Anyone carry an epipen?

[Shabbycoconut]

I'm currently suspected of having multiple allergies, and have this week been given a couple of epipens. I feel relieved to have them as back up, but also nervous of having to use them, and hope I never do.

I'm also very forgetful and swap handbags all the time. I know I'll forget sometime. Also, they're huge! I thought they'd actually be the size of a pen. No more small handbags.

Anyone else carry one? How do you remember it? Nurse at the clinic suggested getting a pencil case, and maybe a keyring to indicate that I have it.

And how does it feel to use it? My allergic reactions have so far been a step down from needing it, and I hope I never do. But how does it feel?

This has all been very sudden, and I'm still getting used to the fact that I can no longer eat what I want, where I want, when I want. I'm hoping that if anyone replies, that'll make it feel a bit more normal.

If my life depended on it I’d remember! It’s not that big really. It’s important. Keys , phone, epipen

I don't but both my children carry epi pens. You can get small pencil case size cases that are insulated so protects them from any extremes of heat.
You probably won't ever have to use them -we never have on my children- but having them there is important for safety and reassurance.
It must be hard coming to this first as an adult. I have allergies (IGE, but not anaphylactic) and have been used to managing it since childhood but recently my allergens (not top 14) have become a popular additive in lots of manufactured food so that has actually made a huge difference to my food freedom and it's been a hard transition. So you're in my thoughts.
Can I ask what prompted the investigation/diagnosis? I've heard covid is triggering allergies off.

I do. I keep mine in a little bag I have in my - well in my bag, haha - that I keep things like spare hair bobbles, pantyliners, paracetamol, lip balm etc in, and I just swap that from bag to bag. It's new but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon. I've been allergic to peanuts all my life, so I'm used to it, but my toddler has a wheat allergy and it's been surprisingly easy to get into the habit of checking ingredients.

I've never had to use mine, touch wood, so I'm afraid I can't help on that front. But I hope you get some answers and feel better about things soon.

I ask partly because I'm starting to wonder if I should be carrying a pen as my reactions are also one step down from ana, and are now harder to avoid. Maybe I should book a round of skin prick testing.

my daughter has one she just has it in a pouch with antihistamin tablets and her inhaler ,we put a note on the door and also where the house keys are to remind her to check her bag before leaving the house, we luckily have not had to use it ,she does worry about eating out but will usually check menus before going out to see what she can eat

We have a few for children at school and as long as I’ve been there, in 7 years no child has ever needed to use theirs.
I know of 3 people who have epipens and none of them have ever had to use them. But they do carry them with them at all times. It’s life insurance in a pen!

You can order a trainer pen from here for free. Test it till it's s cond nature. Also stick a big note on the inside of your front door 'Epi- pen' in black marker.

www.epipen.co.uk/en-gb/patients/your-trainer-pen

Yes I have to carry two at all
times. I have two on my desk at work. Two in my car. Two in the hallway and two in my small handbag. Small handbag comes everywhere. If I am walking around at work I take my bag - easy.

It’s just in my bag and I move it if I change bags. I never go anywhere I’ll be eating without it as I’ve needed to use it a few times when restaurants have been complacent. When I’ve used it I’ve felt my throat closing over and can’t swallow or breathe, when injected my heart races and this is why you must go straight to hospital when you use the pen. My throat eases though, it’s a very odd feeling

Yup, Covid was mentioned as a possible cause. Really annoying, as I barely noticed I had Covid. I'm noticing this! I've had half a dozen or so really horrible allergic reactions to something within a month/6 weeks - vomiting, severe pain, fainting, all over body itching, sore throat. It's the throat thing they're worried about.

I have had 4 uses of epipens since January - no idea of the trigger. And yes mine have gotten worse over the years. I also carry 4 lots of antihistamines and a pack of steroids

Definitely think I need a note on the door! Until it becomes automatic at least.

I've used an epipen on my dd when she was a teen.
2 dc are anaphylactic- if they haven't got their epipen when out they don't eat anything- their choice.

