----- Original Message -----

From: sethzondag

To: insectstings@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:51 AM

Subject: [insectstings] Re: Anaphylactic reaction, or panic attack?

Thanks for all of the responses, everyone! Here's an update: I talked with my allergist over the phone about a week ago and explained to her what had happened. She believes I definitely experienced anaphylaxis, but said I need to change my appointment for skin testing to a date at least six weeks after the date I got stung. Apparently there is a higher likelihood of getting a false negative if you get tested too soon. My husband is in between jobs right now, so I will probably have to wait until September to do the skin testing, when my insurance kicks back in. If I test positive, I'm pretty sure I will go ahead with the immunotherapy. Anyway, I do not leave the house without my epi anymore, and if I get stung again I will immediately take benadryl and then give myself an epi at the first possible sign of anaphylaxis.

On another note, my 10 month old baby girl was stung by a BABY wasp two days after I was stung. She immediately developed a rash on both arms and on one side of her face, but had no other adverse symptoms. I took her to her pediatrician last week and she was given the RAST blood test, but it came back negative. Her pediatrician gave us a junior epi-pen for her anyway, just in case. I know some people are against the prescription of epi-pens for "just in case" scenarios, but if my allergist hadn't given me an epi-pen last fall as a "just in case" precaution after my bad local reaction, I might not have survived this latest sting. I would rather not take any chances with my baby girl.

Thanks again everyone!!! Kim

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