Near death experience.

I wanted to share with you my terrifying near death experience.   I work as a civilian contractor in Iraq.  When we get sick we see paramedics and physicians assistants.  I had an average sinus infection, HORRIBLE SAND STORMS.  I was so sick and my head and face hurt so bad that when the medics gave me the three little zip lock baggies with medication in it , with no names on them, and said take this for this three times a day and this for that twice a day, i just said thanks and went back to my room for my "1 day sick day".   Well little did I know that the one baggie contained Naproxin!   The FIRST dose of that "harmless" anti inflammitory started a upper GI bleed.  I HAD NO IDEA..........I'm an EMT and can tell you that the ONLY symptoms I had were a headache and extreme fatigue that continued to get worse over the next 3 days.  On the 3rd day I went back to the medics who told me that "i was dehydrated" and they gave me 3 IV bags of fluid and an anti inflammitory through my IV, which my head hurt so bad I didnt even know they gave it to me.  On the 4th morning I ended up being almost carried to the car, passed out twice trying to get to the car, and taken back to the medics.   From there I was rushed to the military hospital here on base.    I ended up in the ICU here on base, had emergency blood transfusion ( 6 units), emergency endoscopy to which they couldnt find anything because they couldnt get the scope in all of the intestine due to the RNY.   I was then medivaced out in the middle of the night to Germany.   I received 2 more units on the plane.  Another 12 units of blood, platelets, and plasma in the first 24 hrs in the ICU unit in Germany.   Another endoscopy, colonoscopy, and a small bowel follow up!  I WAS NOT HAVING FUN.   I spent a total of 12 days in the hospital, 4 in ICU.    ALL NSAIDS (Anti inflammitories) are now on my allergy list.   I had never taken them after my sugery, not even a single Advil, and I will never take them again.    I just wanted to share my story and maybe help one person avoid going through what I went through.   I was told that if I had waited another 12 hrs  I would have been dead!   Take care, Josie

WOW! So very glad to hear your doing ok now. What a terrible experience!

OMG!!!  THANK GOD You are ok!!!!!  What a horrible experience!! Also, what an awesome post! It drives home that we really need to be cautious of the medications we are taking and prescribed!!

Wow girl.  Glad you are on the mend!!  The samals are the pits aren't they.  Keep your head down.  Get well fast.  Jan

Please keep in mind that the medics and physicians assistant all knew that i had the RNY and that the anti inflammitory was clearly contra indicated but again I take some of the responsibility since I should have asked what they were giving me.   But your right, NEVER take for granted that just because it's perscribed to us or that because it is sold over the counter  that it is safe to take.   The bleed started with the very first dose I took and just continued with the 10 doses I took over the following 3 days.   Take care,  Josie

Thanks so much for sharing that!  I'm so glad you are okay and on the mend...

First of all, that experience was the worst. You are indeed lucky to be alive. WOW!! Secondly, you are a very brave women to be in Iraq. Thanks, for the service. Jan

I have been over here for almost a year and will be here for at least another year.   I am on a military base and yes we are definatly in a war zone.  LOL   It is long hours, 7 days a week, but it is a way for me to support our troups!  It's a little known fact that there are just as many civilians over here as there are military.   We are supporting our troups in many different ways.   I love my job and get to work with so many wonderful people, many from other countries.   Have a great day!

I'm sorry if I offend you...but I just have to say something.  A WAR ZONE... is nothing to laugh about.....in your post you said , "yes we are definatly in a war zone.  LOL"    my husband is over in Iraq right now as well and not as a contractor but as A SOLDIER. I almost lost him on Sunday ... so I am going to kindly ask that you please be  careful how you speak because there are a lot of spouses of deployed soldiers on this website as well. And I was greatly offended by your comment.  Also... you choose to be over there and making the money, and putting yourself in harms way...my husband doesn't get to choose because he joined the army before there was a war...and in the last 4 years of our marriage he has only been home for 10 months. So I am  just asking to please be concious of how you speak.      And again.. .I am not meaning to **** anyone off or offend anyone but I just had to respond.

While, I don't want to offend you. And thanks for your husband's service to our wonderful country. You sound somewhat miffed that this woman is making money while in a war zone. Is that against the law?? Your husband voluntarily joined the army, did he not?? Whether there was a war in the offing or not. That is what soldiers do. I come for a long line of military people (even a general in the civil war). If it weren't for the civilians your husband and other soldiers wouldn't be there. Debating that issue is for another time. There have been civilians in all wars. I just had to respond too!! Again, thank your husband for his service and of course his job is alot of more dangerous. Jan