I was loving Lamictal. Feeling good! Was able to go down on the Lithium as the Lamictal dose went up.

AAAARGH! I thought I had a bit of contact dermatitis on my hands from washing so much at the hospital where I work. About half of my unit has the same issue, so I didn't pay any attention to the rash on my hands.

14 hours later I am at home, and taking my scrubs off. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, BATMAN!!! There are red dots coming from my feet and hands, and gradually working their way up to my abdomen and neck. By the time I showed up at the ER, the rash had spread to everywhere on my body. My face looks like I got sunburned.

I was freaking out on the inside, because the ER is at the hospital where I work. I do not want anyone there to know what meds I am on or why. I got taken back quickly, and I almost cried when I had to tell the nurse my meds, and I had to answer her question about why I take them.

She was the coolest nurse ever. She said if anyone but her and the doc ended up knowing about my info, it would be a HUGE privacy violation. She also told me that she doesn't judge me or think anything bad about me because of the info. She said "you were worried about that weren't you? I could tell". She took extra steps to make sure that only she and the doc ever touched my chart. (usually techs and other folks end up doing chart stuff).

I was worried they would want to give me steroids (can trigger mania), but I just got industrial sized doses of benadryl and zyrtec. They told me no more Lamictal until I can speak to my psych NP. The dummy ER doc kept acting like there was no way an NP can treat psych issues, he actually ROLLED HIS EYES!

At least it's not the really bad Lamictal rashes, like Stevens Johnson syndrome, or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, but I really don't want to have to quit the Lamictal. It may sound snobby, but I am having a hard time with the idea of being on Lithium forever, or having to use other anticonvulsants. (side effects suck). Any drug that reminds me of when Sally Field played a stereotypical Bipolar I on ER, I don't wanna take.

I called my NP this morning, and am waiting on her call back. I am crushed.