What do you do with your epipen?

[maamalady]

I've just got my very first epipen. Obviously I'm supposed to keep it with me at all times, but I'm wondering what the easiest way of doing so is. I work in a lab, so no way of carting a handbag around all the time, but it seems moving it from pocket to pocket may well get it mislaid/forgotten about at some point.

Tell me your making-life-easy secrets!

This site has some useful pouches/carriers.
www.alwaysreadthelabel.info

I have a little case for mine, but I do end up keeping it in my bag or a pocket. It is annoyingly large to lug about I know. What are you allergic to?

Have a look at [[http://www.yellowcross.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/toughtube-tt001.shtml this]]

They also do a bumbag.

We have the yellow bag for dd's bits and can fit 2 epipens, bottle of pititon, neoclarityn and some steroid cream for eczema. this is kept at school. We carry a childrens lunch bag for the medicines we carry around.

Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone - very handy!

hellymelly - I'm a bit of a weird case, not strictly speaking allergic to anything, but have "food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis", which apparently is usually wheat-dependent. So sandwiches for lunch + running in the evening = anaphylaxis, which is rather disturbing. It's a very recent diagnosis so I'm just trying to get my head around the idea, what to do etc.

Gosh evil that sounds really scary! Is it the rate at which the allergen gets into the bloodstream throught the gut? Where are you being seen? Luckily there are so many wheat free options about now, so it may be easier to manage than it would have been a decade ago.

I keep my son's epipen in a lunchbox with his inhaler, spacer and his antihistamine medicine and carry it with me at all times.

evilgiraffe I have exactly the same as you. I always think people think I am making it up as it sounds a bit far fetched! I was diagnosed nearly 4 years ago when I went into anaphylactic shock after quick lunch of a wrap and then a walk home on a frosty day. The weather seems to have an impact on mine also as when my skin gets cold and I am warm from exercise I seem to have more reactions.

I carry 2 epipens on me at all times but I work in an office so they are in my bag. I also always carry Piriton as I find 2 tablets if I feel a reaction coming on has prevented another trip to A&E under blues and twos! I also have 2 epipens at home just in case. I have a handbag insert that I transfer between handbags so I don't have to faff around too much.

I have not cut wheat out of my diet entirely but I do try and control situations that may trigger a reaction mainly through trying not to raise my heart rate within a hour of eating anything wheat based. I would say watch out for Soy sauce particularly Japanese soy as it is brewed mainly from wheat!

Hope you manage to get your head round the whole thing relatively painlessly.

I carry DS' in an allergy bag with chlorphenamine. I guess if your in a lab the best thing do do is make sure it's somewhere (the same place!) on a peg/hook or something? How far away are you travelling from your lab around a building? Make sure that collegues know where it's kept? If you are travelling around a building I agree a bumbag or something may be useful.

I will take DS to swimming for example but tend to leave it in the changing room, I don't always keep it actually on me.

He is also a special/ different case in that they have no idea what causes his reactions.

DS carries his epipens in a small pencil case.

We got a case for ours a bit like www.anaphylactic.co.uk/epipen-pouches-carriers-and-holders/anatote-twin-detail A good website is kidsaware.co.uk which sells stickers and practise epipens, or anaphylactic.co.uk which lets you register your epipen & will remind you when it's due to expire.

Ooo, Lozza - so glad there's someone else out there! It sounds so completely ridiculous, doesn't it?

Thanks for your help, everyone :)