First of all, I am writing this using my husband's e-mail account: I am female.
Sorry, this is long...

I was stung on the arm by a bee or wasp (didn't see it) about 10 years ago and
my arm swelled from my fingers to my shoulder, but I had no other bad symptoms.
I finally got an epi-pen this past fall as a "just in case" precaution.

Well, last week I was stung on my lower back by a wasp. Within seconds I had a
rash about six inches in diameter around the site. About eight minutes later, I
started to feel really dizzy and my heart started racing. I did not have any
trouble breathing. Soon after that, I started feeling light-headed and having
momentary feelings of blacking out. I started to feel the "impending sense of
doom" that is often experienced in an anaphylactic reaction. I went to get my
epi-pen and could not remember how to use it. I tried to read the directions but
it was like reading Chinese because I couldn't think straight. I finally got the
caps off and went to stick it in my leg, but in my confusion I managed to have
it upside down and stuck it in my finger instead (which is not a good thing to
do, but the epi still worked and my finger survived)!

Anyway...right after that I called 911, as I was home alone with two small
children. When the ambulance arrived, I was so shaken up and panicky that I
started to hyperventilate. They gave me oxygen, checked my vitals, etc. My
lungs were clear, and at no time during any of this did I feel my throat
swelling or have trouble breathing. They took me to the ER, where I was given
antihistimines and steroids via IV. I felt sooo much better after the IVs.

The ER doctor said he thought I might have had an anapyhlactic reaction, but
they could not be sure since I gave myself the epi and did not have the typical
breathing difficulties. Another doctor said there was a possibility I had had a
panic attack after getting stung. I have never had a panic attack before, and I
really do think I had an allergic reaction and then may have had a panic attack
after giving myself the epi, but now I'm questioning the whole thing. I have an
appointment with an allergist but can't get in for a month, and I would love to
hear others' opinions. By the way, when I got home from the ER, I noticed I had
a rash covering my entire back, up to my shoulder blades. I continued to feel a
bit out of it for the next 12 hours or so.

What do you think? Was this most likely a reaction, or a panic attack, or both?
If you have had an anaphylactic reaction, what were your symptoms? Thanks!