Yeah, I know it's "not about the money," but if you don't have any... it kind of is.

Hey Hil, or anyone else with a TENS unit, what kind do you have? I'm looking at this one on Amazon [link] because I somehow busted D's. It's cheap but gets good ratings.

Hey Hil, or anyone else with a TENS unit, what kind do you have? I'm looking at this one on Amazon [link] because I somehow busted D's. It's cheap but gets good ratings.

I got mine through my physical therapist (and argued with the insurance company for a year to get them to pay for it). It's this one: [link]

I'm guessing it was more than $10?

I'm guessing it was more than $10?

I think I ended up paying about $80, with insurance covering the rest, which was a whole lot more.

Help! MEDICAL ADVICE NEEDED

I need advice regarding a possible drug side effect.

I can't remember what I last said here, there have been several ativan dosages in between.

The thing that nearly killed me in 2010 came back...worse, but I dealt with it much better this time and have made two trips to the er.

The first night was Clyndamicin (sp) and Percoset with Tylenol.

I developed a minor rash on my ankle. Did some research, assumed it was the Percoset, though the last time I took it was 1979, so who knows how my tolerance has changed.

Thought I was doing a lot better, then got a call from the er telling me that I had to come back immediately because they'd found bacteria in my blood. Not in an hour, but NOW.

So, more ativan, different iv drugs and a prescription for 'double' bactrim.

Both visits to the er featured a conversation about them keeping me overnight. I refused. Last time, I contracted pneumonia and I was not going to risk that again. Besides, I rest much better here.

Now, the rash is rampant. It was just on the ankle of the afflicted foot, but now it has climb to mid-calf, is covering my chest and all round neck, on one arm, in the areas where bra straps were and on the injection site of the first iv.

It is also creeping onto the sides of my face.

Is this a healing reaction that will go away? Is there something I can put on it, or a bath I can take?

OH, what about my foot, you might ask. It's healing miraculously. I'm serious. The corruption that made one dog walker want to faint has now dried up and is peacefully flaking away. It's still ugly, but it's looking pretty darned healthy.

Except for the itching and irritation under my clothes, I feel a LOT better. My head is clearer and my temperature (which I am obsessively observing) is stable at normal for me.

I have an appointment with a specialist podiatrist in the morning.

I just need to know if I have to go back in for the rash.

eta: I should have mentioned that I called the er this morning to see if I could get the results from yesterday's blood draw and to talk with someone about the rash. The woman said that the would have called me if there was a problem with the tests and that I'd have to come in to show the rash.

bonny, do you have any Benadryl (pill form)? You could take 2 and see if it helps the rash at all. If it does, then keep taking the Benadryl.

Otherwise, I would go in to the ER (or urgent care) for the rash ASAP. A rash that extensive is likely a side effect from a drug (it sounds like it could have been from the clindamycin, but it might also be to the Bactrim). I wouldn't wait on that one -- it's covering too much of your body.

It's almost certainly an allergic reaction, Bonny, and those can become dangerous. It sounds like a really dangerous infection, though. Try taking two benadryl and putting cortisone cream on the rash. If you have any trouble breathing, call 911.

I'm a crazy person who would probably wait, but saner minds may differ.

eta: I see a saner person posted while I was typing.

ETA: What I should have said first was Thank You Steph and Ginger!

A friend is bringing some Benadryl over right now.

My next dosage of Bactrim isn't for another hour and a half...noon here.

Would that be enough time for the rash to be effected by the Benedryl?

It's hard for me to imagine that the reaction is to the Bactrim because I took it for YEARS & YEARS for utis. It doesn't work on them for me anymore, which I mentioned to the doctors.

But, could the Clindamycin be having such a florid effect two days after discontinuation?

ETALSO: I have no other symptoms. No shortness of breath, nausea, headache, pain. And, though there are bumps here and there is not pustulant . Or, however that is spelled.

It's hard for me to imagine that the reaction is to the Bactrim because I took it for YEARS & YEARS for utis. It doesn't work on them for me anymore, which I mentioned to the doctors.

You can develop a drug allergy after taking a drug (whether it worked or not) for years. I wasn't born with an allergy to penicillin; that's what I always was prescribed for my annual strep throat as a kid, with no problem -- until I was 21. It just happens.

But, could the Clindamycin be having such a florid effect two days after discontinuation?

How many days of Clindamycin did you take?

t edit What kind of rash? Bumpy, like hives, or just flat and red?

Harvey sends his best healing purrs, bonny. Sammie is sitting guard at my feet, which is unusual. She keeps looking from Harvey to the iPad, then around the room.