How to make memorial day memorable: spend it in the emergency room

[Rot 911]

To start with, I would much rather be the ill or injured person than watching someone I love being ill or injured.

So as I posted in the thread about what you’re grilling for memorial day. I grilled pork steaks and we had corn on the cob and watermelon. Our daughter brought over homemade peanut butter cookies with oats in them. My wife, who up to this point, has never been allergic to anything, had a couple of bites of one of the cookies. 20 minutes later, she goes into anaphylactic shock. While I have never personally seen that, I recognized it immediately. I gave her a couple of benadryls and got her in the car and off to the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital is only about 10 minutes from our house. Into the emergency room we go. Not too busy for early evening and we get right in. By this time my wife is also displaying a panic attack and hallucinating. They immediately get an IV started and pump her full of steroids and liquid Benadryl. After about three hours she was finally back to normal. And this morning we are able to joke with our daughter about trying to collect her inheritance early. But it was really painful to watch my wife suffer and not able to do anything but watch and hold her hand.

This morning she remembers a bit of last night, but not much. Probably not a bad thing.

Going to contact our Doctor this morning and get prescribed an EpiPen. Hopefully we never have to use it.

[GH85Carrera]

It can be scary to see a loved one in real distress. It is great you had the wherewithal to see the symptoms, and get her to the hospital. Good on you. Glad your wife is better.

Was the cause the peanut butter or the oats? I am amazed your wife has lived her life and never had any reaction before. I would suggest you go to an allergy clinic and see if they can test for the food allergies. Knowing specifically what to avoid would be a good thing to know.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Sorry to hear. I was just reading up on tick bites causing Alpha-gal, which causes meat allergies, including pork.
(I'm sure you are, but) Make sure to figure out what the heck it was that caused the reaction.
If it turns out meat allergy, you are going to have to kiss up to your daughter

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608#:~:text=Alpha%2Dgal%20syndrome%20is%20a%2 0type,products%20that%20come%20from%20mammals.

[pwd72s]

I'm wondering why so long to find out about a peanut allergy? Did the Docs have any thoughts?

Glad everything worked out...and bless the medical folks who work on holidays.

[masraum]

Wow, really horrible! I'm glad that it worked out well!

Holy moly, now you've all got a whole new thing to worry about if it's a nut allergy.

It sounds like if you've got to have an emergency room issue, yours was about the best that could be desired. Show up to empty room, get right and and have the issue rectified.

[speeder]

I'm glad she's alright, must have been terrifying in the moment. Have a great summer!

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Sorry to hear. I was just reading up on tick bites causing Alpha-gal, which causes meat allergies, including pork.
(I'm sure you are, but) Make sure to figure out what the heck it was that caused the reaction.
If it turns out meat allergy, you are going to have to kiss up to your daughter

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608#:~:text=Alpha%2Dgal%20syndrome%20is%20a%2 0type,products%20that%20come%20from%20mammals.

Yeah, alpha gal is becoming of pandemic proportions here in Va, and the biggest issue for me is that the tick transmits it almost instantly upon latching on. I'm pretty good about checking for ticks, and its been a bad year for them, but by then the damage is done. We've had a couple friends in our small circle affected. Luckily, none have been truly anaphylactic, but there is that risk. Most can't tolerate any mammal products, even just cross contamination. I'd get her screened for that asap.

[Rot 911]

Thanks for the well wishes for my wife and the information. I already called our primary physician to get my wife set up for some allergy testing!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Hope she’s feeling better now Kurt! My wife is super allergic to peanuts so I can relate, we are pretty vigilant on that topic. I’ve heard that allergies can appear/disappear throughout life and doctors have no idea why.

[RNajarian]

Please make sure you get an medic alert ID bracelet for her to wear to identify her condition should a family member not be around

Glad she is doing better

[Rot 911]

Thanks guys! All advice and well wishes greatly appreciated!

[Por_sha911]

Praying that the docs will quickly find the specific cause of the attack so that you won't be in limbo wondering 'what if'