Feel like useless Mum who couldn't use epipen

[EvaAnna]

DD2 4 yo is allergic to nuts, sesame seed and chick peas.

We were in a cafe on Friday eating soup (which didn't contain any of the above).. After one mouthful, mothers instinct told me something was wrong - she went very quiet and couldn't/woudn't speak to me, then started to gag like she was going to be sick.. I picked her up and ran to toilet - she was holding her throat, but couldn't be sick. I was very very frightened and it all happened so quickly... her lips started to swell, so the cafe called 999 who said we needed to use epipen immediately. Thing is I was shaking and crying so much I found it very difficult to do... and now I can't stop thinking about it and feel like such a failure. I know if I had been on my own I would have done it, but I just didn't realise how hard it was going to be. There was a trained first aider who done it for me, and I will be forever grateful to her. Even she was shaking and crying.. Just want to advice how important it is to practice with out of date pens etc, as I hadn't done this and I am sure it would have helped. I will be more prepared the next time. DD is fine now and rather pleased with her trip in the ambulance!

On another note, the ingredients in the soup were:
Ham
Potato
Carrot
Barley
Onion
Split red lentils
Salt and pepper

Anyone any idea what could have caused the reaction????????????

We are going back to the allergy specialist early Jan, but in the meantime will avoid all of the above...

Sorry for the long post, just need to get it all out of my system. It was very frightening.

EvaAnna, I think many schools just don't get the whole nut/allergy thing. Especially as there will be few, if any, people at the school who have witnessed an anaphalactic attack.

My view, fwiw, is that washing hands after eating nuts is not enough to ensure your dd's safety. In between eating nuts and getting to the washing facilities, traces will be left. I do think pushing for a nut ban may be worthwile.

My son's first school was nut free which I thought was great until I discovered there was a class guinea pig whose diet was peanuts. DS is allergic to peanuts. It's this kind of thing you have to watch out for.

And don't get me started on the ILs when we visited recently and there on the table was a bowl of peanuts. 'Oh is he still allergic then'

My GP has put DS's epipens on repeat prescription which has helped enormously. Some had really short expiry dates.

Evaanna. Don't feel awful that you couldn't bring yourself to administer the epipen, I'm a paramedic and I find.it awful having to give it to children and I don't even know them or have to.see them again ! You did well recognising it was needed, that's the most important bit !!
Glad your DD is feeling better now.
Don't beat yourself up about it, get some practice, although NOTHING prepares you for the emergency situation.