to my forearm. I went home and put the little piece of cement in a ziplock back and lightly pounded it with a hammer until it was in tiny pieces. Then I put it in my mortar and pestel and ground and pounded away. I ended up with a bad headache because I wasn't thinking and had my face close to the cement as I was trying hard not to lose any of it. I think I breathed some of it in and that probably gave me a headache. The other thing that happened was i got this prickly burning sensation on my face. Particles probably bounced up and hit me in the face. That was easily remedied by washing my face. Do you think that experience is an indication about a possible allergy? When I took the tape off, there was no mark at all on my skin. My doctor talked about stage 1 and 4 allergies. I guess a 4 is when it is in your bloodstream. I hope as the cement degrades and goes into my blood system the result will not be cumulative and that I will not end up with an allergic reaction. My allergist could not answer the question as to whether it will be cumulative or not. Did you come across anything about a cumulative reaction in your research? Do you think that the fact it stung my face is a bad omen?

 

[Josephine]

Those surgeons should be charged with assault

Well, incident #1 happened in 1957, #2 in 1980 and #3 in 1997. For the first two, there wasn't any protocol for complaining about that sort of thing and it was only just coming into being with #3. I certainly wouldn't stand for it now or allow any junior to stand for it. How things have moved on.

They must have miserable lives.

Not really - most surgeons are very nice, compassionate types, just like our Orthodoc ! I'm more than happy to put my safety, well-being and life into the hands of such people.

I think I breathed some of it in and that probably gave me a headache.
I hope as the cement degrades and goes into my blood system

I cannot imagine your surgeon having you do that! The allogens are only active from the powder and monomer before they are mixed. Once mixed and hardened, it is totally different substance which is inert and stable and doesn't degrade and get into your blood stream. There is no evidence whatsoever to support that as a theory!

 

[BeckyR]

ucsbgal1971, I'm "visiting" this morning from the hippy side of the forum, and saw your posting about the University of Iowa. I was there from 1967-1970, graduating with a BA in English. Your father and uncle were probably professors there at the time????? Go, Hawkeyes!

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Jesephine, Yes, my statement was a gross generality. I am sure there are some very compassionate doctors out there. My doctor, in fact, fits into that category. He is always rushed but he seems to be a kind person. I have met some crazy ones in my lifetime however. Now that this is the era of Internet and doctor ratings, they are going to have to be careful the way they treat people because they will find a black mark next to their names on the Internet if they don't, and that can't be good for business.

"Once mixed and hardened, it is totally different substance which is inert and stable and doesn't degrade and get into your blood stream."

I read that both the metal and cement degrades and goes into the bloodstream over time and that was the cause of allergic reactions post surgery in people. I think I read about it on the Orthopedic Analysis Lab site. I hope you are correct on that one. In fact, I would give anything at this point for you to be right about that one. I wish I could find out for sure somehow. My biggest fear about this surgery is the allergy question. If you are correct, the tests my allergist did are of no value at all. I should have been tested on the powder and liquid. If they are only allegens before they are mixed, and since I won't be mixing it, there shouldn't be a problem at all. How is it then that people end up with allergic reactions to the cement? Does it occur when the substance is still wet and applied to the bone? If that is true, why does the allergic reaction persist once the cement hardens?

This morning, my leg collapsed when I was getting out of bed and I fell down and hit my head on the wall. This knee situation is starting to be no joke at all. I had one heck of a time trying to get up off of the floor and now my neck hurts. Sometimes living alone is the pits. One other thing that obtuse doctor said is he wouldn't operate on me because I don't have support at home. Maybe he is right. I hope the inpatient rehab for two weeks will be enough. I am so tired of all of this pain, worry, and question! Not a good way to start the day

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Becky, Go Hawkeyes! Both my father and uncle accepted positions at universities in California in the early sixties. We were in Iowa in the late 50's and early 60's. I was in school one year behind you but in California. Hope your recovery goes well. Best wishes to you. Pam

 

[BeckyR]

ucsbgal1971, Sorry I missed them -- bet they were great! I hope you can get some clarity with the challenges you are facing about allergies, so that you can get the help you need.

