georgeo
Well-Known Member
absolutely, polantam, could not agree with you more!
What if it had happened on board: anaphylactic shock
- Thread starter kingfisher
- Start date
misterg
Well-Known Member
I'm really surprised at how effective plain ol' antihistamines appear to be in the face of (potential) anaphylactic shock. Is this really the case?
I have a good friend who was stung by wasps a few years ago, and staggered into the house unable to breath. His general demeanour terrified his then wife who immediately drove him at GREAT speed to the local hospital where he was treated for anaphylactic shock. The attitude at the hospital was that he would have been much less likely to survive had she phoned for an ambulance and waited. He was given an epipen and warned that he should carry it at all times.
But he doesn't.
I've often worried about what should happen if we're out somewhere (usually walking, rather than sailing) and there is a repeat performance. If carrying a few antihistamines is worthwhile, then that's what I'll do. I know it may not be legal for me to feed them to him, but he's my mate, and I would rather try something than watch him choke to death.
Is this worthwhile ? (All disclaimers accepted).
I also nag him about his epipen.
Andy
I have a good friend who was stung by wasps a few years ago, and staggered into the house unable to breath. His general demeanour terrified his then wife who immediately drove him at GREAT speed to the local hospital where he was treated for anaphylactic shock. The attitude at the hospital was that he would have been much less likely to survive had she phoned for an ambulance and waited. He was given an epipen and warned that he should carry it at all times.
But he doesn't.
I've often worried about what should happen if we're out somewhere (usually walking, rather than sailing) and there is a repeat performance. If carrying a few antihistamines is worthwhile, then that's what I'll do. I know it may not be legal for me to feed them to him, but he's my mate, and I would rather try something than watch him choke to death.
Is this worthwhile ? (All disclaimers accepted).
I also nag him about his epipen.
Andy
whipper_snapper
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
worried well
[/ QUOTE ]
Quite. When I worked in sail training, we had a constant stream of kids coming on board with medical forms saying they were allergic to this that and the other. Worse, many kids had nothing on their forms but told us they were allergic to something. Many of them carried epipens. On questioning, all were pretty vague about what happened when they came in contact with their supposed allergens.
This was a nightmare for the crew. We had to take each very seriously. Part of the problem is that everyone along the line, from their GP to us, feels they have to 'play it safe' and this inflates the concerns and associated problems.
worried well
[/ QUOTE ]
Quite. When I worked in sail training, we had a constant stream of kids coming on board with medical forms saying they were allergic to this that and the other. Worse, many kids had nothing on their forms but told us they were allergic to something. Many of them carried epipens. On questioning, all were pretty vague about what happened when they came in contact with their supposed allergens.
This was a nightmare for the crew. We had to take each very seriously. Part of the problem is that everyone along the line, from their GP to us, feels they have to 'play it safe' and this inflates the concerns and associated problems.
polantom
Active Member
One of the strange things I always find about allergies is that a lot of the time people who suffer from them don't actually realise it! Loads of people come to me every year with "summer colds" and are often quite indignant when after a couple of questions I suggest its probably an allergy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
On the other hand I get people who insist they have all sorts of allergies. Antibiotics is the classic: the allergic reaction turns out to have been diarrhoea which is certainly a side effect of some antibiotics but isn't generally indicative of an allergy. I have had several people who believed they were having an allergic reaction to a food which had caused there face to turn bright red. When I ask them if they have been wearing sunblock or a hat, their face often gets even redder!
A really awkward one though are when someone has an all over rash which later turns out to be scabies. Itchy! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Seriously though, while allergies can be very dangerous, thankfully the vast majority are fairly easy to treat. Also drugs like cetirizine and loratadine are very well tolerated and taking one for a suspected allergy will do no harm.
On the other hand I get people who insist they have all sorts of allergies. Antibiotics is the classic: the allergic reaction turns out to have been diarrhoea which is certainly a side effect of some antibiotics but isn't generally indicative of an allergy. I have had several people who believed they were having an allergic reaction to a food which had caused there face to turn bright red. When I ask them if they have been wearing sunblock or a hat, their face often gets even redder!
