Anaphylaxis from food allergies cause an estimated 150 deaths each year.
After ample doses of Epinephrine.
Apparently, it’s not my time to become a statistic. This past Saturday, Dave and I went to Garrason’s Tavern in Downtown, Harrisburg, to celebrate my maid of honor, Emily’s, birthday. We got there about 15 minutes to midnight (her real birthday was 2-22)… I bought her the first LEGAL drink of her life, a Snakebite. I got a Jack & Coke, Dave had a beer and we hung out while Emily sang to everyone and had a great time. About 15 minutes later, Emily and her friends said they were going to proceed downtown to do some bar hopping, and since Dave and I were at Motorama all weekend, we didn’t really feel like it. We said our goodbyes, walked outside and I got a weird feeling in my chest. We got a nice close parking spot, so we got in the car, drove about 2 blocks, and I started panicking. I realized my throat started swelling. I told Dave, he told me to get my EpiPen from my purse and told me to take it. I told him since we were so close to the hospital, I wouldn’t. POOR DECISION. He gave me his Gatorade, and I managed to take 2 sips before my throat was too closed off to swallow anymore. He ran 3 redlights, but got me to the hospital within about 3 minutes. Which seemed like 3 hours.
When we finally figured out how to get into the hospital (Hey, Holy Spirit, good job putting up signs since your building is torn apart with construction right now), we had to wait for an elevator, then walk like half a mile to get to the ER. I honestly don’t remember getting out of the car, walking to the hospital, or going into the emergency room. Next thing I knew I had an oxygen mask on, an IV in, and a team of people sticking my arms with crap.
By the end of the evening I had a shot of epinephrine, a nebulizer treatment of epinephrine, a shot of benadryl and some steroid to calm down the swelling in my throat. Paired up with two bags of fluids they pumped me with- I still felt pretty much like death. The treatments were basically finished about 20 minutes after I first got to the hospital, and then we got to stay for an additional 3 hours for observation- because I guess sometimes symptoms can return within that time frame.
Dave and I got to leave the hospital at 4:45am, which put me getting into bed at 5:30am on Sunday. Spending 12 hours at a car show, then 4 hours in the hospital = Not fun.
So, yesterday I had an appointment with my new allergy specialist, Dr. Zuckerman who gave me a good hearty lecture about the dangers of not taking my epipen immediately at the onset of an anaphylactic reaction- and made me “practice” with a dummy pen 5 times to show him I could do it. I also learned that since I am so sensitive to shellfish allergies, I need to be considerably more careful when dining out. He even told me to order a bottled beer next time. I guess bars are pretty strict with their sanitation- so the extent of the washing of their glasses is dunking them into a basin of water. Where all the other glasses from the evening have been dunked. Including glasses of patrons that have eaten shellfish. Thanks, Garrason’s.
Now I’m scared to go anywhere, or eat any food if I haven’t prepared it. Next Monday I have extensive allergy testing scheduled to determine what all I am allergic to, and whether I am a candidate for allergy shots.
All I can say after the whole experience is this… it was by the Grace of God I was only 4 blocks from the hospital when that whole nightmare happened- and for that, I am TRULY thankful.
<3.
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