Note from Lianne-NoNutTraveler- you may remember this anaphylaxis story in the news last May- read all the details in the testimonial below. We must get auto-injectors stocked on all airlines. For the both those with known and unknown allergies. It is a public health concern!
May 2018: The flight began like every other flight I have taken. I brought my own food on to the plane due to all my food allergies and to prevent any in-flight emergencies from happening.
So, I start eating these gluten-free kettle cooked chips which did not disclose that they were cooked in peanut oil, and when we were about 35,000 feet up in the air, I started to feel like I was getting motion sickness because I was feeling nauseous.
On my way, back to the restroom I noticed something else wasn’t right, I was getting red and getting hives. When I got into the bathroom and started throwing up that is when I noticed my throat was closing and I was like I need to get out of the bathroom so I can get to my Epi- Pens since I always keep two of them in my purse. So, I frantically opened the bathroom door and I thought I took five steps out of the bathroom, but evidently, I opened the door and just passed out because my oxygen levels were already plummeting.
That is when I was asked what did I take in the bathroom and I proceeded to show my medical alert bracelet which should I had a rare auto immune disease and allergies and that I needed my epi pens right away. That is when the flight attendant ran for my purse and proceeded to ask if there were any medical professionals on board. That is when Dr. Erich Kiehl from the Cleveland Clinic ironically where I was flying for a second opinion responded and Dr. Blake Cameron from Duke University responded as well.
I then gave myself my first Epi Pen waited about 5 minutes started going in and out of consciousness and needed to give myself the other one. This is when Dr. Kiehl started pleaded with the on-ground doctor to land the plane in Pittsburgh which ultimately would save my life but we still were not out of the woods yet, I remember them having to open the medical professional’s bag and draw up epinephrine which if I remember correctly was the dosage for a heart attack.
In the time of emergency therefore auto injectors are so crucial and needed on planes because I was still going in and out of consciousness and an auto injectors is a lot faster for a person in anaphylactic shock! Also during landing, they were trying to get an IV in me so I was all set when I got on the Tarmac into the ambulance. It was crazy because days after this happened I was also diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my heart that I am still dealing with. I am lucky that did not kill me that day. I believe that everything happens for a reason and both of those doctors were there to save my life. Also, since then I have talked to numerous senators about the Epi-pen shortage and have brought up how we can get auto-injectors on plane
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