u/lucke126

I’ve had a crustacean allergy since I was a teenager. It started as a small lump in my throat and each accidental exposure has been a little more noticeable. Skin testing later confirmed shrimp and lobster, and my allergist always warned me that one day my throat could fully close. Well, this weekend it did.

We ordered dinner from a restaurant we’ve eaten at many times. I had a couple bites of my toddler’s chicken katsu while setting the table. My best guess is it was fried in the same oil as the restaurant’s tempura shrimp. About 15 minutes later, I tried to eat some tuna and felt like I was gagging. I started to vomit but nothing got past, then to the sink for water and it just hit a wall and I realized what was happening. Thankfully my EpiPen was nearby, but by the time I got to it I was gasping, barely getting any air, and could feel myself losing consciousness. I’d trained with a pen that had one cap and this one had two and I didn’t have the wherewithal to realize. I apparently jammed it into my leg twice with the second cap still on before I was finally able to inject it (only know this from my three bruises, only one with a needle mark). I started coming around quickly, and by the time EMS arrived I was breathing normally.

Then comes the part that’s still irritating me. I don’t get hives or a rash with my reactions, and the first ER doctor seemed almost doubtful that it had been that severe because there was no rash. He also commented that Epi doesn’t normally work “immediately.” It really irked me because there was no doubt to me what happened and the Epi made it near-immediately better. My throat still had the familiar raw/battered feeling I get after a reaction, with some redness and broken blood vessels, but because he couldn’t see the swelling, his whole attitude felt like, “I guess I’ll take your word for it.” Like I’d choose Epi + an ambulance ride to the ER instead of a nice meal with my family on the weekend!?

Anyway, I’m still processing the fact that my allergy has apparently escalated to this level, and still annoyed about that doctor. Thanks for reading.