has anyone had allergic reaction to heparin

[tiggerangelgirl]

I wanted to see if anyone has ever had a allergic reaction to small doses of heparin. I have been keeping a small journal because I started to get these real bad headaches and nosebleeds when I bend over, and I knew that there was a connection to my port-a cath flushes. Every month and sometimes more I have to have my port-a -cath flushed with saline and heparin and I have noticed a few hrs later and for about three days I have the worst headaches,fevers and nosebleeds,they became so bad that I have to use icepacks and have even tried migrane medicine that the dr prescribed,you see I have never been a headache person so this is very different to me. Another thing that I have noticed is that three times I have been at the er they ask me what doses of blood thinner im on and i tell them none and they tell me that my levels were very high and maybe the test was wrong,well this has happened 3 times and I have had headaches and fevers each time. On friday my cardiologist sent me to the hospitial because of my fevers and they ran all kinds of cultures and they came out negative,he was thinking that my valves were infected but because of the blood tests being neg. they sent me home. During the stay I had my port-a-cath acsessed and deaccessed when going home and they had to flush it with heparin and today I have an extreme headache and my asthma was bad so when i bent over to get my nebulizer my nose started to bleed. I believe that there is a connection I have had these chronic fevers for awhile now and the bloody noses on and off for about 6mths and then the blood test results,to me it seems likely.
Has anyone ever heard of this, I do have alot of allergies to medications and they only happened after I was given it before so im wondering if this can explain the terrible headaches,fevers and so on. I will defiently be talking to a dr tomorrow, but if anyone has any input please let me know. Also is there an alternate to heparin?

 

[bvdr]

Nicole,

Is the only time you receive heparin during the time they flush your port-a cath?

I don't know if you are having a reaction to the heparin or not. How often is your port-a cath used? Are you still oxygen dependent? I'm hoping that your general well-being will improve that it won't be a major issue for you. Are you feeling much better yet?

 

[Guest]

Heparin allergy is not common but not unknown. There is a condition called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) that can occur with just heparin flushes. Without knowing the name of the test that was quite high there is no way to judge what might be happening. The doctor managing the medication in the Portacath needs to be getting a workup done on you to find out exactly what is going on. This is not something to just wait around on for it to happen again. HIT can be fatal.

 

[Guest]

One of my patients went for heart valve surgery and had HIT develop. She lost her right leg from the knee down and the tip of her tongue to this. I have heard reports from pharmacists where up to 25% (as reported abvove) of the people on a unit have had antibodies. It is more likely to occur with the heparin in an IV drip than with the low molecular weight (injections in the abdomen). However, once it occurs, using the injections in the abdomen is NOT an option.

 

[John & Joann]

Joann can NEVER take Heperin again!!!! She has had the violent reaction to the medication and the blood reacted and started to turn to jello. They now use refludin (leach saliva). Unlike Heperin, it can NOT be reversed. All of her files at Cleveland Clinic have big warning stickers.

The refludin works very well, but does require a skilled medical doctor and nurses to monitor the medication carefully.

Glad to answer any specific questions.