Crazy, overly paranoid question about EpiPen

[Dahlea]

Originally Posted by Terra Ah okay! I kept thinking well how on earth would I know if they were going to have a fatal reaction...lol...I didn't realize that the first reaction tends to be mild but the precursor. I'll do the benadryl tablets for sure. Thanks!!! I'm kind of a phobic about this too just because bad allergies run in the family!

Not always true-I found out I was allergic to fire ants when I was bitten and started swelling within minutes, and within 20 minutes, on the way to the hospital, my throat was swelling up! It may be true with food allergies, but it's not true for everything! You could always ask your dr. for a prescription for one-they last for a year.

[Terra]

Originally Posted by Dahlea Not always true-I found out I was allergic to fire ants when I was bitten and started swelling within minutes, and within 20 minutes, on the way to the hospital, my throat was swelling up! It may be true with food allergies, but it's not true for everything! You could always ask your dr. for a prescription for one-they last for a year.

Yikes! Scary!

I think I will talk to him just to see what he says about it

[gueyclan]

Ds2 was bitten/stung by something and began having trouble breathing we called the ambulance and by the time we got to the ER he was covered in hives. They did prescribe an epipen for my son but they also told us to carry benadryl as well.

[spotsmum13]

Ok, I don't mean to sound really rude, but first off you can't have a reaction the with the first exposure. Also, why are you worrying about an epipen situation that hasn't happened?? My DD was 5 at the time she first administered the epipen to me, and was 6 when she administered it to herself. Take a breath and worry about other things that the what ifs. Enjoy your kids. No you don't have to call 911 if you use the epi, but you do still need to seek medical treatment. You can give up to 3 epipens while waiting or enroute to hospital. Yes, it's scary but why would you carry one if you didn't need it? I think it's a big waste of money if you don't need it. They expire in 1 year, so you are saying you are going to spend 100$ per year just in case your kids are allergic?
Your kids could walk across the street and get hit by a car, or choke on food, are you going to make them stay in your yard and not eat food too?

[Terra]

Originally Posted by spotsmum13 Ok, I don't mean to sound really rude, but first off you can't have a reaction the with the first exposure. Also, why are you worrying about an epipen situation that hasn't happened?? My DD was 5 at the time she first administered the epipen to me, and was 6 when she administered it to herself. Take a breath and worry about other things that the what ifs. Enjoy your kids. No you don't have to call 911 if you use the epi, but you do still need to seek medical treatment. You can give up to 3 epipens while waiting or enroute to hospital. Yes, it's scary but why would you carry one if you didn't need it? I think it's a big waste of money if you don't need it. They expire in 1 year, so you are saying you are going to spend 100$ per year just in case your kids are allergic? Your kids could walk across the street and get hit by a car, or choke on food, are you going to make them stay in your yard and not eat food too?

Personally I just like to be prepared because that is exactly it, I DON'T know if they are fatally allergic and this IS something that I can do to be prepared.
I'm a firm believer in that. Yes of course they can walk across the street and get hit, but I CAN'T control that.

Live and let live. You did sound a bit rude mama. Not sure why you felt the need to comment if you had nothing positive to add.

[weddell]

I have to admit, I've had the same thoughts/fears. The difference is that my dd does have potentially fatal food allergies (as does dh) and so I do carry an epi everywhere.

I think having the epi with me has actually made me feel more paranoid! It puts me in a mindset of being scared of "what-ifs" that I can't control whereas most of my friends don't think about allergens lurking everywhere. It's not even her allergens that I'm paranoid about since I know about them, but rather things like bees that I doubt she is even allergic to.

Carrying an epi for no real reason is probably overkill, but maybe carrying a few chewable or fastmelt benedryl in a purse would be a good compromise.

[Terra]

Originally Posted by weddell I have to admit, I've had the same thoughts/fears. The difference is that my dd does have potentially fatal food allergies (as does dh) and so I do carry an epi everywhere. I think having the epi with me has actually made me feel more paranoid! It puts me in a mindset of being scared of "what-ifs" that I can't control whereas most of my friends don't think about allergens lurking everywhere. It's not even her allergens that I'm paranoid about since I know about them, but rather things like bees that I doubt she is even allergic to. Carrying an epi for no real reason is probably overkill, but maybe carrying a few chewable or fastmelt benedryl in a purse would be a good compromise.

Yeah that's what I was thinking after reading this thread. I never even knew that until reading!