EP10 - Near Death from “Routine” Surgical Clips - Saved by Outspoken PA!

Cheryl went in one way for routine gallbladder surgery and came out another. Prior to surgery Cheryl liked the simple things in life: Outdoor activities, board games, hanging with her kids and watching Netflix. 

Cheryl had a history of jewelry and other allergies, but didn’t think much about it, and especially when going in for emergency gallbladder surgery. The surgery went well, removing a gallbladder with 1500+ stones, but a week after surgery Cheryl found herself suddenly not able to breathe with the worst pain possible. Like she was “shredding from the inside out."

During this ordeal she actually DID stop breathing, forcing the performance of CPR by her then 18 year old daughter. 

Transferred to the emergency room, they cleared some wayward stones from her common bile duct, but then Cheryl started itching and clawing herself open head to toe. Then with no prior history, Cheryl started having Grand Mal seizures and foaming at the mouth. 

Sent home with medications and orders for follow-up the symptoms didn’t stop. Massive hair loss, unbelievable swelling to the point she looked pregnant and couldn’t see her feet. Her skin cracked open and crusted everywhere….all unprecedented. 

Placed on a major amount of steroids, Cheryl underwent several medical referrals and finally wound up at a dermatology clinic with a PA who diagnosed her systemic metal allergy. 

Cheryl’s case was presented to MANY specialty surgical groups and clinics and despite the severity of her symptoms, no one would take her case. They told her to go home and put her affairs in order. 

Finally a physician friend posted about her case in an online group for physicians and surgeons. Cheryl’s case was seen by a surgeon in Miami who knew exactly what kind of surgeon that she needed. Those connections were made and despite trying to die from sepsis on the way into her Florida surgery, she survived and was able to have the clips removed. Waking up from surgery with MANY of the symptoms exiting upon coming out of anesthesia. There was also a severe reaction in that hospital to gadolinium contrast, which many don’t know is a metal agent. 

The surgeon stated he had performed over 30,000 surgeries, many with clips and staples and now was wondering just how safe they actually were and are. He vowed to train students from that time forward.

Cheryl went home to recover and is so glad she lived to tell the tale. 

In this episode you will learn:

● Why a past history of jewelry allergies MUST be in your medical record and discussed with your team prior to surgery.

● That metal allergies show themselves as a delayed reaction for many people.

● Signs and symptoms of metal allergies and why gadolinium is a problem for those with metal hypersensitivity.

● That recovery upon removal IS possible and is often dramatic and able to be documented right out of surgery.

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***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***