A Wakeup Call – Heather’s Story of Anaphylaxis

Heather Braverman, age 19, shares her experience with an anaphylactic reaction and what she learned about not hesitating to use epinephrine, the first line treatment for anaphylaxis.

Heather was diagnosed with a nut allergy when she was just two years old, and avoided severe allergic reactions for 16 years. Then, when she was 18 she was eating dinner at a restaurant and started having symptoms. After taking an antihistamine, she went to the hospital, where her symptoms progressed and her throat began to close. At that point she was given a dose of epinephrine, which immediately alleviated her symptoms.

Dr. Scott Sicherer, pediatric allergist at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute comments on how you shouldn't wait until your throat is closing or you feel faint to use epinephrine, as the medicine needs time to circulate.

Heather learned from this experience that you must speak up for yourself and know exactly what to do in case of an allergic reaction. You don't want to leave it up to assumptions; work with your doctor to develop an emergency plan and to understand different scenarios and symptoms so you feel comfortable responding.

This powerful video is important to share with people with food allergies, especially teenagers, who are at the highest risk for fatal food allergy reactions.

[JimGriffOne]

The worst thing about food allergies is when people around you think you don't have food allergies because you look perfectly well. They think it's psychological; they have no idea what it's like to experience anaphylaxis.

[alainab]

I have life threatening nut allergies. It’s very important to carry an epipen on you at all times. I think that a serious problem that follows that, is how expensive epipens really are. Most people don’t realize that epipens expire after a year so you have to get new ones every year. The retail price of my last prescription was $650. Something that will save lives shouldn’t be unaffordable.

[elliemccarthy]

My rule for epipen is if I have any symptom that could impair breathing (like lip swelling, even if it is still mild, or tingly tongue), or any three symptoms. So if I had hives, stomach cramps, and fatigue, I would still use it because of my three symptom rule

[MentalHealthAwarness]

I have life-threatening allergies to airborne wheat, dairy, amoxicillin, and peanuts. My doctor once said I was the most allergic person to wheat he had ever seen and that scared me, a lot. I have used 7 epi pen in the past 6 months, being admitted to the hospital twice for anaphylaxis, once ending up in the ICU. I feel as though no one understands what I am going through. I like am the only one in my whole school who has food allergies and I feel so alone. It is horrible when people joke around with me about my food allergies but I really am secretly going through an anxiety attack while we talk about it. It is terrifying to go through anaphylactic shock and I am just glad to know I am not alone.

[Samantha.m]

I'm allergic to peanuts and nuts as well and I almost had a reaction at my friend's house. They were making homemade tacos. My friend was making my taco and handed it to mee. I picked it up and as soon as I did, her dad said something about them being healthy because they were fried in peanut oil. I imedently told them I was allergic and washed my hands. I got a rash on my hands, but nothing more. I'm really lucky he said something because I would have probably been hospitalized.

[garyharrison]

waitress was she charged/ serving peanut oil after warning.

[amiraalkatiri]

How you about to serve a girl peanut sauce, when she said she’s allergic to nuts. That’s all types of messed up.

[vivianf]

Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you are safe. :)

[Goby_man]

I was diagnosed at 29 that I had a dairy allergy in that I am deathly allergic to milk I have experience my throat closing breathing issues and have never had any symptoms up to the past year so 30 years of my life never an issue with dairy and all the sudden I can die for milk very eye-opening and scary.

[idonttireeasily]

I had a food challenge today and went into anaphylaxis. I needed epinephrine. I haven’t gotten that bad since I was a kid and it was terrifying. I could barely breathe.

[supernerd]

Do not ever rely on a restaurant employee with your life. they may not take it seriously, may not understand, may not care or worse yet purposely put something in your food. Many times wait staff or people working in the kitchen just see you as picky eater trying to tell them what to do. I have a relative with life threating tree nut allergies and he 100% of the time since he was really little will avoid eating if he is not 100% sure.
on a side note always make sure you do not leave your epi pens in a hot car or exposed to the sun and always watch the expiration date.

[izzsweeney]

I am a chef in a kitchen. I could never imagine not being 100% sure of the ingredients of a dish but just hoping I was right & serve to someone with an allergy. Even if I know 100% the food has had no contact with said ingredient at all, I will still be extremely thorough when making it just to be safe. Mistakes happen but not when someone’s life is in your hands. T

[alicetaylor-adventures-]

Me and my best friend have very severe food allergy and need epipens and we both know we are in this together ❤️

[mattdevaud]

Just my first anaphylactic reaction last night at 31 years old. Vegan tacos at a potluck. The ground beef was actually walnuts.
Insanely quick onset, throat started swelling up instantly.
I’ve always been fairly diligent about what my food is cooked in, but a small careless moment nearly proved fatal. Didn’t have an Epipen on me either, haven’t had one in years (I know, I know)
The nurses in the ER were fantastic and it was honestly great to see what an Epipen feels like in the safety of a hospital bed. Not even 10% as bad as I was expecting. Breathing restored in under 3 minutes. If I ever find myself in that situation again, I won’t hesitate to use it.

[colton]

My girlfriend had a reaction to an unknown thing and got hives, the people there with us thought it wasn’t a big deal but I knew it could get worse. It did end up worsening, she had anaphylaxis was hospitalized. It was the scariest thing I’ve seen and I’m so thankful she is okay.

[Hypefuse]

I’m glad to know I’m not the only one, as much as people joke about it’s the most scary thing I’ve experienced first anaphylactic shock was last week during training and I’m in the army. I never thought I would be allergic to hornets until I was hit twice at the same time in my neck.

[lee-luvs-animalsh]

my daughter is allergic to so many foods, thickeners, soy, nuts and each week more and more. she's 33 and is so upset. has lost so much weight and is underweight. she pushes herself to work and supports herself even though she's sick and exhausted. I'm so worried about her.

[goofball]

I’m allergic to amoxicillin and that happened to me. So scary. I’m so glad ur ok.

[pootinplays]

I just had Anaphylaxis last night, got a rude awakening that an epipen is $368 for 2 and my insurance. ITs complete BS. When they first came out they were $100 for 2

[どっち-qx]

20 and recently got mine. I had all the symptoms except the cant breathe part which is a good thing. I dont even know what actually triggered it but a possibility could be the cold. I tend to get some hives when in contact but not really that noticeable. It was my first time getting hospitalized nor was I prepared since it just happened out of the blue. I hope the specialist calls soon since winter is around the corner.