03/20/2026
In an unanticipated turn of events, I spent this past week in the incredibly skilled hands of the Burn ICU staff at ECMC in Buffalo.
I share this story for awareness, of listening to your body’s signals, when something doesn’t feel right, go with your gut and take action. This could have all ended very differently had more time passed.
In a short timeline from Sunday lunchtime feeling flu-like (but negative on all flu/covid/rsv tests), to small dots developing on my skin, to full blown DRESS** diagnosis Monday 5:30am in an ER and ambulance transport to special Burn ICU - it all escalated very quickly and I’m SO thankful for my prompt, yet 1% rare, diagnosis.
**Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a severe, potentially life-threatening drug reaction, not just a simple rash. It typically appears 2–6 weeks after starting a new medication, featuring a widespread morbilliform rash, high fever, facial swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and internal organ damage.
My drug in question was ❎Lamotrigine❎ it was working *incredible* wonders to help me with my vestibular migraines and 18+ months of chronic dizziness, too… started it 8 days prior to the reaction. But this reaction can happen with an array of different meds, as well.
Thankfully it was caught early enough where no organ damage occurred, and although my esophagus swelled-up, it did not spread into my mouth and I was still able to breathe on my own. I was in a Burn ICU for quick action IV steroid and immune therapy medication and close watch in case organ failure occurred and/or the rash progressed to blisters, in which case I would be treated as a burn victim 😔
Thankful can’t be said enough. For those watching over me, for the voice inside my head, for those who were with me near & far throughout the way, and to be flying home right now to be with my amazing family again 💗
