CD29, Cycle 7 - 10DPO (and I'm feeling better :))

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my post last Friday. I was super frustrated, and reading your comments and your calls for luck really helped my mood improve. You are all so wonderful. <3

My mom came in to town Friday, so that picked my mood up, too! We've had a great time catching up. I hate that I have to be at work while she's here, but c'est la vie. She's got plenty to entertain herself anyway. ;)

DH was totally sweet over the weekend, by the way (when he wasn't pushing the last of my buttons... oh, PMS). We were talking to my mom about babies and pregnancy and kids and whatever, and at some point, he got really emotional and gave me this unprovoked hug, and was rubbing my belly like, "Make a babyyyyy!" My mom must have thought it was awkward, but she laughed as I said, "Hey, I'm workin' on it!!"

As you can see by my chart, my temp went up again today, which is encouraging. The one thing I'm worried about is that I might be 9 rather than 10DPO, and each cycle before this, I've had a peak at 9DPO that started to fall in little increments, then plummet the day of (or before) AF. So only time will tell. I'm hoping I'm 10DPO, at least! One of the downsides to not temping, haha.

While everything this cycle is pretty much the same (a little bloat, sore breasts, mood swings, some cramps, CM is about the same), there's one thing that's different: Lack of appetite. I'm usually craaaaaving carbs during my LP, but I've struggled to find an appetite at all this time. Hopefully that bodes well, but that's likely my body being a dick. :P

Oh, and I picked up some new prenatals from Trader Joe's yesterday. I only have to take ONE of those compared to the FOUR I had before. And it has even more vitamins! Soooo... once I finish these few bottles of prenatals, I'm switching. Because really... four freakin' pills a day?!

ETA: Also, I want to send our future kids to this: Peace Camp! :)

CD26, Cycle 7 - 7DPO (two 7s on Friday the 13th!)

Must be my lucky day! Cycle 7, 7DPO, and it's Friday the 13th! I love today. ;)

Another day without temping, which is totally cool by me. O's confirmed, so no need to stress about the rest.

One thing I absolutely hate is how hot my body gets during my LP. I tend to run low a lot of the time (as you can tell by my charts!), so even 0.5 degrees makes a huge difference. Like today, I was fanning myself off in awesome attorney-boss' office while we were discussing something*, and I had to pull my hair up and off my neck, it was so blasted hot.

It's probably 72 degrees in this office. :P

*What were we talking about? Kids! From private vs. public school to potty training to little girl clothes to languages and... I love that I can talk to him so openly about all that, haha. It makes me even more baby-crazy, but hey, not like I wasn't already, right?

Oh yeah, and I ran two baby girl names by DH, and he pretty much shot them both down. A friend from TCOYF suggested Sophie and Olivia, and they both sound awesome with the middle name I want (Ann) and our last name, so I ran them by DH.

I kinda like Sophie, but I already told you I didn't like Olivia.  I can tell you right now that I wouldn't agree to either for our child.  We'll come to this when we find out the gender of our first child, whenever the hell that ends up being > : (

Siiigh... I know, this is taking forever, and I'm frustrated, too. It feels like it, at least. Seven cycles down... we'll get really worried once 12 hits. But NGL, I'm already a little perturbed. :|

DH will have an SA sometime in August. He has a urology appointment set for 3 August, which is bad because that's my next fertile period... he can have his junk checked, but the SA itself may have to wait until I confirm O. Grr.

If that ends up being okay, then I guess... when 12 months comes along, we'll get my junk checked, too. I'm actually pretty afraid of that prospect, as it's a lot more invasive than "Here's a cup and a Playboy magazine, have at it". I don't want all those tests, but if we have to do it, then we have to do it.

Sadly, even if we did, the cause likely wouldn't be problems with ovulation itself (apparently, I ovulate just fine!) but with possibilities like blocked fallopian tubes, insufficient lining (I don't think that's a problem...), issues with my FSH levels, and who knows what else. A lot more going on for me than for DH, that's for sure.

I almost want to go to the midwife after 9 cycles if there's no success. Why drag it out any longer? DH's SA results will be in by then, we'll have been trying that long without protection, we're charting and timing intercourse well, and just... I'd rather know sooner than later. Really, I wanted to get checked at 6 months, but I want DH to get his spunk checked first. That's the easiest part. ;)

Honestly, when I started this blog, I didn't think I'd be adding "Cycle 7" to my list of categories. Hell, I didn't think I'd be adding even "Cycle 3". I was more hopeful than not, and each cycle that goes by, I just feel like our hopes are dashed and our patience is wearing thin. I know we're a couple of the lucky ones who haven't yet been trying for years, but I don't want to try years. I didn't even want to try for months. And now we're looking at possible infertility?

