I have been having hives once or twice a year for the past three years. The doctor told me it was from stress and told me to take Allegra. My hives sometimes lasted for more than a month. Last weekend, I started having hives again. Thinking it might be from stress, I ignored it. Within couple of minutes it was all over my body and I was experiencing shortness of breath. I took some Benadryl that only helped me for a little while. My friend rushed me to the emergency room. My face, lips and tongue were swollen and all I can see was bright light. They took my vitals and all I can remember was a blood pressure of 77/38 and a pulse of 120. After a follow-up checkup, another doctor referred me to an allergist. I am still waiting to get tested. I have EpiPen with me at all times. I am upset that the previous doctor that saw me said it was just from stress and nothing to worry about. I could have lost my life if I kept believing her.

My first reaction was to eating a hotdog, which I had many times before, it started with itchy hands, soles of my feet, eyes and stomach gramps, my daughter took me to the ER where they gave me a IV with medications, and prescribed a Epi pen, a month later I had a reaction to Lunch, same as before but more severe, a coworker took me to my doctor's office, a block from my workplace, where I fainted, she gave me my epi pen, the next thing I knew was when I woke up with paramedics working on me, they said I almost died. I have had two more reactions that sent me to the hospital, now I take liquid Benadryl at the first sign, No cause has been determined they call it Idiopathic anaphylaxis.

I had been in the hospital for 4 days for Staff Infection. On two different antibiotics. One was K-flex. Upon discharge I was told to take K-flex 3 times a day. I was home for about 1 hour when I took the first K-flex. Wham, immediately I was itching all over, very flushed, heart beating wildly in my ears, and I was having a hard time breathing. EMT's were called and they gave me a large dose of Benadryl, oxygen, and started an IV along with two breathing treatments. They then took me to the hospital for more treatment. All of this from an IV antibiotic given in the hospital for two days and one oral after I got home. EMT's explained to me that my body had just had too much of the K-flex and I went into shock. I now have to take Benadryl for a few days every 6 hours, 75mg. Needless to say; this medication will be put on my allergic to list. I will be getting an EPI-pen from my doctor to carry with me always.

I am 44 years old and have been dealing with this for about 10 years. It starts with severe diarrhea, then the itching and hives. I just recently ended up in the hospital because my throat started closing and my tongue was swelling. I have been to an allergist who said go to the ER next time and have them draw blood. I asked them to and they didn't. They said I was not having any kind of reaction because of the diarrhea and the vomiting. I have probably had about 7 attacks with this being the worst. I have an epi pen, but did not have it with me that night. This time I felt like I was going to die and the doctor's just pooh pooed the idea of some type of allergic reaction. Don't know what to do now.

I carry an epi-pen kit because I am allergic to bees and all related to bees. Also some foods and milk.

I suffered an anaphylaxis melt down following an increase of aspirin when I was in the hospital this past July due to a heart attack. The symptoms were swelling, irritations, sweats, headache and difficulty breathing which thank goodness the CCU RN's were able to handle quickly and professionally. In my instance the aspirin dosage was increased from 1 x 0.5 twice daily to 3 x 100mg three times per day. It has been a long recovery road from that incident.