A really awkward one though are when someone has an all over rash which later turns out to be scabies. Itchy! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Seriously though, while allergies can be very dangerous, thankfully the vast majority are fairly easy to treat. Also drugs like cetirizine and loratadine are very well tolerated and taking one for a suspected allergy will do no harm.
Bejasus
Well-Known Member
We always carry Piriton on board and it is always also carried in SWMBO's handbag as she is extremely Latex allergic and also wears a Medalert bracelet identifying the alergy. She has thankfully only had a mild anaphylactic shock thus far, ironically/luckily in the hospital where she contracted the allergy in the first place.
tatt2007
New Member
I came across this thread by chance and felt I had to register to comment.
Doctors do NOT hand out epipens like smarties in the UK. Many people who should have them have trouble getting them. My severely nut allergic child was initially denied one because our gp didn't recognise a potentially anaphylactic reaction. Blood tests confirmed an extremely severe allergy. We were then told epipens were expensive and "they will never be used". Since I had to use one we no longer get that ****.
In a severe anaphylactic reaction antihistamine is useless. Stock one if you like, it may buy you a few minutes. Piriton is the fastest acting and it should be in liquid form rather than as tablets - much easier to take when your throat is beginning to close up. It can help for less severe reactions.
If you use an epipen when one isn't needed it is unlikely to cause a serious problem unless you have a heart condition. Fail to use one when necessary and there's a body to deal with. Average time to death is minutes.
Doctors do NOT hand out epipens like smarties in the UK. Many people who should have them have trouble getting them. My severely nut allergic child was initially denied one because our gp didn't recognise a potentially anaphylactic reaction. Blood tests confirmed an extremely severe allergy. We were then told epipens were expensive and "they will never be used". Since I had to use one we no longer get that ****.
In a severe anaphylactic reaction antihistamine is useless. Stock one if you like, it may buy you a few minutes. Piriton is the fastest acting and it should be in liquid form rather than as tablets - much easier to take when your throat is beginning to close up. It can help for less severe reactions.
If you use an epipen when one isn't needed it is unlikely to cause a serious problem unless you have a heart condition. Fail to use one when necessary and there's a body to deal with. Average time to death is minutes.
zefender
Well-Known Member
A few years back, I suffered 3 bouts of anaphylaxis after being stung by wasps, over a 10 year period. It's very frightening and very sudden - blue lips, racing pulse, skin blistering up and swelling. The oddest feeling is what they call the 'impending sense of doom' where you really believe you are 5 minutes away from death - which I suppose you are if the windpipe starts to swell.
I attended St Mary's hospital in Paddingon where they had (or at least had about 5 years ago) a fabbo allergy unit where, in my case, they gave me tiny but increasing doses of wasp venom (or similar) regularly over about 2 years. Although I've not shoved my hand into a bucket of wasps to see if the treatment worked, I'd strongly recommend the clinic for those with severe allergic reactions. As a regular charterer in Greece, I was always worried about getting stung by a wasp whilst at sea or otherwise remote place. The Doctor recommended taking anti-hystamine in small doses a few days before going on holiday - to get the defence levels up before you need it. A double benefit is that they also minimise the itching/swelling of mossie bites. It really works.
Epi-pens are a vital bit of kit for known sufferers but they contain powerful adrenelin so best not taken unless really in trouble. They become out of date quite quickly and also need to be stored in a cool place.
I attended St Mary's hospital in Paddingon where they had (or at least had about 5 years ago) a fabbo allergy unit where, in my case, they gave me tiny but increasing doses of wasp venom (or similar) regularly over about 2 years. Although I've not shoved my hand into a bucket of wasps to see if the treatment worked, I'd strongly recommend the clinic for those with severe allergic reactions. As a regular charterer in Greece, I was always worried about getting stung by a wasp whilst at sea or otherwise remote place. The Doctor recommended taking anti-hystamine in small doses a few days before going on holiday - to get the defence levels up before you need it. A double benefit is that they also minimise the itching/swelling of mossie bites. It really works.
Epi-pens are a vital bit of kit for known sufferers but they contain powerful adrenelin so best not taken unless really in trouble. They become out of date quite quickly and also need to be stored in a cool place.
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