Bedbugs symptoms and conditions

I had intense stomach pain and diarrhea after one dose. Called Dr. on call, she said it was a separate virus from my UTI, and to continue doses. After last dose 2 days ago, I broke out in terrible hives that itch uncontrollably, and looks like I have a chemical burn behind my ears and scalp. I thought it was bedbugs from a hotel, until my eye swelled up. Went to Dr. today, she said it might be allergic reaction to the Macrobid, but was weird that it came after all doses. I have also been sleeping for the past two days with NO energy...

Add me to the club!

I dropped my son off at college upstate NY and decided to stay over at a motel due to traffic and bad weather. I was laying down on top of the bedspread when I noticed a lump on my right hip. Then I found two more smaller ones on my left hip. I immed. thought the motel had fleas or bedbugs or something. I was looking around for bugs/fleas but everything was very clean. I then went down to use the elliptical in the motel gym, came back, took a shower, watched TV and then fell asleep. I woke up about an hour later with severe pressure in the center of my chest and itching "down there". I scratched and then noticed these hives all over between my thighs. I still had the three on my hips too. I again searched for bugs and found nothing. I had already switched beds and was sleeping without the bedspread on. The next morning I felt a numbness in the left side of my mouth/chin. I called my wife, who is a nurse. She told me to get some Benadryl. I checked with the local pharmacy and they recommended Benadryl too. I took three doses total that day (6) pills and drove home.

That night, instead of being better, I was worse. I now had the thighs, hips and also the upper back by my armpits and around my waist, where the waistband of my pans/underwear sits. I went to the E.R. and told them I might be having an allergic reation and they saw me immed. I also had difficulty swallowing and right side of my chin/mouth was now slightly swollen and numb. I spent the night in the E.R. and was given IV Benadryl, 2 Zantac, as Zantac can stop the inflammation in a different way, and an epi pen shot. I left the E.R. about 630 in the morning feeling 50% better and with a Rx for oral steroids.

The steroids seem to be working very well. I am lucky to have a good primary doctor who returned my call immed. and told me to take the steroids and the Benadryl, discontinue the Lisinopril immed. and come to see him. The fools at my endocrinologists office dismissed my complaint and told me that it was probably from the Chinese food I had for dinner that night. The endocrinologist, Dr. Jeffrey Shiff of Massapequa, NY, didn't even return my call, someone from his office did. This woman told me that she reviewed my medications and didn't think any of these things caused my hives/allergic reaction. I told her that the internet was full of blogs and boards about Lisinopril and hives. She told me that since I had been on Lisinopril for two years, it was unlikely that this was a reaction to that drug. She said they see people all the time with this reation to Chinese food.

There is nothing on the internet describing this reaction to Chinese food. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, from too much MSG, results in rapid heartbeat and a pounding headache, not hives and a sore esophagus.

The nurse in the E.R, told me they see 2-3 people per week with allergic reactions to ACE inhibitiors. Not just Lisinopril, but all ACE inhibitors.

In all fairness, it could have been the Chinese food, I had some sushi and some peanut butter chicken for dinner, but I have eaten these things before and never had a problem. I did have that feeling of fullness/blocked esophagus before I ate dinner and I chalked that up to eating a heavy lunch and then sitting in the car for a few hours.

In retrospect, I suspect that was from the Lisinopril, as I have had that feeling before after eating hamburgers and the like and then sitting, but only since being on Lisiopril. I have also had that full feeling after dinner, even when walking after dinner.

Like my G.P. says, it could be from anything, but it is very likely from the Lisinopril.

I will follow up with an allergist after this episode is over to see if I have developed an allergy to nuts or seafood or something, but when I think back to that "full" feeling in the esophagus, I think it is the Lisinopril.