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Author Topic: Almost died today taking the pills that keep my kidney alive!  (Read 4317 times)
kellyt
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« on: August 26, 2011, 07:36:49 PM »
I have NEVER had problems taking pills.  Big pills, little pills, capsules, chalky, yucky tasting, etc.  But today I popped my morning dose in my mouth (2 Prograf, 2 Cellcept, Pepcid and a 4th) and when I did I must have taken a deep breath in through my mouth cause the all the pills got sucked down and lodged in my throat.  I couldn't breathe!   :o   I have never had this happen before!  I was coughing/gagging like a freak, and the entire time thinking "Where can I throw my self to give me the Heimlich?!?!  Finally one of the Prograf and one of the other pills came flying out.  I could breathe better but my throat still felt really strange.  I drank some water and was still breathing ok.  Within minutes of this I received a call from my doc's office to reschedule my upcoming appt., but didn't mention this to the idiot nurse.  I could tell my voice was not normal and after I got off the phone I was able to vomit a little and one of the Cellcept came out.  I got new pills and retook everything I lost and my throat hurt for the rest of the day, but I learned a big lesson.  I need to slow down with my pills!   :banghead;
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1993 diagnosed with glomerulonephritis.
Oct 41, 2007 - Got fistula placed.
Feb 13, 2008 - Activated on "the list".
Nov 5, 2008 - Received living donor transplant from my sister-in-law, Etta.
Nov 5, 2011 - THREE YEARS POST TRANSPLANT!  :D
lmunchkin
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« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2011, 07:57:52 PM »
My goodness, Kelly, that is scary stuff there GF!  Ah, can you just take a pill at a time, instead of a HANDFUL!  LOL  Glad you are ok.

lmunch
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11/2004 Hubby diag. ESRD, Diabeties, Vascular Disease & High BP
12/2004 to 6/2009 Home PD
6/2009 Peritonitis , PD Cath removed
7/2009 Hemo Dialysis In-Center
2/2010 BKA rt leg & lt foot (all toes) amputated
6/2010 to present.  NxStage at home
boswife
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us and fam easter 2013
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2011, 08:02:05 PM »
This just freeked me out as i CANT hardly take a little single pill much less a handful.and have had the 'non ability to breath' because of it and it's horrably scarry.  Ohhhhhh please slow it down..  This just gave me the creeps.   Glad your ok  :grouphug;
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im a california wife and cargiver to my hubby
He started dialysis April 09
We thank God for every day we are blessed to have together.
november 2010, patiently (ha!) waiting our turn for NxStage training
January 14,2011 home with NxStage
The Noob
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« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2011, 08:07:13 PM »
if you do this, wait 30 seconds for the gag reflex. if you are able, and that hasn't happened, call 911, then you can effectively give yourself the abdominal thrust. if you are able and haven't passed out yet. put your hands in a fist clenched and push in and up hard. you can also lean over a soft chair or even the couch and try. don't injure yourself. wait for gag reflex first. it takes less or about a minute to pass out if your really choking. call 911 first.

the Heimlich maneuver was renamed the abdominal thrust a few years back because Dr. Heimlich was still alive and well and practicing at a hospital in Cincinnati. He didn't like his name being used without getting royalties for it.
well gotta figure eh?  :P
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YLGuy
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« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2011, 09:25:49 PM »
kellyt: Glad you are okay. VERY scary. 

The noob: 30 seconds would feel like a lifetime when you can't breath. 
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okarol
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« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2011, 09:40:32 PM »
Thanks for sharing that Kelly - it's a good reminder of what not to do!
I am glad you came through it ok!  :cuddle;
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Admin for IHateDialysis 2008 - 2014, retired.
Jenna is our daughter, bad bladder damaged her kidneys.
Was on in-center hemodialysis 2003-2007.
7 yr transplant lost due to rejection.
She did PD Sept. 2013 - July 2017
Found a swap living donor using social media, friends, family.
New kidney in a paired donation swap July 26, 2017.
Her story ---> https://www.facebook.com/WantedKidneyDonor
Please watch her video: http://youtu.be/D9ZuVJ_s80Y
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Jean
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« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2011, 01:14:06 AM »
WOW, Kelly, glad you are okay. Slow down on taking those pills, we need you to stick around longer.
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One day at a time, thats all I can do.
The Noob
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« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2011, 07:18:07 AM »
it sure will, but the gag reflex should start in first 5-10 seconds. 30 seconds is really cutting it. been on so many calls just like this, almost always, issue was corrected just before we got there. still better to be safe than sorry.
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olivia
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« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2011, 08:58:22 AM »
Wow how scary! Glad to hear you are ok? How does your throat feel now? Still sore? How ironic that the pills to save us can be the end of us.  :cuddle;
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paris
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« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2011, 09:16:22 AM »
Don't scare me, Kelly!  Glad you got the pills out.   I have never thought of this problem.  I take 12 at night -- just pop them in at one time and don't give it a second thought.  The capsules can be a little sticky, but, again I never thought anything about it.  NOW I will.  I'll break them into groups.  I can't imagine taking one at a time!  I want to get them in and be done.     Thanks for sharing your experience.  I'll slow down from now on.  I don't want my life saving drugs to kill me!!   :rofl;
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« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2011, 09:56:22 AM »
Ooooooh! Nooooooooo!

