DENISE Wrest has looked death in the face.
All because of an allergic reaction.
Being prescribed an antibiotic for an infection made the Echuca grandmother so sick, she lost 25kg and was placed on a waiting list for a liver transplant.
“I wanted to die I felt so sick,” she said.
“The surgeon actually told me if I didn’t get a new liver, I would die.”
Just over 12 months later, the 60-year-old is thanking her lucky stars for a second chance at life.
“Last year was a bit of a write-off and then COVID-19 happened this year, but it really hasn’t affected me so much because last year was so bad,” she said.
Denise was prescribed flucloxacillin, a penicillin-based medication, in January last year after a small cut in her leg became infected.
Within days of finishing her repeat dose, Denise’s skin and eyes turned yellow and her urine became very dark.
“The worst was this incessant all-over skin itch,” she said.
“It was unrelenting and lasted for more than 12 months despite everything being prescribed to treat it.”
She spent a few days in Echuca Regional Health before being admitted to Melbourne’s Austin Hospital for various tests and scans, as well as a liver biopsy.
Eventually doctors discovered the cause of her illness, but there was no treatment.
By August, Denise had become so unwell her weight had dropped to 53kg and she was placed on the active list for a liver transplant.
“My bilirubin level had reached 400, where the normal level is 17,” she said.
“I had no appetite and couldn’t stand anything salty or sweet. I could only eat very bland food.
“That was rock bottom for me.
“It was a horrible time. I couldn’t play with my grandchild and I felt itchy all the time.
“I remember I watched cooking shows all day and the ads that would play, if I hear them, I get panic attacks because it brings me back to how sick I was.
“I really looked death in the face.”
By some miracle, Denise began to improve by late October, with her liver regenerating before an organ became available.
However, she started developing other conditions, including inflammation of the bile duct system which affected her cholesterol levels, Lipoprotein X — a blood disorder — and hard, painful lesions called xanthomas on her hands and inside her nose.
“I couldn’t use my hands they were so sore.”
Denise had a permacath inserted in her chest in December and had fortnightly plasma exchange treatments at Austin Hospital for six months.
At the time, Denise was working at Echuca Target, which has since become K-Hub.
Having to take 16 months off work, Denise’s husband, daughter and sister took care of her.
“I only went back to work in June this year,” she said.
Today, Denise is almost back to full health, but still undergoes routine blood tests and scans to check her liver.
“My liver not quite back to normal and my hair is still dry after falling out in clumps,” she said.
“However, compared to how sick I was, I am so much better.”
And she wants others to be more aware of what they are prescribed.
While 10 per cent of the population will report a penicillin allergy, less than one per cent will be truly allergic like Denise.
“What happened to me wasn’t negligent, I was just one of the unlucky ones.”
However, looking back, Denise now considers herself fortunate.
“To be given a second chance at life is just unbelievable.
“I’ll never take life for granted again.”