They gave me a trainer pen. 10 year old son loved having a go at stabbing mum!

Don't worry, real ones were well out of his reach.

I’ve carried one for my kids for years. It’s in its own medical kit bag (small and compact) which very obviously holds medical kit. I did this because if I lost it / left it behind I warned people to know it was important. Because everything is “self contained” in that bag I have rarely if ever forgotten it. It carries two epipens, an inhaler and spacer and a small bottle of antihistamine and a shooter thing. I also added a key ring to the outside saying “medical”

id recommend having it in a designated “pack” it’s just mentally easier I think

youll get used to it so quickly but I do remember finding it all very overwhelming initially.

I suppose that's it,no epipen no food out. I've restricted myself in recent weeks to only eating at home, and only safe food, as much as that can be guaranteed.

I got the epipen bqg from here and the allergy keychain. You might find something small and suitable - www.allergylifestyle.com

I carry them, as does my daughter. I just change them from bag to bag, as I would my purse.

I’ve not had to use one on myself but my daughter has had hers several times.
yes it does make your heart race as a pp has said, but in fact the reason you have to go to hospital for observation after using one, is due to the fact there’s a risk of a rebound reaction ie a secondary reaction shortly afterwards.

I hope you never need to use it. 💐

Thanks for all your replies. Hopefully I'll never need it, but as someone upthread said, it's life insurance in a pen.

Now to figure out what's causing the problem. It's not one of the obvious ones, and the skin prick tests showed nothing, so waiting on results of further tests.

And thankfully chocolate and wine seem to be safe!

I used to be very careless about my severe peanut allergy, until the night I had a reaction, and didn’t have an epipen or any antihistamine with me and for the first time ever with a reaction was quite certain I was going to die and I could feel my body shutting down. I would certainly have done so, leaving my DC motherless, had I not been lucky enough to be in very Central London and in an ambulance within minutes.

I always carry my epipen now. They are in my bag and in my kitchen, in my desk at work. Everyone I see regularly knows that it will be in the zipped pocket of my handbag. I do not go anywhere without it, so it is easy to remember. Keys, phone, bank card, epipen and antihistamine.

I also have a medical bracelet with my name, DOB, NHS number etc on it, and allergy.

They are annoyingly clunky, and won’t fit in small bags. So now I carry larger bags.

I have never had to use an epipen on myself, but have used very out of date ones on fruit to see how it feels to do it not with a trainer pen.

Hopefully you won’t ever need to use it, but it will always be there in case you do.

My son has one, and we have had to use it on a few occasions.
Agree - have them in a little pouch- you can get bright coloured medical ones. Swap that between handbags.

Definitely stick to the "no pen no food" rule. But also if you have multiple allergies I would carry it everywhere as my son has recently discovered (the painful way) that he has a very severe nettle allergy, so it isn't necessarily just food that's the issue. He also has had bad reactions to contact with food

Anaphylaxis for me is lots of symptoms at once. Agonising stomach pain leading to almost instant projectile vomitting, hearing becoming muffled and world seeming brighter and blurred like being Very drunk, chest getting tighter and face feeling like it is made of rubber (in fact is swelling up), then sinking into unconsciousness feeling.

My latest allergy consultant told me that reactions tend to get worse each time.

If you’re on tiktok someone with the username sonicpea has been posting loads about the ins and out of using epi pens and her experiences of anaphylaxis.

Yes, I keep mine in a small Medpac, with my emergency AHs and inhaler. It's kept in my main bag where I keep my car keys and purse so if I use a different bag it's transferred with them (and being bright orange it's hard to miss!).

I have exercise induced/co-factor anaphylaxis so mine is more likely to happen away from home, when I'm out and about, and is typically delayed onset, so I also wear a Medpac silicon wristband if I'm out on my own, which says 'emergency meds in medpac', for just in case I can't talk.

You can register your epipens on the epipen site and get reminders of when they need replacing.