Anaphylaxis - anyone knowledgeable?

[ThrilledToTiddlyBits]

Sorry if this is the wrong board, but I had an allergic reaction to something last night. My eyes, mouth and airway started to swell. This happened to me regularly years ago, a cause was never identified and the reactions just stopped so I was never given an epi pen, just told to take antihistamine when the first sign came (itchy throat and persistent cough).

Did this last night, took 2 one a day hay-fever tablets but I'm thinking now I should have called an ambulance, my throat is still tight, face still puffy and I can't hear properly so possibly something inside my ears has swollen. That's a new one!

I'm on my own with 2 DCs today but could go to walk in if needed?

Is it likely to have come into contact with the trigger immediately before the reaction started, or could it have been hours before? I'd been out all evening for a meal and dancing, come home, went to bed then the reaction started.

Thanks for your help!

I'd get along to a walk-in centre.

If your airway is swollen you need some medic attention.

Definitely walk in at the very least. It is possible to have a secondary reaction some time after the initial one. It is anaphylaxis if your breathing is involved. You also need to be referred to get this diagnosed properly.

And it could have been a delayed reaction. Exercise such as dancing ( and alcohol, if you had any) can help trigger a reaction if you have been exposed to an allergan.

I've called 111 who have advised me that unless my symptoms get worse I just need to book in with my GP as soon as I can.

Thanks for your help.

How you doing?

All good — Saw a nurse today who gave me a smacked wrist for not calling an ambulance when it happened and made me promise to go to A&E if it happens again. Advised to take antihistamines for a couple more days to make sure any swelling has gone and then carry them with me all the time. Ears are blocked with wax and just a coincidence I haven't been able to hear since have olive oil drops and a syringe bulb to tackle them.

As far as the source of the allergy, there's no point referring me for further testing until I have a vague idea of what causes it. She said it was unlikely to be anything I'd eaten as most food reactions occur within 20 minutes and this was a few hours after I'd had anything to eat.

Thanks for checking in, @MrsMozartMkII

I like your nurse!

Glad all is comparatively okay.