Overdose or Allergy? Neither, Respiratory Infection.

A few weeks ago, I developed a cough. Didn't think much of it, didn't come along with any other symptoms, just an annoying cough that kept me awake at night. I was at Target so I decided to just grab a bottle of Vick's cough syrup. After 2 days of accidently (and unknowingly) taking double-dosages, I noticed my hands were swollen, red and itchy. Since I noticed this at 6 am on my way to my personal training session, I took 2 Advil and called it good (cause my legs were still killing me from Monday's session and there was no way I was going to make it through another round of squats, lunges, and stiff leg lifts without pain killers). But by that evening, my hands and feet were so itchy and red and swollen. I rubbed in some hydrocortizone cream, took another dose of cough syrup and went straight to bed. When I woke up Thursday morning, I still had the rash on my feet and hands, but now it was starting to appear on my knees. I decided I was going to head into work for a few hours to pass off my assignment, and then head to the doctor.

Turned out Thursday was not a quick day for me. On Monday, the company I work at, Safeco, was bought by Liberty Mutual (not all that publicized due to all the other business shake ups of late and the collapse of another 'mutual' in the Seattle area...) so when I got to work on Thursday, there was a mad dash project to strip our training down so Liberty Mutual employees could start training on the Safeco products. I was swamped all day, didn't even have time to eat lunch, but didn't even realize it until 6 pm. My hands, feet, and legs were still itchy, so I decided to make an appointment to see a doctor, that night. (But being brand-new to my health insurance plan, I had to find one first!) Found one provider that was still open, in the town I lived in, so I hurried there straight from work. Unfortunately, she was a complete idiot.

Best she could surmise it was an "allergic reaction" but she couldn't figure out why I had it, and prescribed quite an extensive dosing schedule of prescription strength anti-histamines. When I got home, I checked the label of the Vick's cough syrup- big warning: Discontinue use if redness, swelling or rash occur. Oh, and I'd been taking 30 ml doses instead of their recommended 15 ml max in 24 hours. OOPS!

I stopped taking the Vick's and after 4 days on the prescription anti-histamines, I still have my rash, and have developed quite a cold to go with it!! I was TOO sick to make it to my personal training session this morning, and even called in sick to work. Went back to the doctor and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (by a different doctor). Got another round of drugs (Glad I picked the job with the better health plan!), and am currently waiting for things to improve...