We're probably worrying too early about that. But really, how early is "too early"? When do we stop hoping and start worrying? At this point... I'm going with right-the-fuck-now. We're doing everything right, and yet we're still here.

... I'm done ranting. It got to be a lot more than I thought it'd be. Guess I'm more emotional about this than I thought (and DH is, too, for that matter). :(

Wednesday Perk-Up! (05-11 July)

I'm one of those "to the ends of the internet!" types who finds random articles and saves them for discussion. Unfortunately, those articles never actually get discussed, so they instead sit in their lonely Firefox tab, waiting for me to hover my mouse over their URLs and share with you all!

It hit me recently just how many of those tabs I tend to have open... certainly far too many, a sure sign of my procrastination. Today's count is a lowly 10, but believe me, I've once had so many tabs that I had to open up a new browser! (Thereby causing another problem: Having to go not only through different tabs, but through different windows, too. Too much hassle, way too many tabs.)

Inspired by all these blasted tabs and mostly by Kallan's Sunday Stews (which are delicious and nutritious and packed full of vitamins and minerals to get you through your week!), I'd like to start weekly postings with things I find around the internet related to faith, food, and fun that I think might interest y'all. I may or may not include personal commentary... depends how I'm feeling. ;)

So with that, welcome to Wednesday Perk-Ups at The Coexist Cafe, a collection of articles to pique your interest and fuel your mind! Almost as addictive as caffeine, half the calories. (But who's counting, right?)

 

When Witches Go Riding Writing

Tori Zigler: Special price on her books, "Mr. Pumpkin-Head and Other Poems" and "Witchlet"!

Throughout the month of July, an excellent wordsmith and good friend Tori Zigler will be selling her books on SmashWords at half price! I personally own her collection of poems and will be taking advantage of her book, and y'all should, too!

To take advantage of this offer, simply go to my author page at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/toriz and add one or both of my books to your cart, then enter the coupon code "SSW50" at the checkout phase.  Since both books are half price, it's basically an option for anyone who hasn't got them yet to buy one of my books and get the other one for free! But this offer is only available throughout July, so don't wait too long to take advantage of it, or you may miss your chance!

 

Sam Curtin: "Dark Cell" novella now on Amazon, and she's all around Facebook!

Another up and coming Pagan writer and dear friend of mine! Her novella just went through an overhaul so it can be easily read on your Kindle or other mobile device. And at $0.99, it's a steal. I own it, I've read it, and I love it... and I know you will, too!

After being wrongly imprisoned for the murder of two Gorgan children, a Crizenian by the name of Ness is broken out by two teenage boys. The boys then embark on a fantastical journey full of magic, suspense and corruption to prove Ness' innocence.

You can also find Sam around Facebook (and may I be the first to say, I LOVE the play on her last name for her publishing house!):

• Samantha Curtin - Author


• Behind the Curtin Publications

 

Renee Olson: Dealing With Anger

In a post that seeks to reason whether we truly need to "forgive and forget", Renee shares with us an insightful and raw post about anger and how to manage it. What does it mean to "forgive and forget"? Is this something we're absolutely mandated to do? What about the Wiccan Rede... if bound by it, does forgiving and forgetting harm us?

At times I find myself at odds with protecting myself and with my religion.  As a solitary follower of Hecate, I don't have a great deal of dogma associated with my faith.  I don't have to forgive as instructed by the Christian Bible or even as Buddha suggested in the story about the man who spit in the face of another.

It is said that Hecate does not forgive easily and she holds a grudge.  As Goddess of the Witches, Hecate holds a special place for me, and is why I believe she chose me.  You see, I need someone to watch over me and protect me.  I need that extra dose of confidence.  I believe that's why she's here with me.

Thank you, Renee, for such a thoughtful post. Head on over to share your own thoughts!

 

Featured Podcast: The Wigglian Way

I swear, it's not just because we just visited Canada that I'm obsessed with all things Canadian, including their Pagans. I have been for years, at least this duo, Mojo and Sparrow of the Wigglian Way. I started listening to their podcasts back when I was a wee little witch, and while I took a little hiatus (I was having a hard time syncing up my iTunes, not anything against them!), I was delighted to see they were still on the air.

