RE-ACTION

Yup last Tuesday saw yet another anaphylactic reaction for our allergy kid.

This one was more mild than her last one.  The ambo guy reckons it was mild because we got the anapen in quickly.

This one was diferent from the others.  Firstly it was different because it was almost 2 hours after dinner before the reaction really started.  And then it took awhile before I decided it was anaphylactic.  She started off really itchy, a bit of a wheeze and I was thinking she was reacting but not severely, and I didnt necessarily think it was food related - her eczema had been flaring after doing sport on the school field over the last two days.  I gave her antihistime and ventolin. 

Emma asked us to call the ambulance and said she needed the anapen.  I still wasnt sure.

Then suddenly it was all on.  Hives were coming out on her forehead and she started to fade.   I was on the phone to the ambulance.  Hubby gave the anapen.  I had a blank and couldn't do it.  Things went pretty hazy.  

But straight away the adrenaline kicked in and she was doing okay.

The ambulance came, did their checks, she walked to the ambulance.  In the ambulance they gave her more adrenaline via a nebuliser.   They took her to North Shore rather than Starship as she seemed okay.  Once there they took her off the nebuliser and administered Prendisone.  She was in the Resus room for about an hour hooked up to monitors, then as her swelling and hives went down, they moved us to a general ED room and a couple of hours later we were allowed to go home.

Soon after arriving in resus -
Red and splotchy around the mouth
Red over her arms

Feeling better in resus - taking selfies
Still Red

Taking selfies in the ED Room
Returning to her normal colour

All in all, scary, but not that bad.

However some things have been learned.

1. No matter how hard we try to keep her safe, there will always be reactions.  This wasnt her first and most certainly wont be her last :-(
2. We all need to know how to use the anapen.  It is possible that any one of us can blank and someone else needs to be able to step up.
3. Emma knew what was needed - we need to trust in her when it comes to the reactions.
4. Emma needs to know how to inject herself.  We might not be there next time.
5. Never give Ventolin before Adrenaline - If you think it is a food reaction give the anapen first, ask questions later.
6. If you think it is a food reacion,  The anapen is needed if there is itching and wheezing - even if there is no swelling around the lips or throat.  Getting in before the reaction gets worse means more chance of a good outcome.
7. If you are out and about lie the person who is having the reaction down and send others to get the  medicine.  
8. Trying new foods can result in reactions, even if there are few registered cases of anaphylaxis to said food.
9. Reactions come in all shapes and sizes - no two will necessarily be the same.
10. Always be prepared, Reactions can occur well after the food has been eaten.  Always have the anapen with the allery sufferer.

We now have an anapen trainer and we are all practicing injecting each other, and Emma has been practicing injecting herself.

Yes it is scary.  

Having a child whose life is so fragile is hard.  

Something so simple as eating a dinner prepared at home could have fatal consequences.  

We have to be prepared all the time.  She has to learn to recognise her symptoms.  

We have to let her take responsibility - Every ingredient, every time.

We still dont know exactly what caused the reaction.  Maybe we never will.

Allergies are always going to be part of her life.  And with that there will be more anaphylactic reactions.

Next time I just hope I dont have a blank, and together we can administer the precious life saving drugs.

Kids are resiliant - Emma went to Netball trials at 7am on Wednesday morning! (Even though we didnt get home from hospital until after 1am)  And she played fantastically.

Barb x.