Originally Posted by lovefamilypets

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write back sooner about my outpatient ketamine experience 2 weeks ago, but I was too sick until now to feel up to it.
My first day I had a 500mg infusion over 4 hours. I went in at 6am and was suppose to be discharged at noon. I wasn't discharged until 7pm when my dad wheeled me out and lifted me into the car while putting a throwup bag on my lap.

During the infusion, I had scary hallucinations which consisted of dying a slow death. I vomitted throughout the infusion and recovery period. I had horrible vertigo, nausea, dry mouth. I was terribly weak. I could not walk on my own to the bathroom until 1am the next morning. The anesthiologist said he had never seen someone react as poorly as me and stopped the infusion short.

Two weeks later I'm still exhausted, my left hand flare up from the IV cath continues, my stomach is still bothering me, I'm scared to fall asleep and I just feel so down.
I feel like giving up and I'm not sure how much more I can take. This was one of my last treatment options. At 27, I feel like my life is over and there is no hope of getting it back. I just don't know what to do and I thought if anyone knew it would be everyone on here. Please tell me this will pass because I can't handle feeling like this for much longer.

Originally Posted by wswells

I am so sorry to hear that you are going thru so much. I have no experience with ketamine but I just wanted to let you know I feel terrible for you. There are so many people on here that will advise you and let you know that you WILL be ok. I have had this since 1986 and am so afraid to try the ketamine because of the stories, but there seems to be alot of success with so many people, keep your chin up and someone will come along with a great story for you regarding feeling better. I hope you feel better real soon.
Your friend Wendy

Originally Posted by SandyRI

I am so, so sorry.

500 mg. in a first infusion seems like a LOT. I think I would be HORRIBLY sick for a few weeks also...my last infusions were for only 200 mg. each, 2 days in a row. Even then, I didn't feel all that well for a week afterwards, I couldn't get rid of my headache. But now, 2 weeks later, I feel great. However, I have had 47 infusions. My first infusion was only 70 mg.

Have you talked to your doc about how badly the infusion made you feel? Did he provide you with any medications in case you had problems with an upset stomach? I have generic Zofran which helps a lot with nausea. I have a really hard time with ketamine and my stomach also, my nurse always pushes Zofran at the beginning of my infusions.

I wrap my hand and wrist in a moist cloth with a heating pad over it several times a day when they ache from IV's. The wet heat helps relieve the pain from the catheter quite a bit.

Please take care and keep in touch. XOXOX Sandy

Originally Posted by lovefamilypets

Thanks Sandy for the advice. I think I might try the wet towel and see if that helps.
It is really good to know that perhaps I am still feeling the affects of the K even 2 weeks later. I have been wondering if there was something really wrong with me or if this could be normal.
I think the doc screwed up big time. I told him I was very sensitive to meds and he said ok we will do 200mg for the first infusion. Then suddenly the morning of the treatment he decides to do 500mg without telling me until after I'm barely conscious. I was on Reglan at the time of the infusion, then zofran afterwards.

Originally Posted by lovefamilypets

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write back sooner about my outpatient ketamine experience 2 weeks ago, but I was too sick until now to feel up to it.
My first day I had a 500mg infusion over 4 hours. I went in at 6am and was suppose to be discharged at noon. I wasn't discharged until 7pm when my dad wheeled me out and lifted me into the car while putting a throwup bag on my lap.

During the infusion, I had scary hallucinations which consisted of dying a slow death. I vomitted throughout the infusion and recovery period. I had horrible vertigo, nausea, dry mouth. I was terribly weak. I could not walk on my own to the bathroom until 1am the next morning. The anesthiologist said he had never seen someone react as poorly as me and stopped the infusion short.

Two weeks later I'm still exhausted, my left hand flare up from the IV cath continues, my stomach is still bothering me, I'm scared to fall asleep and I just feel so down.
I feel like giving up and I'm not sure how much more I can take. This was one of my last treatment options. At 27, I feel like my life is over and there is no hope of getting it back. I just don't know what to do and I thought if anyone knew it would be everyone on here. Please tell me this will pass because I can't handle feeling like this for much longer.

Originally Posted by DDayton

I'm so sorry that you're experience was so horrible and that you're hurting so badly. I actually found you on another thread about looking for a support group in S. CA and then I looked at some of your other posts. I live in Irvine too and am also 27 and I was just diagnosed with CRPS in the last few months. I was wondering if you wanted to email, or call or something, because this whole thing is just insane and it would be wonderful to talk to someone my own age who understands. Hope to hear from you soon.

Danielle