Interesting experience yesterday…
If you have known me for any amount of time, you have seen my hair change colors frequently. I think I’m naturally a dark blonde, but since I was 13 have been changing my hair color every few months. Red, brown, blonde/highlighted and has even been black for a short and regrettable part of 2004.
I warmed up for the winter and dyed it light brown back around the holidays, but it began to fade into a reddish brown so I decided to make it a dark brown. I usually get Nutriesse “Truffle” to do the job, but saw the new Garnier 100% mineral color and bought that instead.
I began to color it and thought it smelled a little strong, so I turned the AC on and the fan on in the bathroom. 10 minutes later, my scalp was on fire so I hopped in the shower to wash it out. A few minutes after that, my throat and chest began closing up and I started having problems breathing and my eyes began to burn. I sat down for a few minutes and tried to catch my breath. Feeling slightly better, I started to put on my makeup when the bathroom started to spin and got dark and I fell (catching myself) on the counter. I still wasn’t able to breathe so I gave in and called 911.
Operator: “911 Lenexa”
Me: “Yes, I think I’m having an allergic reaction”
Operator: “To what, ma’am?”
Me: “Um, to some hair dye…”
Operator: “Are you having problems breathing?”
Me: “Yes…I almost blacked out…I think.”
Operator: (gets address, phone) “The ambulance is on its way”
A few minutes later a police car, fire truck and ambulance pulled up, sirens blaring. Eight burly paramedics filled my living room, poking me, strapping me, listening to things, checking my oxygen saturation and asking questions like, “Do you have the speciman box?” “Have you ever had an allergic reaction before?” I am dizzy…confused…embarassed…and gasping for air.
Moments later I am strapped on a gurney (is that what they’re called?) and put in the ambulance. I get to the hospital and they decide whatever it was (probably the fumes) triggered the reaction. I have asthma, but not bad in any way (I use my inhaler maybe once a year.) So they give me some steroids, and some breathing treatments and send me on my way. The discharge nurse comes in and reads over the doctors instructions.
“You’ve had a severe asthma attack”…blah blah blah. “For further treatment, the doctor says ‘Avoid chemicals in enclosed spaces.’” And he starts laughing at me. He points it out on the discharge papers. Sure enough in black and white, that’s what it says.
It’s okay. Once I was able to breathe again, I was laughing too. A few nurses heard about it and came in to see how the color turned out (not as dark as I had hoped, but I won’t complain!)
Comments
14 responses to “Doctor’s Orders”
wow…doctors orders to not dye your hair…that’s never any fun….
glad you’re okay!
poor monkey. sorry that happened. scarry scarry. glad you’re better my love. any decisions yet? email me
It’s okay :) Not too scary (was for a little bit but it was really more humorous than traumatic!)
pretty sure that was the funniest (and saddest) thing i heard all day yesterday. i am glad you called me to tell me that but i am more glad you were ok!
Holy smokes! Glad you’re okay.
Hey Anne,
I’m sorry to hear about your hospital visit. While you were doing that I was writing a post just for you. Click on my name and be jealous.
See ya.
I put some links in the comments of the post for you.
Well, if you’re laughing about it and filling us in on all the details, you must be doing okay. That’s good news! Who knew coloring your hair could be such a dangerous thing to do!
Oh well I suppose that rules out “just for men” for me, it will have to be a hair piece!
Oh Anne! I’m so glad you’re ok. I can’t deny it. I was giggling towards the bottom once I knew you were fine and well.
Wish me luck this morning. I’m off to my new church! :)
ha ha
i had an allergic reaction to an allergy shot, once. you should have seen the nurses and office people when i walked in with a bright red face (after having left like 30 minutes earlier). they were having trouble figuring out what to do with me. pretty funny, but that’s the strangest feeling. trouble breathing, head on fire… really wierd.
i’m glad you are ok. that’s a great line to have on discharge papers.
yikes! glad you’re ok…
Glad you’re ok, but that was hilarious!!