 

[ditzy dinah]

So glad you loved Santa Barbara, I did too! I lived there from 1955 - 1963 a large part of my childhood and education. I was at La Cumbre Junior High when I left. The population was 50,000 then. I visited about 10 years ago and was amazed at all the changes, it has become so upmarket!!I have many happy memories of childhood , early teenage years and summers spent on the beach!

Do hope everything works out for you regarding your possible allergies. You need those new knees! Falling getting out of bed sounds horrendous! Do know what you mean about struggling to get up off the floor. I have got myself down trying to get things out of low down cupboards, and then spent ages manouvering myself back up again,,,it has no been without extreme effort! Also it is quite a while since I have risked sitting down in the bath,,,the last time I tried I thought I was never going to get out!! Good luck We're rooting for you! :

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Thanks for the well wishes. I know what you mean about getting out of the tub Ditzy Dinah. I have given up on tub baths. My Simbisc I shot has worn off so pain is now an issue and I am not steady on my feet. I am starting to see clearly now that the surgery is a must. I hope my doctor will still do my surgery in spite of my UTI situation and allergies. The obtuse doctor told me another reason he couldn't do the surgery was because Morphine makes me pretty sick. It would seem to me that there must be another alternative. Are you aware of an alternatives to morphine?z

 

[Lovestoread]

Lovestoread, On a brief note of irrelevance, I too am from the Chicago and Iowa areas. We lived in Iowa City, Des Moines, and Des Plaines when I was a child. My father and uncle were professors at the University of Iowa. It is a small world isn't it?

It is indeed a small world! Hubby grew up in Des Moines and we lived for two years in Iowa City (Coralville actually) while he got his Master's. I worked at the U. of Iowa Hospital at the time!

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Josephine, I have another concern. My scalp has broken out in acne like sores time and again for years. I have used everything under the sun to get rid of it and I wash my hair every day. It usually wanes after I take antiobiotics but returns within a few days after stopping them. Would this scalp condition be a concern as far as the possibility of infection in a TKR? I am afraid to mention this to the doctor after having that bad experience with the other doctor as I fear he may back out on me. On the other hand, it would be no good having the surgery if I have a high possibility of infection from UTI's and the scalp problem. Maybe a TKR isn't in the cards for me because of the various health issues. I am in fear of the doctor as I have brought up the allergy problem and other health issues and now if I mention the scalp condition as well he will feel it is too much and refuse to do the surgery. I suppose it would be for my own good but staying in the wheelchair is a fate I am trying to avoid.

 

[ditzy dinah]

I'm sure there are alternatives to morphine, diamorphine for one, but whether they are from the same derivatives, and therefore still cause you problems??? Josephine is the best person to ask about this one,she has made a comparasion chart of all the different analgesics, and compares their strength to morphine, and you can find it one this site. Good luck!! If you have a spinal and nerve block, I am led to believe, you have better pain relief in the first 24 hours, and don,t need as much of the heavy stuff in that period, maybe that would help you?

My, my I am so sorry, you have so many problems, that must be such a worry for you. Could they not just keep you on a low level of antibiotics, throughout the pre and post operative period? For your scalp condition? Many people with certain chronic conditions are on low level antibiotics for life!. I am sure you are right when you say you need to mention this to your surgeon, maybe this won't be as big a problem for you as you fear. I hope not....good luck to you, you know what you want and need and your determination to move forward is your best friend! Again good luck!

 

[Josephine]

Would this scalp condition be a concern as far as the possibility of infection in a TKR?

Sounds like you have a simple case of 'scalp acne' which should be no issue at all with your joint replacement.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Yikes, at least mine isn't that bad. Thanks for the information. I guess my only concern now is the UTI situation.. Will be seeing a new urologist on Wednesday. Trying to dot all of my i's and cross the t's before this surgery.