Infliximab: Turns out I'm allergic to dead mouse

About a month after I was diagnosed, I was started on Infliximab, which is medicine that is in infused through a drip. I had to go to the hospital and sit in a chair for about three hours while this drug was put into my bloodstream. It started off every two weeks, then every four until eventually I should only have to go every six weeks. 

I quite enjoyed going to that department in the hospital, all the nurses where loverly and I enjoyed listening to their banter. They didn't take themselves very seriously, which was really nice because a hospital is quite a serious place.

I was usually surrounded by old people having blood transfusions and where very ill. But one day, I was sat next to this man, whose son was with him. He started talking to me and asking what I was there for and I told him everything about my crohns and he told me everything about his cancer. He even got his son to go and buy me a packet of quavers because I didn't like any of the food. I got home and both him and his son had added me on Facebook. Had I just made a friend at hospital?

Infliximab seemed to be working. I was having less stomach aches and I was eating better. Everything looked like it was going up.

On the day that I was due my third infusion, I decided I would go on my own. I was used to having needles prodded into my arm and all I did was sit there. I got dropped off and my grandma set a time that she would return. The gentleman that I had met on my second infusion was there with his wife and sat next to me. She told me that she had 'heard a lot about me.' I didn't realise I had such a big affect on them.

Whilst chatting to them both, I suddenly started to feel very hot and clammy and my chest felt tight, it was as if someone had put a pile of bricks on it. I called over the nurse. She immediatly stopped the drip. The gentlemen's wife held a sick bowl for me and held my hair whilst I was sick. I was taken over to a bed in the corner of the room and the curtains pulled round. The doctor was called. Adrenaline was being prepared. 

I had an anaphylactic shock. 

Apparently I am allergic to the dead mouse that is used.

Luckily I didn't have to have any adrenaline. Being sick seemed to do the job. But this lady that I had only just met stayed with me the entire time. And I am so thankful for that because it was so nice to have someone who wasn't a nurse or a doctor just to hold my hand. 

That was the end to Infliximab.