Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening reaction that can affect all age groups

• The severity of previous reactions does not predict the severity of subsequent reactions
• Intramuscular adrenaline is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, with intravenous adrenaline reserved for unresponsive anaphylaxis or circulatory collapse
• Early use of adrenaline in anaphylaxis is associated with improved outcomes
• Any patient with a systemic allergic reaction should be considered for an adrenaline auto-injector with emphasis on identifying at risk features
• There is a clear need to improve the education of both patient and physician on the use of, and indications for, adrenaline auto-injectors

Anaphylaxis Symtoms

Help for Anaphylactic Shock

Started my leave of Absence
Because my job requires 100% travel so I started my leave of absence last week.  The first week I just rested all week.  It is strange not having to do anything for the job each day.  For anyone that has had Anaphylactic Shock you know that it can affect your memory and make you feel pretty exhausted for a while.  It is not easy to have this and go back to work.  I am not sure if I will get back to work ever again should this continue.  Hopefully we find the cause.

Rare Disease Connection

I have joined an online group at https://www.rareconnect.org
They have others with this disease and I am hoping if I keep reaching out there will
be someone that has some answers for this.

How many anaphylactic shock episodes have you had?
15! Yes, 15 since November 2012.

How do I know the anaphylactic shock is coming on?
For me it is itchy palms, then my face, neck, ears, scalp and the rest of me begins to itch like crazy!  My stomach hurts, nausea begins, then sometime my throats starts to close and I have trouble breathing.

What do I do when all this happens?
I have started getting better at keeping the shock symptoms from being really severe.  The allergist has told me to take 75mg of Benadryl, 1 Zyrtec, 1 Zantac and a prescription dose of Gastrocrom.

The Gastrocrom is for people that have Mastocytosis which is a group of rare disorders of both children and adults caused by the presence of too many mast cells (mastocytes) and CD34+ mast cell precursors in a person's body.  Mast cells are granulated cells that contain histamine and heparin, an anticoagulant.  More information about these can be found by a google search.

Usually, these drugs just slow down the symptoms so I can get to the ER.  When this happens I have to use my EPI-pen and call and ambulance.  

My Anaphylaxis reactions
Since November 2012 about every 2 to 3 weeks I have an Anaphylactic Shock reaction.

The cause is unknown.  I have had many tests and seen several doctors without a diagnosis.  If anyone else out there has experienced this and has had a doctor figure it out please let me know.  Or if you are having a similar experience and would like to talk about it please leave your comments on my blog.

Symptoms

Anaphylaxis symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Sometimes, however, anaphylaxis can occur a half-hour or longer after exposure. Anaphylaxis symptoms include:

• Skin reactions, including hives along with itching, and flushed or pale skin (almost always present with anaphylaxis)
• A feeling of warmth
• The sensation of a lump in your throat
• Constriction of the airways and a swollen tongue or throat, which can cause wheezing and trouble breathing
• A weak and rapid pulse
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting

What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. 
It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to, such as a peanut or the venom from a bee sting.

The flood of chemicals released by your immune system during anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock; your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking normal breathing. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash, and nausea and vomiting. Common triggers of anaphylaxis include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex.

Anaphylaxis requires an immediate trip to the emergency department and an injection of epinephrine. If anaphylaxis isn't treated right away, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death. (Mayo Clinic definition)