How not to discover an allergy...

Yesterday at work I ate about 4 cashews and within 5 minutes my throat was getting itchy and I told my boss "I think I'm allergic to cashews". He thought I was kidding around, it was just a little itchy so I didn't really do anything about it.

About 5 minutes later it felt as if my throat was closing up so I ran out to the medicine aisle and grabbed a box of Benedryl, took 2 tablets and drank a bottle of water and said to my boss "No shit... I really think I'm allergic to cashews!"

About 5 minutes later when I couldn't swallow anything my boss took off down the street with me headed to the Fire Department... it's only a block or two from the store so we figured we could be over there quicker than if we called them to come to me.

I got a shot of epinephrine, they hooked me up to a BP monitor, heart monitor and some oxygen and made me sit there for about 30 minutes. I had about 10 of the fire-rescue guys hovering over me. Which was a bit embarrassing... did it really take that many guys to do what they were doing?

They wanted me to go to the hospital, but by then I was already feeling MUCH better. The throat was opening up some and I was getting really sleepy from the Benedryl. So I promised them if there was a secondary reaction later I'd head straight for the emergency room.

I called Tom on my way back to the store and asked him to come pick me up...

The rest of the evening was miserable... when we got back to the house my entire body was covered in hives... I was itching like I've never itched before... like I was itching in my bones! I couldn't stand for anything to touch me... it was like my skin was on fire. Like a really bad itchy sunburn.

I went to bed, but was afraid to go to sleep. I had some serious chills... chattery teeth and all. Not fun.

I didn't get out of bed again until it was time to go to work this morning... I have been fine since, except for a bit of a sore throat.

This was the first time I have had an allergy reaction that has had an effect on my breathing... scary stuff! Usually I just break out in a rash or sneeze alot...

I'm going to be making an appointment with an allergist soon and have some tests. I don't want to discover another allergy this way ever again.

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Today at work my assistant manager told me that he had let our Store Manager know what happened after I went home because the Fire-Rescue guys said they'd be sending him a letter. His response...


"Did she pay for the cashews?"