What Happens When You Get To The Hospital?

pYour story is exactly my story. I don't think the doctors at our hospital knew anything about peanut allergy. After waiting in the ER for an hour, the symptoms were almost gone. By the time they saw my daughter, they just told us to keep her away from peanuts and sent us on our merry way. I think it's better to call 911, so they take it more seriously at the hospital./p

pHibr /
For my sons first ana reaction (hopefully the last) we called 911. After we arrived at the ER we were immediately rushed inside to the room and a doctor met us there and we were given the care needed. My son needed another shot of adrenaline and they hooked him up to a monitor. After he started showing signs of improvement, they kept up there another 3 hours./p

pMy "major anaphalaxis" was on Prom night. the ambulance couldn't get to us fast enough so the limo raced us to the hospital, They knew we were coming met us at the car, and rushed me in as if I was the most important patient there. Granted....my blood pressure had dropped so much, and it all became a blur to me. I DO remember the nurses being so SO kind to me. Asking me if it was ok ti "hik up" my dress, and explaining the shots, they put the IV around my corsage....and they held me there for hours for observation. A doctor went and explained to my date, called my parents, and also, called the restaurant to find out "exactly" what I had eaten./p
pI was very very lucky to get such urgent care. (with a bedside manner!)....this was up in Scotdale AZ....actually all of my reactions in AZ have had very good care...my "doctor" has not fully understood...he is kind of casual about it, but...the emergency care was wonderful. /p
pI think above anything else.....demand that you are "emergency" and that means before broken arms and cuts etc....../p

pI agree that it is better to call 911. My husband and I drove my son to the ER the time that we thought his breathing was impaired. Since we were only 10 minutes away, we knew that we could get there fastser. The doctor told us that we could not have been that concerned because my son did not arrive in an ambulance. (I asked her if she ranked those who arrived in a medivac helicopter as more important.)/p
pI was seen though before any of those in the waiting room because I told them that I thought my son's breathing was impaired./p
pIt was a bad experience, and I am waiting for a response to my letter./p

pMy son was just diagnosed with PA and our allergist told us if we ever have to go to the ER to be sure and tell the staff that he was having an anaphalactic reaction. He said stress the word "anaphalactic". I don't know if it will help since so far we've not had to go./p

pHi, it does not sound as if your child was in anaphylactic shock. Rather what you describe sounds like a severe allergic reaction. There is a difference and the triage process at the emergency room is designed to determine that. Waiting in the waiting room until your place in the medical emergency priority queue is drawn seems very reasonable to me. I have spent many hours in emergency rooms with allergy symptoms like those you describe. When I truly have been in anaphylactic shock I have been treated immediately. Not all peanut reactions become anaphylactic but all must be monitored in case they do and the hospital waiting room is a good place to be. Hope this helps. Take care./p
p[This message has been edited by PeanutKate (edited June 27, 2000).]/p

pMy son's first ana reaction was when he was 18 months old.AE was closed in our town so i brought him out to our Family Doctor's home.He had recovered mostly by the time he got there.I arrived once at the Doctor's surgery with my little boy with a swelling face.I was told by the receptionist to have a seat and wait.We have an out of hours Doctor service after 5 PM.They expect you to phone them first,go through all the details and then you wait for the doctor to phone you back.This is 20 miles from our home.I have learned to give the epipen and phone 911.Only then are you sure of emergency care.They were called twice last week to my son's school and they could not have been more supportive./p
pThere was a question about what happens at the hospital.He was seen immediately regardless of the fact that he was making a good recovery.His blood pressure was checked and they checked his blood saturation level for oxygen.He was given steroids on one occassion in dissovable format to bring down the swelling.He was detained overnightThe 2nd time he was only kept a few hours and sent home because he was ok./p
pIn my experience if you have to give the epi call 911.The hospital also asked if I would phone them to let them know that he was on his way./p

pAccording to a medical dictionary anaphylactic shock is the violent onset of symptoms of shock produced by exposure to an allergenic protein. Shock is a condition of acute peripheral circulatory failure characterized by hypotension, coldness of the skin, rapid heart rate and anxiety. My doctor said anaphylactic shock is diagnosed when the respiratory system and another body system are affected. You could visit [url="http://www.anaphylaxis.org"]http://www.anaphylaxis.org[/url] for more information./p