Hi,

I'm 65 and was diagnosed in April w/hypogammaglobulinemia. The finally got the OK from the ins company to do the gamma infusions on June 8th and they ran a drip of Benedryl, then a slow drip of 10cc's of the gamma. I fell asleep and halfway thru the gamma my throat closed over, I started to choke. They stopped it flushed me out w/saline and a small drip of steriods. Now they want to put me in hospital for "a while" and give me steriod infusions WHAT??? I've heard they have very bad side effects, plus do I really need to pick up staph infec while I'm in hospital. Plus on the 22nd of June I'm supposed to have a bone marrow test done. Well I have degerative disc disease and severe osteoporosis, so the bone test should go well, NOT, LOL.

Anyone out there have any ideas?

I had a bad reaction to my first IVIG. The next time they gave me Gammagard SD, an IgA depleted IVIG and I had no reactions at all. They did pump me up with steroid and benadryl beforehand and the procedure was done in the ICU just in case I went into anaphylaxis. But I was fine. No problems except for a mild acne outbreak.

Regards,
The Idiopath
[idiopath.wordpress.com]

there are so many different forms. My husband had a horrible reaction to his first set of treatments. We are now trying a new brand. His Dr. said sometimes it takes a couple of different times to get the right formula. Don't give up!

OMG! This sounds like a huge mess!!! First of all, you did not need a Benadryl drip. You should not have been knocked out for your initial dosing of IVIG. Oral Benadryl of 25mg. and Tylenol 500mg. x2 is quite enough. The side effects of IVIG are related to how fast you are given the medication. I don't know who supplied the nursing for this but it sounds like you may have gotten an inexperienced nurse. Always ask for someone certified in infusion therapy to do any home infusions. Ask the person if they have given this before and have them tell you about the drug and possible side effects. You will know if they are experienced if they can easily explain everything.

You do not need to go in hospital for this...you need a properly educated and experienced nurse. Tell your MD you want to do it at home and arrange for the proper agency. Believe me...not all nurses know what they are doing and not all physicians understand IVIG. Nothing personal...just the truth.