Anaphylactic Shock

[VirginVegGrower]

We have very bad problems up here in the woods and fields with horse flies and they cause huge areas of sore bites for Mr VVG. I tend to get them rarely. The difference? I wear citrus based perfume in summer and (obviously) he doesn't. Wearing sprigs of elder is also an old fashioned bit of advice. I poke some in my daughter's riding hat, just in case.

[lainey lou]

Hi Bazza,

Pretty scary huh?
I had a patient at work go into anaphylaxis during administration of some medication, it happened really quickly and I was so glad of the brilliant crash team who were there within moments.
Must be a terrifying experience without a medical team on hand.

Glad you're feeling better! x

[snohare]

You dodged a bullet, bazzaboy ! You certainly need to get tested, next time you won't have the luxury of so much time. I have a friend who collapsed into incoherence in thirty seconds after her second bee sting. (She lives with her Epipen on her belt in summer.) Had she been working alone...!
My understanding of allergic responses is that there are 8 categories; if you have had repeated responses which are not anaphylactic then that immune system response will not change to anaphylaxis - so if something triggers a rash several times, then that may get worse, but it won't suddenly lead to anaphylaxis. The body has learned that response, it won't change. (But I read that in a medical textbook, how accurate do you think that might be ?!)
With anaphylaxis, you may get one sensitisation incident, where first exposure to something like a bee sting gives your body the ability to recognise the allergen - sometimes there may be no symptoms at all of this, this is common with soya for example, a nasty little fact the marketing never mentions - the next time, the response is massively increased, to the point of severe illness if not danger of death. There are desensitisation therapies available, depending on where you are, which involve administering tiny amounts of allergen in strictly controlled conditions, but they can be so hazardous to some individuals that they must be discontinued. Where they do work, the hazard can be entirely negated.
The only insect bite - as opposed to sting - I've ever heard of that caused anything like anaphylaxis was the case of a friend who was bitten by numerous ticks on the island of Islay, off the West Coast of Scotland. The immune response - triggered presumably by lots of borreliosis etc in the ticks - was so severe that he collapsed with Toxic Shock Syndrome, and was saved only by the fact that an Air Sea Rescue helicopter happened to be passing by. He was in Intensive Care for three weeks, said the explanations were the most embarassing bit...

[snohare]

Oh yes, as far as the Russian Vine thing is concerned, it is certainly possible. The body is recognising foreign proteins, everyone's body recognises different ones in different ways according to prior experience, in theory any new protein can provoke an immune response. I have heard of that thing about cypresses as well, I think it is the same idea as Pampas grass stour - some people are much more vulnerable.

[Patchninja]

Just to say poor you. What a horrible experience! Stay safe all you peeps!

[OverWyreGrower]

Hope you are feeling better now!

About 3 years ago, I was attacked by a swarm of wasps.... I ended up with over 40 stings, mainly on my face/head.... the Dr's were amazed that I hadn't gone into anaphylactic shock, however I had to tell them that my hayfever is so bad, I take an antihistamine for about 10 months of the year, so my body is lousy with the stuff! Apparantly, it saved my life! About the only good thing I can say about my hayfever!!

[Two_Sheds]

Russian Vine ... it is certainly possible. ...everyone's body recognises different ones in different ways ... in theory any new protein can provoke an immune response.

This is giving me a whole new big headache over my school gardens. I've just seen strawberries recommended to be removed/avoided, in case anyone in school is allergic to them. We already don't allow peanuts in school (and guess who made peanut feeders for the birds in the wildlife garden?)

Lleylandii is listed as potentially harmful: possibly a new way to get the things banned from neighbour's gardens?

[BarleySugar]

So glad you made it through!

We've got a 'rogue's gallery' at school as several of the students are suseptible and we need to know what to do it they have an attack. We had training when the first one joined the school, but thankfully we've never had it happen yet. I do think it's about time there was an update though as the newer staff are less likely to be aware.