Kelly.....I am glad you got this resolved! Carl spaces his pills out. It looks like a meal to see the pile he has to take.

 :grouphug;

Aleta
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Carl transplanted with cadaveric kidney, February 3, 2011. :)
rsudock
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« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2011, 05:12:45 PM »
phew crisis adverted....be careful!!! Glad you were okay!

xo,
R
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Born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
1995 - AV Fistula placed
Dec 7, 1999 cadaver transplant saved me from childhood dialysis!
10 transplant years = spleenectomy, gall bladder removed, liver biopsy, bone marrow aspiration.
July 27, 2010 Started dialysis for the first time ever.
June 21, 2011 2nd kidney nonrelated living donor
September 2013 Liver Cancer tumor.
October 2013 Ablation of liver tumor.
Now scans every 3 months to watch for new tumors.
Now Status 7 on the wait list for a liver.
How about another decade of solid health?
glitter
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« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2011, 08:39:30 PM »
Glad you are okay girl- that sounds scarey- ditto what they said -slow down, you're needed on this planet!
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Jack A Adams July 2, 1957--Feb. 28, 2009
I will miss him- FOREVER

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Sluff
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« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2011, 06:29:02 PM »
Quote from: kellyt on August 26, 2011, 07:36:49 PM
I have NEVER had problems taking pills.  Big pills, little pills, capsules, chalky, yucky tasting, etc.  But today I popped my morning dose in my mouth (2 Prograf, 2 Cellcept, Pepcid and a 4th) and when I did I must have taken a deep breath in through my mouth cause the all the pills got sucked down and lodged in my throat.  I couldn't breathe!   :o   I have never had this happen before!  I was coughing/gagging like a freak, and the entire time thinking "Where can I throw my self to give me the Heimlich?!?!  Finally one of the Prograf and one of the other pills came flying out.  I could breathe better but my throat still felt really strange.  I drank some water and was still breathing ok.  Within minutes of this I received a call from my doc's office to reschedule my upcoming appt., but didn't mention this to the idiot nurse.  I could tell my voice was not normal and after I got off the phone I was able to vomit a little and one of the Cellcept came out.  I got new pills and retook everything I lost and my throat hurt for the rest of the day, but I learned a big lesson.  I need to slow down with my pills!   :banghead;

I've done that before while driving...they some times stick together and become one big lump. Glad you made it through.
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jbeany
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« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2011, 08:04:44 PM »
Breathing is a gooooood thing! 
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sullidog
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« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2011, 08:13:17 PM »
I've done that on only one pill some times, I just wait for the reflux. The nephro caps softjels seem to get stuck the most, I think it's cause they have a sticky coding on them.
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May 13, 2009, went to urgent care with shortness of breath
May 19, 2009, went to doctor for severe nausea
May 20, 2009, admited to hospital for kidney failure
May 20, 2009, started dialysis with a groin cath
May 25, 2009, permacath was placed
august 24, 2009, was suppose to have access placement but instead was admited to hospital for low potassium
august 25, 2009, access placement
January 16, 2010 thrombectomy was done on access
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« Reply #16 on: August 29, 2011, 10:35:35 AM »
Gosh, SO glad you're here to tell the tale!  I'll be watching Blokey closely from now on and scolding him if I see him taking too many in one go!
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- wife of kidney recepient (10/2011) -
venting myself online since 2003 (personal blog)
grumbles of a dialysis wife-y (kidney blog)
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Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt.
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