This is my very first post after being sent home from the hospital.

I thank you all so much for your caring words, get-well-wishes, prayers and calls - (((you're the best!!!)))

The entire experience was very scary indeed. Since I had severe back problems the week before last week, I got a cortisone shot to which I have reacted allergic and which caused an anaphylactic shock (not to the cortisone itself, but to an additional stuff called Fluspirilen, but I did not know that at that point).

I got that shot on Thursday last week, was very tired and dizzy on Friday and on Saturday at noon, the seizures started. I had really bad cramps, especially in my shoulders, neck and face. I had totally lost control over my facial muscles and looked like a monster. When I first saw that, I thought it was a stroke.

I was rushed to hospital where they first thought it was meningitis. The did a lumbar punction and gave me antibiotics. The cramps in my neck and face lasted for hours and got even worse, and I was in really bad pain, especially since I have problems with the vertebras in my neck anyway and they all got dislocated from that very unhealthy position the cramps has forced my neck into. Needless to say, I screamed in pain and horror.

Later that day, I was told meningitis has been ruled out, and I noticed the doctors were kind of clueless about what I had. My parents had spoken to the doctor meanwhile who gave me the shot, and he has offered the doctors in hospital to call him back, but they didn't because it's been a weekend. They gave me Valium and pain killers instead.

Late at night, the cramps eventually stopped and I was able to sleep, but I was still very much in pain due to the dislocated vertebras in my neck, also, I got bad headaches from the lumbar punction. Later I learned I was supposed not to get up for 12 hours after the LP, but I was told it's been six hours so I got up to go for the bath room - big mistake, I still have these headaches now and will have to go to see a neurologist because of this next week.

However, I had to stay in hospital till Wednesday, and I knew my girls were very well cared for by Gabi, my neighbor and friend. Her twins, who are 13, also came up to my place to play with the Queen of Naw-Tee. So I guess the girls had a good time, but I missed them terribly.

During the first days at home, I wasn't able to do anything due to the terrible headaches. I got some relief when I saw the physio therapist on Thursday who fixed my neck. I think the headaches I still have are from the lumbar punction and I just have to be patient. I also feel I'm getting the flu which would be no surprise because my mother has it, and she has also cared for me during the last days.

Yesterday I spoke to the doctor who gave me the shot because I wanted to know to what I have reacted allergic. He told me about the fluspirilen and I learned there is an ANTIDOTE - which works within a minute or so. If the doctors at the hospital had listened to me and called that doctor, the entire thing would have been avoided - all the pain and fear I had, and the 50 Euro I have to pay for the stay at the hospital! Unbelievable!!!

However, this was, more or less, the entire story. I still won't be much online since I'm still feeling very weak and tired, but I wanted to thank you for all your comfort and let you know that I'm thinking of you. I'll be back as soon as I'm doing better!

Thanks a lot,
Kirsten