In fact, they're not just on the air... they've exploded! Having recently celebrated their 100th episode, they had a rowdy good time on that show -- seriously, if you listen to no other podcast of theirs, please at least listen to that one. ;)

Their topics are engaging, their music stylings are amazing (did you know Mojo was a musician?!), and their delivery is flawless. They're an amazing team, something you'll discover the first time you listen to them. Love these guys!

 

Food for Thought

Mark Bittman: A Chicken Without Guilt (Finally, Fake Chicken Worth Eating)

I'm no stranger to the lauding of fake meat products as a way to eat more ethically, but I'll admit that converting people over to the veggie side is difficult when fake meat in fact tastes so... well, fake. Not that it's a bad thing -- I've personally come to prefer chik'n over chicken, veggie burgers over cheeseburgers, and the like.

But if your average carnivore is anything like Matt, you'll know that you tend to prefer the "real" stuff! And finding a suitable replacement is all but impossible, even if your desire to eat ethically only makes you feel guilty as you give a mock smile while "enjoying" your mock meat.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="225"] Even I'm impressed with this stuff![/caption]

Then I came across this article by Mark Bittman, arguably one of my favorite food bloggers around the 'net. And he's omni! In his quest to find delicious, satisfying, cruelty-free or -reduced food, he's tried his fair share of soy and tempeh and seitan, about as much as any non-vegetarian can take. When he came across this fake chicken product, he had his doubts:

[I]n October I visited a place in The Hague called The Vegetarian Butcher, where the “butcher” said to me, “We slaughter soy” — ha-ha. The plant-based products were actually pretty good — the chicken would have fooled me if I hadn’t known what it was — and I began to consider that it might be better to eat fake meat that harms no animals and causes less environmental damage than meat raised industrially.

And about fake chicken in general:

I love good chicken, but most of the chicken we eat doesn’t qualify, and the question becomes more compelling as meat imitators gain sophistication. The vegetarian meat I ate in The Hague isn’t widely distributed, but Quorn, a mushroom-based product, can be pretty appealing in some instances, Gardein has made some advances in soy-based products and at least one new product is a better-than-adequate substitute for chicken in things like wraps, salads and sauces. I know this because Ethan Brown, an owner of Savage River Farms, came to my house and fooled me badly in a blind tasting.

[Editor's Note: He was fooled not once, but twice, and this is a guy who does this stuff for a living!]

 

Decaffeinated: Blissful News

This Month in Holidays

Be sure to check out our NASA Goddard-provided list!

(Thank you to HolidayInsights.com for this list!)

Month:

• National Blueberry Month


• National Anti-Boredom Month


• Unlucky Month for weddings


• National Cell Phone Courtesy Month


• National Hot Dog Month


• National Ice Cream Month

Week Event:

• Week 2 Nude Recreation Week

Individual Days:

1 Build A Scarecrow Day (first Sunday in month)
1 Canada Day
1 Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
1 International Joke Day

2 I Forgot Day
2 World UFO Day

3 Compliment Your Mirror Day
3 Disobedience Day
3 Stay out of the Sun Day

4 Independence Day (U.S.)
4 National Country Music Day
4 Sidewalk Egg Frying Day (YOU DON'T SAY)

5 Work-a-holics Day (even though everyone is on holiday)

6 National Fried Chicken Day

7 Chocolate Day
7 National Strawberry Sundae Day

8 Video Games Day

9 National Sugar Cookie Day

10 Teddy Bear Picnic Day

11 Cheer up the Lonely Day
11 World Population Day

12 Different Colored Eyes Day
12 Pecan Pie Day

13 Barbershop Music Appreciation Day
13 Embrace Your Geekness Day
13 Fool's Paradise Day

14 Bastille Day
14 Pandemonium Day
14 National Nude Day

15 National Ice Cream Day (third Sunday of the month)
15 Tapioca Pudding Day
15 Cow Appreciation Day (go out and give a cow a hug)

16

17 Peach Ice Cream Day
17 Yellow Pig Day

18 National Caviar Day (something's fishy here)

19 National Raspberry Cake Day

20 Moon Day
20 Ugly Truck Day- it's a "guy" thing

21 National Junk Food Day

22 Hammock Day
22 Parent's Day  (fourth Sunday in July)
22 Ratcatcher's Day

23 National Hot Dog Day
23 Vanilla Ice Cream Day

24 Amelia Earhart Day
24 Cousins Day

25 Culinarians Day
25 Threading the Needle Day

26 All or Nothing Day
26 Aunt and Uncle Day

27 Summer Olympics (every 4 years)
27 Take Your Pants for a Walk Day

28 National Milk Chocolate Day

29 National Lasagna Day

30 National Cheesecake Day
30 Father-in-Law Day
31 Mutt's Day

 

Yoga Today: Find Your Cosmic Dancer



 


Espresso Shots: News with a Kick!

