Kansas City, KSJustine was hospitalized for five days last January for a deep-vein thrombosis and she was given Heparin injections. She now believes the side effects she suffered were caused by an allergic reaction or Heparin contamination.
Researchers say that combining short periods of leg compression with medications like Heparin can be helpful in significantly decreasing a patient's risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. But in Justine's case, other problems might develop...
"I was given Heparin by IV for 3 days for this blood clot," says Justine, "and this is the third time I have been treated with Heparin, so I'm not sure if it is an allergic reaction that built up over time.
"I first went into hospital years ago for ligament reconstruction on my left knee from an old accident that never healed and after surgery I had physical therapy with ice packs, but I can't understand why that would make my skin peel off. My entire leg was blistered and then formed scabs. Now I'm wondering if that was the first sign of an allergic reaction…
"Until I get to look at the medical records from the outpatient medical center, and find out if Heparin was used routinely to keep my IV lines open, I don' t know if those side effects were directly caused by physical therapy or an allergic reaction caused by Heparin.
I have done research and found out through other patient's experiences that, if you become allergic to Heparin, that it can actually cause a blood clot--an allergic reaction to the drug. You never know when you become allergic to Heparin; the chances of it happening are greater if it has been used to flush IV lines in your past. I have had other surgical procedures in the past 28 years (the initial knee injury) and Heparin was definitely used then. It has been used for decades to clear IV lines.
The doctor who ordered Heparin told me that I was being given IV Heparin for the DVT. During those past five days in hospital, I immediately noticed neuro-cognitive deficits: short-term memory loss, dysphasia, and just mentally not as alert. I became very dizzy and nauseated and suffered blurred vision and digestive problems. Luckily the DVT cleared up in less than six weeks, but those symptoms don't have anything to do with that; the doctors can't explain my symptoms and of course they won't admit that the Heparin was contaminated; they won't even talk about a possible allergic reaction.
I was feeling fine until I was hospitalized and put on Heparin and I never fully recovered. To this day I have excema and my hair is falling out; I still have blurred vision and dizziness; I have developed food allergies, especially to wheat. And my entire elimination process is messed up—from severe constipation to uncontrollable diarrhea.
I am 48, was in good health and was very strong (I have physically demanding work) until my knee surgery and subsequent possible allergic reaction to Heparin. It could also be a contaminant that I am not aware of. I also read and heard on the news recently that, investigating the contaminant, they are finding more. It is not being refined and standardized, there was no inspection, no nothing. All I know is that I was ok beforehand, I got sick in the hospital and my partner watched me and knows I was not in my right mind: I am sure that Heparin triggered all of these symptoms.
Because I was in multiple care facilities and several medical groups were involved I am still trying to gather all of my medical records. Right now I am going through all the billings so I can contact the right people; I can't draw any conclusions until I have my medical records and then I can move forward and seek legal representation."
A voluntary recall of the drug Heparin began in January 2008. Unfortunately, it has now been proven that some hospitals and pharmacists did not act on the recall and in California alone, about 100 pharmacists and the hospitals they work for face fines for failing to remove Heparin from their shelves. "This was really an alert that the recall system doesn't work," Virginia Herold, head of the state's pharmacy board, told The Associated Press. In light of the botched recall, it is possible that Justine was given contaminated Heparin...