Howdy guys!
Today I'm gunna let you know about the day I almost lost my life!
6 years ago now, I had the dreaded task of calling an ambulance to come and save me from a life threatening allergic reaction, anaphylaxis.
I’d been eating an indian takeaway with the bro and my mouth started feeling super weird, like tingly and on fire, then I felt like my gums were going to explode and my lips started swelling up. I didn't really know before this about allergies or what happens during an allergic reaction but I hadn't twigged at this point that something abnormal was happening! But a couple of minutes later I was struggling to breathe and my throat felt weird, my face had also started swelling, my brother blurting out “eugh whats wrong with your face!” by now I knew something was wrong so I called 111 and they immediately dispatched an ambulance and stayed on the phone till I could hear them coming. I still didn't fully realise I was having a life threatening reaction till after it all happened! Weird! But the ambulance crew arrived and whisked me into the back and from that moment on I became a pin cushion! By the time they had arrived my blood pressure had dropped so much that my veins had collapsed, so with one paramedic stabbing every vein possible and the other alternating shots of adrenaline in my arms and legs I really did start to feel unwell, they say you feel a sense of impending doom with anaphylaxis and I felt it! I got really withdrawn too and had begin shaking and struggling to talk and catch my breath. Once they managed to find a vein in the side of my wrist the journey to A&E began. When I got there there was more needles, drugs and tablets and this carried on for a few hours. Little did I know at the time but I’d also developed a bright red rash over my entire body! I've no idea how I never noticed it but its only when a nurse told me how red I looked! I was like a sunburnt beetroot!!
I luckily responded well to all the adrenaline, steroids, and antihistamine and within a couple of hours most of my symptoms had gone.
I had an uncomfortable night in the emergency decisions unit ahead of me! Turns out when you've had an allergic reaction, theres a risk of it happening again within 12 hours, its called a biphasic reaction! So they like to keep you incase it happens again!
About midday the next day my Brother came to pick me up and we had training on how to use an epipen before I was discharged, and we left with 2 epipens in hand.
Now I was in for a shock! I know I’d had an allergic reaction, and it could happen again if I eat the same thing, but what the heck caused it?!?!?! We assumed it was nuts but I sure had an anxious month waiting for my allergy testing appointment. I barely ate, I was too scared! I felt awful because I usually eat extremely well, but the shock of the trauma, then the lack of food really took its toll on me. If I did eat I pretty much eat chips!
I had skin prick testing to find out what I was allergic to and amongst a million other environmental allergens I was diagnosed with a nut and peanut allergy.
Needless to say it turns out at the age of 22, something went wrong with my immune system and it created all these allergies. This is the only explanation the specialist could give me, so with that I now had to figure out how to live a nut free life, its been tough and frustrating journey but 6 years on its just a normal thing for me to deal with now, its second nature to ask for allergy guides when eating out, missing out on certain foods is just part of life, checking packets for allergy information is so normal its like breathing.
I carry 2 epipens with me everywhere I go, at all times. There have been a few deaths this year from this and I believe all of them weren't carrying their epipens.
They're annoying and bulky, but one day I might need them to keep me alive till an ambulance can get to me so for me they are my best friend!
#alwayscarrytwo
I love to chat to people about allergies and answer questions non allergy people have, I believe the key to raising awareness is education people about food allergies so please ask away!
Thanks for reading!
x
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