Smiling Silversmith: Coffee Ring for Coffee Lovers

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Uh. Ma. Zing.[/caption]

OMG, are you serious?! This thing is INCREDIBLE!! I want to make it mine!

My birthday is in November, in case anyone's wondering... 6.75, please... ;)




ONTD: Is it wrong to call this 20-year-old who punched a street harasser a hero?

A very emphatic FUCK NO!! If anything, that's awesome!

WARNING
This particular shot might be triggering due to talk of rape threats.

Look. Rape culture is one of my sticking points, a topic that (aside from food and faith, of course) speaks to me on a very intimate level. So when I hear that someone got exactly what was coming to them, a swift punch in the face in response to a terrifying threat? I can't help but cheer to myself while fighting back the urge to shout this good news from the rooftops.

The fact that this kind of talk is still accepted and even perpetuated by the mistaken notion that women (and other gendered victims) are the cause of rape, as they "had it coming" or were "leading on" the perpetrator" or other such vile excuses, is exactly why this problem is so prevalent.

In response to some asshole who, after a noticeably drunk girl quickened her pace from a couple leering men, said that "Fucking cunt, [he'd] take her into the back alley and show her what [he's] made of", Kelsey of the now-defunct Tumblr Ignite My Thoughts swung around and decked him right in the face, succeeding in injuring her hand and, much more importantly, bruising the asshole's ego:

"I hope your mother/girlfriend/sister/friends/everyone asks what happened to your nose. I hope you have to explain that you thought it'd be funny to joke with your friend about raping the drunk girl across the street. I bet you didn't think that the girl who was walking in front of you would turn around and punch you in the face. You're a filthy piece of shit and I don't regret this at all."

Now she's not only facing possible charges for her act -- she willingly went to the police station and turned herself in after learning that her Tumblr went viral -- but the responses she received were absolutely abhorrent. Of note:

"Hey you crazy bitch, he was joking about rape, not raping the drunk bimbo, not even plotting on raping her, he was JOKING," one person wrote. "Wow. And you seem proud of what you did. Seriously, you're the one who deserves to get raped."

The message that comes across here is that women take rape threats too seriously, don't lighten up in the face of direct threats of physical violence, and need to shut their mouths and just realize that he was joking zOMG why are you so sensitive. Arguments that, as an astute LJer already pointed out, are linked to a well-known reaction called gaslighting.

And don't even get me started on the degrading language this, ah... gentleman had for a woman who happened to drink. I imagine a man who did the same would also be called a "bimbo", yes?

Anyway, I could go on and on about this topic, but I'll let it rest for now. Don't want that espresso to taste too bitter. For additional recommended reading, check out:

• Schrödinger’s Rapist: or a guy’s guide to approaching strange women without being maced


• Men: Help stop public harassment


• Rape Culture 101


• MenCanStopRape.org

NASA Goddard encourages and celebrates different faiths – Part 3!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="@NASAGoddard"][/caption]

Holidays to balance out your hot and sticky summer! Thank heavens, too -- we all need something other than air conditioners, swimming pools, and ice-cold lemonade to keep us afloat as we roast. (Though honestly, none of those are all that bad.)

Nothing for us Pagans this month, but still plenty to go around! A very happy holiday to anyone observing this month. :)

Like the ones in February and April, below is the section of the email sent to all NASA Goddard employees with the holidays for the month of July, including some links at the bottom with additional information and a diversity calendar. As always, thank you to Matt for sharing!

July 3

Asalhapuja (Buddhist): A Theraveda Buddhist celebration of the Buddha’s first sermon and the setting of the Wheel of Truth into the world.

July 4

Independence Day (United States): Marks the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence by representatives of the 13 colonies. The U.S. proclaimed autonomy from England and formed of the United States of America.

July 4

Shab-e-Barat (Islamic): A fast in preparation for Ramadan. It is believed that on this night, Allah absolves sins and fixes the destinies of humans for the coming year. It is common, particularly in India and Pakistan, to ask Allah to forgive people who have died. Begins at sundown the previous day.

July 9

Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i): Commemorates the arrest, torture, imprisonment, and execution of the Bab, the prophet-herald of the faith, in Tabriz, Persia, in 1850. Begins at sundown the previous day.

