Horrible Summer Cold - No Enbrel

[Guest guest]

Friday night I started having symptoms of a cold, and it has turned

into a vicious one. I knew I'd need some white blood cells one day, or

do they even help to fight off colds? I was miserable all weekend but

went to my PCP on Monday. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic

and a sample bottle and prescription for some cough syrup called Prolex

DH.

I should have used the sample before having the prescription filled,

but I felt so bad I didn't want to have to be going back to the

drugstore the next day. When I got home, I read the sheet that came

with the Prolex. It mentioned something about allergy to codeine, which

I think I have. I called and spoke to the pharmacist. He asked if I had

a true allergy to codeine; did it make me break out in a rash? I said

no, it made my heart race. He said Prolex has hydrocodone, kind of a

synthetic codeine, so it shouldn't bother me.

So on Monday I took the Prolex four times as prescribed. It didn't make

me break out in a rash, but it did make me feel awful. Yesterday I

didn't take any until bedtime. When I woke up, I had a hangover. I

might not be allergic to it, but I certainly don't like the way it

makes me feel: my head feels like a balloon, with water sloshing around

in it.

I went down to the drugstore today to make sure they have codeine

allergy listed on my chart because I don't want any more, nor do I want

any hydrocodone. My insurance didn't even help pay for it (must not be

on their formulary), so I paid $35 for an expensive lesson. I'm going

to remind my PCP, also, not to prescribe me any.

I've also been afraid to inject Enbrel since I do have a croupy

sounding cough, but my RA seems to be cooperating for now.

Sue