First Aid for Anaphylaxis : Anaphylactic Emergency Treatment

[mariesadler]

If a person has to endure a cricothyrotomy, does the needle get shoved in without being numbed first? If I saw a large needle going right at my throat, I'd probably panic even more and not let them do it.

Im severely allergic to alot of things.

[mermaidamp]

Peanut allergies are serious.

[wilkinson4eva]

@mermaidamp I have a peanut allergy but havent tried them since ive been grown up. Im now 18 and people say to me i shoud try one to see if i still react but i dont want that enless i no its gonna be safe or if i no that someone is going to get help

[vickiormindyb]

@wilkinson4eva Don't try it if you've previously had a really terrible reaction to them.

Whoever said to do it doesn't work in health care, or they'd know an allergy gets worse w/ every exposure unless you're getting shots for it.

Even then they make you wait 20 minutes to make sure you don't have the reaction.

[vickiormindyb]

My airway closed completely. The doctor told me so.

But they didn't make a cut in my throat to open the airway.

They did a closed cricothyrotomy. They stuck a large needle in my neck and attached a breathing tube and airbag to it.

They also gave me medicine to make my swelling go down enough to let air pass into my lungs.

Anaphylaxis is still the most terrifying experience I've had.

[vickiormindyb]

I know I'm quadruple-dipping on the comments list, but I have to say this.

Medically trained personnel should know what intubation means. I wouldn't want to be the patient of anyone who doesn't know what intubation is.

In fact I'd prefer a paramedic to help me during an emergency, as opposed to other people who work in health care but never deal with emergencies.

[vickiormindyb]

It varies where I work. We're not allowed to perform an open cricothyrotomy, we have to do a needle cricothyrotomy instead. Opens are reserved for Emergency Physicians.

Then again, I'm not a Senior Parmedic, just a regular EMT-P.

I saw a video of an open cricothyrotomy, though, and I'm GLAD we don't have to do them.

[vickiormindyb]

I had a sore throat for 18 hours after they took out the intubation tube. I never remembered them putting it in. The doctor told me about it.

The scariest part of my reaction is that they never figured out what made it happen.

I carry an Epi-pen in case it happens again, but it's also for if a bee stings me.

[vickiormindyb]

My doctor doesn't want me to use my Albuterol unless I'm in a dire emergency. He told me so in very clear terms.

I have high blood pressure and once had heart failure after going into decompensated shock.

My doctor also said I'm supposed to call 911 after I use my Epi-pen so they can monitor my heart rate.

I hope they know that, b/c they don't mention monitoring heart rate here.

[shaggydogswerve]

search "jack jumpers getting angry" they sent me into anaphylactic shock, 2 ambos, ventolin, adreneline, night in hospital. ooohh so close!!

[RubberyDreams]

and oh, I think it was more like the air was being forced into / out (I can't seem to get myself to remember this detail) my lungs while I bended forward

[tamaraTRAGIC]

i have anaphylaxis.

& suffering from the shock is painful & very scary.

[RubberyDreams]

I'm using Tetracyclin-something, and yesterday I woke up feeling weird everytime I breathe out. I still have it (one day later) and some chest pain.

I looked up the medication on wikipedia and I read I could get breathing complications AND anaphylactic shock, which turned out to be the most severe type, and could result in death within minutes. Right now I'm afraid of the worst and don't know what to do :S