When someone with a very severe nut allergy joined my son's school all nuts were banned in packed lunches, canteen etc. It was only the year after they had brought in healthy snacks in the vending machines, a number of which were nut based. They all went!

[snohare]

This is giving me a whole new big headache over my school gardens. I've just seen strawberries recommended to be removed/avoided, in case anyone in school is allergic to them.

Once you go down that "avoidance" route of the "mights", it is never ending. Everything that contains citric acid - that is most sweets, yoghurts, milk drinks, never mind the fruit that is supposed to give the young 'uns their five a day... celery... strawberries... oats... literally nearly everything, it is just a matter of the level of risk.
What you need to point out is the various most likely allergens, and have warning signs/staff training where necessary. Most food allergies do not lead to anaphylaxis, a fact that becomes lost in many risk assessments.
At the special school where my nephews went, although the staff were told of their food intolerances, the onus was on them to avoid things - something human beings are very very good at. The system only failed when a new teacher insisted they drink something they said was "bad".

That said, I can see why the absolute ban on nuts. One of the boys' friends had a severe nut allergy - the mere presence in a room of an empty nut packet, was enough to make him ill !

[Glutton4...]

My Dad carries an Epi-pen, since he had two 'funny' episodes - the second one was early one spring morning, out in the garden. He started to feel unwell, and then noticed his airways closing. He yelled at my Mum to dial 999, and grabbed the garden hose, cut off a bit with his pen-knife and shoved it down his own throat! He was taken to Casualty, but after 4 hours sitting there waiting to be seen (due to more pressing emergencies) he got fed up and discharged himself!

I have a nasty reaction to bites and stings, and have been prescribed Fexofenadine hydrochloride. It is a much stronger Anti-histamine than you can buy over the counter. My local Practice will always let me have a packet to keep with me. Could be worth asking!?

Glad you're on the mend!

[vicky]

Glad you made it too!
Quite a dodgy area as you can react differently at different times. Lots of people don't realise you need to be sensitized in order to have a bad reaction and also the quantity of a allergen can alter your response. For example 12+ bee stings can cause reactions in those who've previously been unaffected and 20+ stings are (obviously!) even dodgier. I often take an antihistimine 'to be on the safe side' after multiple stings.
What worries me is that I did a course in first aid last year and was told the best thing to do for anaphlactic shock is to dial 999 - unless there's and epipen there's nothing else you can do that really does any good.
Scary stuff!

[kirsty b]

Possibly, VVG... got to have another check-up now I've finished the anti-hist course! What I really need to know is what caused it (I'm none too keen on going near that hedge!! )

can you not be referred for sensitivity testing?

[kirsty b]

One of my student nurse pals is violently allergic to latex and now carries at least 3 epi pens on her at all times. The uni have suggested to her that she maybe give up her training but she has stuck to it. Takes sensible precautions but gets on with her life.

[snohare]

can you not be referred for sensitivity testing?

He's a bloke, he can't be sensitive !!

Given that it's potentially life-threatening, I think that would be the phrase to use with any reluctant GP. Together with the magic, "second opinion" if needs be.

Glutton, I think I would really like your Dad. (Particularly if he can teach me how to do funny turns !)

[bazzaboy]

He's a bloke, he can't be sensitive !!

LOL... I have me moments (partic when close to dead Russian Vine it would appear!)

Many thanks for all the messages (including PMs), kindly Grapes..... I hope you agree it’s been a topic worth considering as potentially serious allergic reactions seem more common than we generally recognise. Once it happens you can learn to live with it, the problem is you might not know until it happens… Having suffered it just the once I’ve now received a lot of instructions and feel able to cope if it recurs though it would have been useful to know some of the detail/actions before it happened that first time. Repeating the key aspect that I’ve learned: if you suddenly find yourself on the receiving end - and you don’t have a choice, it suddenly just happens – e.g. lips become grossly swollen - get best medical help immediately.

Many thanks, back to something approaching normal (insensitivity) again now. bb.