Stupid reaction ruined a night out

[Macabre]

Dang it. 

DH and I tried a new brewery in town--opened last week. We have not been out but a couple of times in the last year. The brewery doesn't sell food but has a food truck each night. We looked at the food truck's website and talked to the guy who owns it and sells the brats. He started two months ago and just sells brats and hot dogs.

I've been able to get brats safely up here several times at various events. I do not get a bun.

So I waited until I was the only one in line and talked with him. He puts his buns in the grill to toast them, so I was concerned about that. It was the Arnold's/Orowheat buns. No sesame seeds. He said he has never used buns with sesame seeds on the grill. And no shellfish ever. He started this business at the beginning of the summer with new equipment.

I really thought the risk was minimal. Sure the buns were on shared lines, but it was a step removed.

He only used a plastic fork to touch my brat (and DH's). He didn't toast DH's bun.

The beer was not wonderful. 

Ten to twenty minutes after eating my brat (with sauerkraut--no sesame), I started coughing. And coughing. I told DH I thought it was probably a reaction, but that I bet it would be limited to coughing. I kept coughing. After ten minutes or so, I realized I needed to get out of there NOW. It felt worrying, concerning and bad--like something bad was going to happen.

I handed DH my key as we walked to the car, and as we were walking to the car, my neck felt itchy. He said I had a rash on it.

As we started to drive, my nose got stuffy. I still wasn't horribly worried, because sesame has only progressed when I actually ingested sesame seeds. But as we were driving home, my lips started getting puffy, and it was hard to talk without slurring. I told DH to head to the hospital that I was going to epi. It would have been faster to do this than wait for an ambulance because of where we were.

Then before using the epi, it cleared up. I felt a switch happen. My lips went down. My voice sounded better (I had not noticed that it had sounded strange a moment before--and DH had). My nose became unstuffy and I wasn't itchy and my cough stopped.

It was so weird.

So we just came home, and I took 50 mg of benedryl and drank water.  I had my epi beside me. We stayed up and played Skip Bo, but it didn't come back.

I haven't been great about doing my slit drops for the last six months. I haven't gone to my last two appointments because of money, so I am really behind there. Even so, I am surprised that level of cross contamination led to anaphylaxis. 

And I am thrilled it resolved on its own. Maybe I scared it away with my epi threat.

[becca]

That sucks, McC, but glad it stopped and you did not need to be in the ER for 4 hours. 

[hedgehog]

I have wondered about something.  I have no idea how an epi dose compares to what your body might make on its own.  But maybe there are times that when stress hormones kick from fear during a reaction, that your body creates enough to counter a reaction?  Wonder if that could be the case when a reaction resolves itself, like with you?

[spacecanada]

I have wondered about something.  I have no idea how an epi dose compares to what your body might make on its own.  But maybe there are times that when stress hormones kick from fear during a reaction, that your body creates enough to counter a reaction?  Wonder if that could be the case when a reaction resolves itself, like with you?

I wonder about this too!

Wow, scary!  I'm so glad you're doing okay now Mac!  Take care of yourself and get some rest this weekend.

[PurpleCat]

That does not sound good!  So glad the reaction "shut off" on it's own but geez!

What really caused it?  I hate the mystery with some reactions....the unknown makes it hard.....as you were saying cough....I had my Mom instincts on high alert!  That cough is telltale for DD and something I have an ear for.

How have you been feeling today?  Any residual symptoms?

[MaryM]

Glad you are ok!

[Macabre]

Thanks y'all. I've felt fine today. Cleaned house and am watching TCU football. 💜

PC I don't think it's a mystery reaction. I think it was sesame cross contamination on the grill.

[GoingNuts]

Glad you're OK.  Darn that sesame, it sneaks in everywhere. 

[Janelle205]

Yuck.  Glad you didn't have to go to the ER and are doing well afterwards.

But man.  It SO ticks me off when something that I thought was going to be safe turns out not to be.

[lakeswimr]

I'm sorry that happened!  He may have not used buns *with* sesame on them but most bread is xcontam sesame so it sounds like you are very sensitive.  And some sauce he uses on the grill could have had sesame and not have it listed, .  We had DS react once to a place that said they cleaned the grill for him by scraping it.  I explained that wouldn't work and they said they would cook his food on foil but he still reacted.  I suspected they had started cooking it right on the grill and then switched over to foil. 

Glad you were OK. 

[BensMom]

Glad you're ok. I didn't know a reaction like that could resolve on its own.

[hedgehog]

In the old days, before epinephrine injections, either it cleared up on its own, or the person died.  Watch Suspicion, a Hitchcock film starring Cary Grant sone time.  Even though the movie is fictional, the anaphylaxis seems pretty realistically portrayed.  Resolves on its own, once anyway.

[tigerlily]

  Glad you are ok! 

[krasota]

I'm sorry.  I know exactly what you mean when you felt the change.  The last time I went into a certain store, my throat closed up/lungs stopped.  I couldn't get air at all. I got outside and had tunnel vision, was fumbling with my epi when all of a sudden I could breathe.  It was exactly like a switch had flipped.  Maybe I lucked out with my own adrenaline.  I don't know.  I took antihistamines and stayed up/not alone, too.   But it's terrifying.  <3  I hope you're feeling more settled now.