When an aminoglycoside (i.e., Tobramycin) is given with a loop diuretic (i.e., Lasix), it’s a “double-whammy” in terms of ototoxicity!
These ototoxic drugs would leave a major mark on my life, causing a permanent and profound bi-lateral, sensory-neural hearing loss. The choice was either deaf or death.
On July 12th, 1981, a Priest was called to administer the Last Sacraments.
My condition was critical.
“Am I gonna die?” I whimpered….
The doctors and nurses continued to poke, prod, test, look at, and listen to my body, trying everything they could to figure out why I had a fever of 105, why I continued to vomit in dry heaves, and why my skin was so pink and rashy.
When I woke, it was with a violent case of vomiting. I vomited over and over until there was nothing left in me to come out, but lime-green bile. The pungent smell, the rancid taste, and bright neon color frightened me. I felt alien.
