Coming down with a cold’ feeling and later went into anaphylactic shock.

Any tips?

Alicia Amy hi Alicia, you mentioned in another post, that you felt that ‘coming down with a cold’ feeling and later went into anaphylactic shock.
Are you experienced with this? Can you share how you deal with it? How quickly did it come on? Did you go to emergency and if so, how long did it take you to get there? Was there anything you could do on the way to reduce the symptoms of throat closing etc?
I’m asking because I have had that exact coldy feeling. Kept thinking I was coming down with a sore throat but then realised it was only happening alongside a flare up and would fade a couple of hours after I’d digested food or taken an antiH pill.
I live on my own and I want to have a plan in place for worst case scenario. Any tips?

Discussion

Karen Thomas
Frankie do you have an epi pen?

Frankie Sinclair
No. I asked a doctor (I say ‘a’ because I tend to get a different one each time if its a short notice appointment). She said they ONLY give them out at the emergency clinic. They won’t give them out in advance of an emergency. Once you’ve got one you can keep it I think but they don’t dish them out.
I’m in the UK and using the National Health Service.
I forgot to update the doc on these symptoms last time I went as I was focussed on telling him about a sort of sore stabbing feeling in the chest and making sure it wasn’t heart related (have now heard here that it’s probably reflux).

Karen Thomas
Frankie Sinclair ok my doctor here in the US gave me a script for one and it was actually fairly cheap, I think I paid $20 out of pocket co pay. It’s a life saver so I’m unsure why they won’t prescribe you one knowing your allergy history

Annette Scarton Topolewski
Frankie Sinclair this happens to me. I also have epipens. I always carry a bottle of water with me. When this happens the water really does help with the pain. I have also been taking to Pepcid AC one in the morning and one at night and it hasn’t happened in months. I still have hive though, going on month 4.

Frankie Sinclair
Karen Thomas It’s all quite new for me (since September) so I don’t really have a history. We only get 10 minute appointments with the general practioner so you have to be on point with the description of your symptoms. I have an appointment with a dermatologist beginning of March. We do now have a nationwide online consultancy process. So I think I will use that to get my record updated with more detailed symptoms.

Jessica Fowler
Hi Frankie. Make sure if you are concerned about this I would ask for a epipen. I went Into anaphylactic twice in November from autoimmune hives the first time I didn’t know because my throat didn’t feel closed I just couldnt get air and was coughing and was taken to Er and given breathing treatment and more meds Here is a website that explains Anaphylaxis the types and such as well because it is not always throat closing or swelling

Frankie Sinclair
Did you mean to say ‘I just couldn’t get air’?

Frankie Sinclair
Thank you I will read through this carefully.

Jessica Fowler
Frankie yes sorry. I couldn’t breath I was taking very shallow breaths and coughing nonstop and had tachycardia.

Frankie Sinclair
Jessica Fowler OK I understand. Sorry to hear that. Sounds very frightening.

Frankie Sinclair
So you utilised the epipen? Or was that before you had one?

Jessica Fowler
I only had my son’s epi which I did not use because I didn’t know it was anaphylaxis, I didn’t know until the Er told me it was, I also had hives all over my body and swelling on wrists legs and eyes. It happened twice. My allergy doctor treating my autoimmune hives said which I do not have any allergies that when my autoimmune hives started my body was in hyperdrive and that caused it, it is more rare she said but she gave me a epi in case it happens in future

Frankie Sinclair
Jessica Fowler ah, OK thanks for the reply!

Alicia Amy
Hello frankie. Sorry it has taken a while to respond. I am so new to all of the hives. I see the allergist tomorrow for the first time. The biggest suggestion i could give is to get it checked out and see an allergist and get an epipen! As to why I’m reacting is still unknown so i don’t have as much control as you can! Let me know if you have any questions 🙂

Frankie Sinclair
Alicia Amy I don’t have much control either except that I’ve found diet helps. Thanks for your reply and please let us know what advice you receive!