been referred to immunologist for allergies and going to be given an epipen.....what can I expect?

[Psychomum5]

I had a very bad allergic reaction the other day.

DD1 and DD2 decided to make me a smoothie, (which was lovely BTW), but they know I am allergic to milk and apples.

they duly took attention and made said smoothie without putting in apples or any milk/icecream, yet within second of drinking it (and it was so nice it went down rapidly), my mouth started to tingle and itch, and lips to swell.

I went up to get out of my clothes as was feeling VERY hot and itchy and agitated, only to come downstairs to shocked faces......I was totally covered in hives, from top to toe.

I was also clawing at my throat and wheezing, so started using my blue inhaler, drank some piriton and took one of my antihistamines......only to feel most odd as my heart started racing and going 'bonkers'.

asking the girls what they had given me, they suddenly realised that apple juice is made from apples, and admitted that apple juice was the base for my smoothie......

I cannot believe I have never ever explained to them that apple juice is made from apples.

they felt so awful for me, and was fretting lots.......I on the other hand was not so charitable as was beyond calm and into panic mode by then, so went to bed.

luckily the hives soon started to go, but heart stayed racing, and woke the following day feeling most strange so trotted to the doctors, to find her telling me off for not going to the hospital as apparently I was in 'allergic shock'!.

my reactions have been getting slowly worse since xmas, and each and every time now that I react to milk I get the same wheezy/tight chest and hives, but not yet bothered the docs as have been so busy and to be honest, quite scared.

She tho has decided that I am getting to the stage that I will need and epipen (is that the right spelling?), and more involved testing (the previous tests were basic blood done at the docs and I was sent away again to read up on my own!).

BUT.....what now......not ever had to learn about them, let alone deal with someone as allergic.....and the docs have said that should I react as badly next time I will need to call 999!!!!! DH reckons otherwise as he think I will recover......doc says otherwise as each time I get worse!

is it very scary the thought of having to jab yourself/someone else, and in the meantime.......is calling 999 going to be an over reaction (asked my DH).

thanks in advance for answers

I dont know the waiting list times for adults, I only know that the new times for london are for children are 6-8 weeks.

Which is a fairly recent improvement.

I hope you dont have to wait long.

so will probably know by easter at least when I am going.

thankyou....and thanks lots for the info regarding not all allergies being as bad as others. I was sat there thinking that the next time I react I could literally die!!!

Well, maybe I could, but it isn't definate and by the sounds of it, I will have the time and thought to ring 999 at least.

I have stumbled on this thread searching the net for answers. My life has been taken over for 2 weeks and I am exhausted and fed up. I started with a bit of chest pain, sharp but it went, then a few hives, thought it was a top I had bought. Then 2 days later incredible chest pain, the rash all over but spaced out, bit on arm, legs etc. I went to emergency room with pain, they said its heart burn and the rash is a virus or unrelated allergy.

After going home and drinking a bottle of gaviscon and taking piriton 4 times per day I was worse, lips swollen, hives all over even in scalp, they had joined together to make huge welts, even my genitals were covered. the emergency doc I saw gave me steroids and a antihistamine injection. I went home, all was well within hours and I took the steroids he had given me for home.

By that night I was again doubled over in pain, this time in stomach as well as hands and rash terrible again. Emergency doc sent me straight to emergency room and when they took my bp the alarm went off on the machine as it was so high or low they didnt say except that it wasnt good. The nurse said they thought I had kidney failure and the rash/pain was being caused by a build up of toxins, blood tests showed my kidney function 100 per cent so the junior doc who saw me kept me in overnight and gave me steroids and histamines via IV. After 2 lots I started to clear, the senior docs (about 3 who came through the night) said that I shouldnt come to emergency room unless I stop breathing and that the pain was simply heartburn due to stress of rash. I explained that at 30, after childbirth and various injuries I know the diffrnce between heartburn and pain that has you doubled over in tears and if it was stress why did pain come before the rash and why did steroids/antihistamines clear pain but not gaviscon. A dermatologist said i have urtacaria/angiodma but that you do not get chest or stomach pain with it. The last time this happened (about 3 more times in total) I had burny pain in my hands and arms, my hands swelled slightly and went blue. I couldnt swllow normally but they still made me feel like I was wasting there time. I have bruises that some of the hives have left.

My GP has prescribed eppi pen for emergency and says she does not know what is wrong with me and I have kept food diary etc but the docs say they cant see any link in anything and maybe I am allergic to myself.

I am now on 2 lots of double doses of antimhistamines, maximum steroid dose, 2 types of stomach meds and codeine for pain as and when required. i am so drugged up I am amazed Im even awake. Has anyone had symptoms like this, why dont the docs know what is wrong with me??????