Guest guest Posted February 26, 2001 Report Share Posted February 26, 2001 Sheila, you should let the hospital know. I believe that in my pre-op questioning at the hospital before surgery, they asked me if I was allergic to latex. Don't know if they'll ask at your hospital, so it sure wouldn't hurt to offer that info. Wonder if there's any way you can be tested beforehand to determine if what you have really is a latex allergy... > latex allergy? > > > I think I may have developed an allergy to latex rubber type > materials. When our Volunteer Fire Dept goes on medical calls we all > wear latex gloves and they have started making my hands break out in > a rash and I also have a kind of rubber like wrist wrest that makes > me break out the same way. Is this something that I should mention > to Doc or the hospital? I really don't know that it is a big > deal just something I noticed. > > Sheila > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2001 Report Share Posted February 26, 2001 I don't know other than exposure how they test for it. Now I don't wear latex type clothing lol so it may not be anything to worry about but it does make my hands itch like mad after wearing the gloves. I would think if I had to have an open surgery and they stuck their latex covered hands inside me it might cause some reaction. I'll just mention it and if they look at me silly then oh well lol Sheila > Sheila, you should let the hospital know. I believe that in my pre- op > questioning at the hospital before surgery, they asked me if I was allergic > to latex. Don't know if they'll ask at your hospital, so it sure wouldn't > hurt to offer that info. Wonder if there's any way you can be tested > beforehand to determine if what you have really is a latex allergy... > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2001 Report Share Posted February 26, 2001 > Is this something that I should mention > to Doc or the hospital? I really don't know that it is a big > deal just something I noticed. > Sheila, You should **ALWAYS** mention any allergic reactions when admitted to a hospital, or medical forms when they ask " are you allergic to anything? " . Even if it seems unimportant to you, you have no idea what procedures and equipment are used when you are under anesthesia and for tests etc so never hold anything back if you have allergic reactions to anything! Let the medical people decide if its important, your obligation is to give the imformation they ask and answer the best you can. FYI some people are allergic to the powder found in some latex gloves and not the latex itself mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2001 Report Share Posted February 27, 2001 A latex allergy is a big deal. It is not just about the gloves, but there are so many pieces of medical equipment that are made of latex rubber, an item for instance is the endotracheal tube used to intubate you, not a good thought that an item of that size of latex going down into your lungs and you being allergic to it. Please make sure you ask during your pre op eval, or if you have already completed it, that you make some phone calls. It makes things more difficult but not impossible. It requires that all equipment coming into contact with you be non latex. The problem with a latex allergy is that the latex products actually bleed latex protein off of itself, that is what you are allergic to in a true latex allergy. A true allergy generally does not get better for more exposure but increases the allergic response each and every time you are exposed and can be inclusive of an anaphylaxtic reaction that can cause death, even when promptly treated in some cases. I have known at least one resp. tech and one pediatric anesthisiologist that needed to find other work because of their latex allergy. It was a sad end to two careers. An interesting note on the relative new problem of latex allergy. Because of the demand for latex gloves and other disposable medical items, a great manufacturing crisis came about. supply and demand were not compatable. This caused inferior latex products to be produced and imported into the country. These inferiour products bled latex proteins at a faster rate and amount than more quality products. The cumulative effects of exposure to these inferior products have been sited as a factor in the developement of latex allergies and the ended of some medical/nursing and allied health careers and patient exposure injury. It is my understanding that there are several class action suits going on that deal with the very problem of career ending exposures and these inferior products. Please notify your doctor, and the hospital about this concern. You may require further testing, ie. allergy testing concerning this or simply added precautions surrounding exposing you to latex products. good luck, deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2001 Report Share Posted February 27, 2001 Sheila- definitely MENTION IT TO dR sMITH.. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE STARTING A LATEX ALLERGY.. EACH EXPOSURE WILL WORSEN THE REACTION UNTIL YOU CAN HAVE AN ANAPHYLACTIC RESPONSE. Stupid caplock.. sorry, everyone.. Seriously, Sheila- Ask for non-latex gloves on your EMT runs, and get rid of that wrist rest... Also- definitely tell Dr . Latex allergies are nothing to fool with. Best luck, hun- Liane Preop, Dr BMI 60 > I think I may have developed an allergy to latex rubber type > materials. When our Volunteer Fire Dept goes on medical calls we all > wear latex gloves and they have started making my hands break out in > a rash and I also have a kind of rubber like wrist wrest that makes > me break out the same way. Is this something that I should mention > to Doc or the hospital? I really don't know that it is a big > deal just something I noticed. > > Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2001 Report Share Posted February 27, 2001 YES< YES< YES! Sheila, Most definately mention this to Dr. . It may only be a small reaction but you at any time could have a severe reaction. Let him decide if he wants to take chance. they can use other gloves while working on you that are latex free. Vera- Lansdale,Pa Bmi-61 Dr. Herron / Dr. Pomp assisting @ Mt. Sinai, New York Open BPD/DS done 01/26/01 PCP scale 4 weeks out -30lbs gone forever as of 2/21/01 ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2001 Report Share Posted February 27, 2001 At USC UH, they used purple gloves. I said " how cute, " but the nurse let me know that they were not intended to be cool or cute, but to differentiate between latex and plastic, which the purple gloves were made of, because of the unforseen problems of patients being allergic to latex. That was all they used while I was in the hospital, and I know I don't have an allergy. I think it is standard practice at some hospitals. If it isn't at yours, of course tell them of your special circumstances. Robin F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2001 Report Share Posted February 27, 2001 At OHSU, they only used the non-latex gloves. And they were purple, too. Joy Frost Age: 48 Open DS with Welker Date: 2-5-01 Weight at time of surgery: 255 lbs BMI: 48.2 Weight as of 2-23-01: 244 BMI: 46.2 (-11 lbs) http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html Re: latex allergy? > At USC UH, they used purple gloves. I said " how cute, " but the nurse > let me know that they were not intended to be cool or cute, but to > differentiate between latex and plastic, which the purple gloves were > made of, because of the unforseen problems of patients being allergic to > latex. That was all they used while I was in the hospital, and I know I > don't have an allergy. I think it is standard practice at some > hospitals. If it isn't at yours, of course tell them of your special > circumstances. > > Robin F > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2001 Report Share Posted February 28, 2001 Some times it just the powder inside the gloves that irritates your hand. I use to have to wear latex gloves almost all day as a CNA in a nursing home. We could get them with out the powder and my hands didn't itch any more. Hope this helps. Darlene Darlene from Maine BMI 42.9 Waiting to meet Dr. Aslam May 24, 2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2001 Report Share Posted February 28, 2001 When I had my baby, they thought that I was allergic to latex. (Turns out I am not.) It was such a big deal they closed off my room from the rest of the maternity ward and required the nurses to re-gown before seeing me. They also brought in a hepa filter the size of a refrigerator because of the latex dust in the air. I had to have different tubes and syringes and all of that. Your hospital should be prepared for you. Machelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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