Christine is 26 years old and lives in Vermont. She graduated from College of the Holy Cross, and has since completed her training as a nurses assistant. She worked at the Mass Eye and Ear Emergency Department before she got SJS. Post SJS she has struggled to hold a job due to SJS flares and complications so now devotes her time to education and awareness. Anyone who knows Christine knows what a warm personality she has, and how she is always full of excitement. Christine enjoys downhill skiing, spending time with her family, and hanging out with her dog Neo.
If you'd like to send Christine an email, her address is: christine.loveskiing.milne@gmail.com.
Christine's SJS Story
On Saturday, April 6, Christine started to feel itchy eyes and like she was getting a yeast infection. By Sunday, things had worsened and she was very uncomfortable. She was seen by an eye doctor while at work, and was told that the eye irritation looked like allergic conjunctivitis. She began taking an oral anti-fungal medication for the "yeast infection". By Monday, things had not improved and she began to develop sores on the inside of her mouth, so she visited her primary care provider at MGH. She took a culture for the yeast infection and checked out her eyes - agreeing that it looked like an allergic conjunctivitis. Christine's PCP recommended that she stop taking the Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) that she had started three weeks ago to help with anxiety. Luckily, Christine had actually already decided not to take it Monday morning. Monday night she was in even more pain so we visited the Somerville Hospital to see if a more helpful diagnosis could be made. The doctor agreed with the prior diagnosis of an allergic reaction and yeast infection, and prescribed steroids to help with the inflammation.
On Tuesday things had yet again gotten worse, and so she went into Mass Eye and Ear Emergency to see yet another doctor. This time the doctor felt it was thrush (an oral yeast infection) because of the white sores in her mouth. However, the doctor was unable to tie the itchy eyes to the oral sores. Tuesday evening Christine began to throw up because of all of the mucus and "gunk" in her throat, and her tongue started to swell and she had difficulty breathing. We called the ambulance and were taken straight to the MGH emergency room. In the ER Christine was hooked up to monitors and given an eppy for the swelling, and by morning they had moved her to an observation unit. Throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday she developed an unbelievable rash on her entire body, and the pain just continued to escalate. She was itchy, and the skin on her tongue was sloughing off in thick sheets. Wednesday afternoon a dermatology team diagnosed her with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe allergic reaction to medication - they suspected the Bupropion she had been taking. They began administering steroids and pain medication (among other things), and the waiting game began. To read about her progress since her diagnosis, check out the blog. It has been updated on and off since being diagnosed in April of 2013, and describes living life after being discharged from Mass General. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to Christine via email. She is always happy to support other survivors and families/ friends of survivors.
