After being evaluated by my doctor and being diagnosed with constant migraine headaches, I was prescribed the drug Zonegran. On September 18, 2008, I took my first dose between 1-2AM before bed. I woke up multiple times that night, thinking I was having a nightmare that caused me not to breathe. So I stepped outside and got some fresh air and a drink of water. I continued with my day and went to work. My chest was tight and I was exhausted (I just thought I was over tired from lack of sleep). I worked at Life Care Center of Medina as a first shift STNA. While there that morning, my chest seemed to be getting tighter and I was extremely weak.
One of my patients noticed that I was pale and just not my usual happy self. One of the nurses took my BP and it happened to be 100/50 and told me to take a break, get some air and have a snack. On my way out, I fell over in the hallway up by the vent unit desk. A co-worker asked me if I was okay and assisted me to the desk to a chair. I told her I was just a little dizzy and need a rest. While resting, I started to have problems breathing. The head of respiratory happened to be the respiratory therapist on that day and he took my Pulse Ox. It seemed to be dropping below 80, so he put an O2 mask to try and bring up my stats.
Next thing I know, I couldn't speak or feel my hands and feet. My feet and hands started contracting and I started crying because I loved my job and I knew from experience in my profession; if you don't use it, you lose it. Then I went unconscious. While unconscious, the DON and head of respiratory placed me flat on the floor in the dining area and got me ready to do the necessary to get me responsive, breathing and make sure I didn't code until the squad got there. Sometime during this process, my husband was also called. I began to regain consciousness while the squad and my husband were both there. Even though I was conscious, I wasn't able to talk, know where I was or who anyone else was. I was given a dose of Benadryl through the IV in the ambulance. I was in and out of consciousness in during my trip to Medina Hospital. But my husband, Miles **, was there the entire trip.
There, the nurses and doctors were extremely rude and unprofessional; assuming that I was on drugs and was yelling at me "What are you on? What did you take?". I couldn't speak (form my words) so I just looked at my husband for help. The doctor told my husband it was psychological and I needed help. My husband and family knew that wasn't the case and my husband tried to tell them about me taking the one dose of Zonegran, but he was overlooked and his words were dismissed. From there, my husband and family finally talked them into sending me to Akron General Hospital and there, a series of tests were ran on me. Eventually, I was able to start communicating again (not with full words but noises). I was treated for a severe allergic reaction to the drug Zonegran.
I still couldn't remember who I was or who anyone else was, except my husband. Then, I spent the next few days intensively trying to rehabilitate the use of my hands, feet, words and memory. My husband and family brought me home and worked with me from there. A couple days after coming home, I was taken back to the hospital for what we were told was an anxiety attack. I was treated and released. During this whole mess, I kept passing out and no one knew why. I went to see a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic (Dr. Fuad). She ran a series of tests and diagnosed me with P.O.T.S. I have never passed out in my entire life before taking Zonegran. Now, almost 3 years after the initial dose of Zonegran, I still pass out and I am not able to work anymore. My quality of life has been compromised because of that one dose of Zonegran consumed. I had to give up my dreams of working as an STNA and going to school to become an RN in pediatrics. No one will hire me because they cannot run the risk of putting a patient's life in my hands if I am passing out at the drop of a hat.
