12:05 am I wake up not breathing with a horrible allergic reaction....

[Rising Phoenix]

to god knows what, my best guess is something in the Chinesse takeout. I didn't feel right after I ate, got real tired and went to bed. I woke gasping for air, my face was red and all swelled up. This is a great start to the new year I thought. I stood barefoot in the snow, dunked my head in a sink of water....took mad allergy medicine and used my inhaler. Drank a gallon, at least of water.....all the while debating if I should call an ambulance. After several hours of home care and deep breathing, I feel back to sleep feeling in the clear but very tired. When I woke up this morning I was fine. Happy New Year!

[DarkTirade]

1. What a way to ring in the new year.

Glad you're all right. :hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

4. thanks.....

lets hope the year gets better! Happy New Year! :hug:

[dembotoz]

2. mine are not as bad, but i can relate

my allergies have been much worse this late fall.

what did people do before inhalers??!!!!

Happy you are better.
get some rest

[Rising Phoenix]

5. Thanks hon

my plan was to workout today, but I think I need some rest.......Happy New Year!

[Danger Mouse]

3. I'm glad you're feeling better but damn that sucks.

:hug: Be safe.

[Rising Phoenix]

6. thanks babe!

don't think I'll be eating chineesee for awhile........

[Danger Mouse]

7. yeah, you probably shouldn't...

:pals:
you'll be in my thoughts, but hey when are you not in my thoughts? ;)

[gblady]

8. oooh....sounds awful....

and scarey....sounds like you did good self care measures...
and were thinking of your alternatives...
Glad you're OK.

[NJmaverick]

9. A good rule of thumb, if you reach a point where you start thinking about calling an ambulance

it's a good time to call an ambulance.

[Rising Phoenix]

16. very good point

it was insurance issues and agoraphobia holding me back......

[dana_b]

10. you should ALWAYS call an ambulance or have someone

bring you to the ER!! What if you had stopped breathing in your sleep? argh!!! alright, I'm off my nurse's rant.

BTW, I was stupid and did the same thing. I woke up in Vegas with a swelled face and coughing. I had a spider bite on my arm. Went to the gift shop, got Benadryl and kept popping them all day. I should have gone to the ER and was chewed out later for not doing so.

Happy New Year and I am glad that you are alright.

[Rising Phoenix]

17. eeeksss.....next time I will

hopefully there will not be a next time......:hug:

[Ava]

11. that sucks.. i'm sorry

:(

[WinkyDink]

12. OMG, how SCARY!! I'm glad you are way better!

[Demoiselle]

13. You had an allergic anaphylactic shock reaction....Please understand

...that whatever triggered it this time will trigger an even worse and even faster reaction next time. Please don't try to treat yourself next time.
I would suggest that you talk to your doctor and and get a prescription for an epipen. Carry it with you everywhere. You can inject yourself with it immediately the next time you
have such a reaction. It's essentially a shot of adrenalin and is meant to last you till you get to the emergency room.
Please take this seriously. Talk to your doctor, to an allergist, try to figure out what has triggered the response and avoid it...
Anaphylactic shock can kill you.
Sorry to be such an alarmist, but I have family members with potentially fatal allergies, and the symptoms are the same as yours were. If you ignore it, it will simply get worse with every exposure.

[Rising Phoenix]

18. thank you so much

and I know you are right. I have VERY severe allergies and multiple chemical sensitivity.......but I hear your warning and will talk to my primary care about an epi pen, because you are right and I don't even know for sure it was the food that caused it.

[LiberalEsto]

20. And meanwhile buy a bottle of Benadryl liquid

and use that at the first sign of any kind of allergic symptom

[lightningandsnow]

14. That sucks.

Allergies suck. Do you have an EpiPen? A lot of people with severe allergic reactions carry them, and they are, literally, a lifesaver.

:hug:

[FloridaJudy]

15. Oh, man...

For some bizarre reason, I woke up at 5 am with hives, but no breathing problems, thank the gods. Took some Benadryl for the first time in years. It did the trick, but now I feel hung-over.

Take everybody's advice and see your doc about a prescription for an epi-pen. Next time you might not be so lucky.

[Rising Phoenix]

19. will do!

[Shell Beau]

21. Oooh girl go get some allergy tests done.

From what I understand, allergic reactions just get worse. You need to know what to avoid.


Glad to hear you are ok!! Take care and go to the doc!!!!!!!

:hug:

[Vanje]

22. First you'd better make sure your house is clean...

THEN call the ambulance.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4750130


How frightning. Glad you feel better.