With her permission, I share it here.
Self - Injecting Epinephrine
(Food) Allergies are one of the worst things in the world-- food restrictions, places you can’t go, and worst of all…allergic reactions. Bad, bad reactions occur every time you accidentally eat your allergen; I have had many such reactions. Clinical trials are being used to try to find a cure and since I am in one where I eat peanut (my allergen), I have had even more reactions than most people.
“Daaad,” my sister yelled: “Susan’s face is really, really red.” Everyone in my family knew what was happening, since we had seen these symptoms before.
“Food allergies are terrible,” I said.
“Go get Mom,” said my Dad. Hurrying up the steep stairs to the office where my mom was working was hard especially since I was starting to have a hard time breathing. I took out my EpiPen without even discussing who would administer it because I wanted to be the one to do it.
Just imagine jabbing yourself in the thigh with a shot; it is very hard to do. Kindly, my dad made my worried little sister go to her room to make it a little less chaotic. Lightly, I tapped the EpiPen on my thigh; I was sort of “practicing” while I was steadying myself.
Mom said, “You have to do it or I will,” and then she started to count. No way was I going to go past ten. Once my mom got to six I was mentally ready and steady. “Pop!” the EpiPen made a sound as I jabbed myself, but since it is so fast I’m not sure exactly what it sounded like. Quickly I had to push back against the rebound of the EpiPen since I have to hold it in me for at least ten seconds. Racing-- was what my heart was doing. Slowly, I calmed down. Tears…of relief poured out of my eyes. Usually within about five minutes of administering epinephrine I start to feel more normal. Very shortly after I used the EpiPen I felt much better.
Whoa…I felt better but also shaky and tired. X-tremely happy I was that the scary moment of wondering if the epinephrine would work was over.
You have no idea how epinephrine works-- it makes you so tired. Zzzzzzz...I slept for pretty much the rest of the day.
You have no idea how epinephrine works-- it makes you so tired. Zzzzzzz...I slept for pretty much the rest of the day.
Impressive!
ReplyDelete