July 14

Bastille Day (France): Commemorates the event that launched the French Revolution. On this date in 1789, the Bastille, which held political prisoners and became a symbol of oppression by the monarchy, was stormed and prisoners freed. Given their French heritage, many Louisiana parishes, including New Orleans, hold Bastille Day festivals featuring Cajun food, music, and dance.

July 20

Ramadan (Islamic): This begins the first day of the Islamic month of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic year. The fast of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and mandatory for every Muslim who has reached puberty except those who are ill, pregnant, or on a journey. During this month, no water or food may be taken from sunrise to sunset. The feast of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.

July 20

First Special Olympics Games (1968): On this date, the first Special Olympics, an athletic competition for children and adults with cognitive disabilities, opened at Soldiers Field in Chicago. The first Special Olympics had 1,000 participants from the United States and Canada.By 1995, this competition had expanded to include Winter Special Olympics (added in 1977) and to involve 7,000 participants from all 50 states and 143 countries.

July 23

Birthday of Haile Selassie (Rastafarian): One of the holiest days of the year for Rastafarians, this holiday celebrates the birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie (1892–1975) of Ethiopia, who is revered by the Rastafarians as a descendant of King Solomon and is believed to be the incarnation of God. He was born Tafari makonnen and later took the name Haile Selassie, meaning Power of the Holy Trinity. The etymology of Rastafari is based on the word ras, meaning “prince” and Haile Selassie’s birth name, Tafari.

July 24

Pioneer Day (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): This marks the day in 1847 that Brigham Young led other believers in the teachings of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, into the valley of the Great Salt Lake, where they would establish the center of their church and build Salt Lake City.

July 26

Americans with Disabilities Act Signed (United States): Celebrates the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides for reasonable accommodation in work situations and standards for physical accessibility to buildings and public transportation.

July 29

Tisha B’Av (Jewish): This holiday commemorates the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in both 586 B.C.E. and again in 70 C.E. All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date shown.

We invite you to visit the Web sites used to compile this calendar for additional information. There you will find a wealth of information on days that are recognized throughout the world. Please find the sources listed below:

http://www.diversityresources.com/multicultural-calendar.html

http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/

http://www.diversitycalendar.com/Home.html

CD22, Cycle 7: 2DPO?

I have no news! I might be at 2DPO, but who the eff knows, I haven't been temping, lol. There's still a lot going on so I won't be going crazy from waiting, thankfully. And now I have D's baby to ogle over!

Third, SO MUCH SEX. :D Twice yesterday for the hell of it ("XX" = "both" to indicate AM and PM, lol), and within 6 hours of each other! Just... how did we do that?!

Friends, Families, and Fantastic News!!

It was the wee hours of the morning when I received the text. I didn't process a lot of what was going on, just that it was storming out and that the blinding light from my iPhone rivaled the intermittent lightning outside. I rubbed my eyes, bleary from sleep, and rolled away from the light to wrap my arm around Matt.

I don't remember much from that night, but when I finally saw the picture text at 7am which featured a gorgeous newborn, my eyes, once drooped from exhaustion, suddenly flew wide open:

Nathan H., born at 10:32pm 9lbs even, 21in long

OMG! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

And Seahorse, whose arrival has been anticipated since the day my amazing friend Dana texted a picture of her positive pregnancy test, came Earthside!!

I've known Dana for a number of years now, and while we have yet to meet in person (seriously, this needs to be remedied, STAT), I feel like I've known her my entire life. We've shared struggles, excitement, and pure, unadulterated joy together these years, and I am so fortunate to have her and her husband as my friends (and to know her daughter, too, because this girl is SERIOUSLY adorable and hilarious). To hear this kind of news firsthand and to share this, another milestone, with her and her family is like the icing on the friendship cake! A BABY!!! :D

A huge, happy, boisterous congratulations to mama Dana, daddy Nate,  and big sister Hannah, who bring Nathan into the world to continue their perfect family! I am so happy for you guys, shedding tears of joy (serious tears, NGL) whenever I imagine how happy you all must be. :) Much love and many blessings as you enjoy your time together!!

Food Allergies: All about anaphylaxis

As a food blogger (among other topics), especially a "specialty" food blogger, the most disappointing and potentially limiting thing to have is a food allergy. Tree nuts are typically a huge part of any vegetarian diet, but I'm one of those lucky people who gets an anaphylactic reaction to tree nuts -- pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, and so forth are all out of the question. It actually kinda sucks.

I've written about food allergies before (When Soy Annoys and Honeymoon Stories), but I haven't really discussed what anaphylaxis itself is and how serious a condition it can become.

Why this topic now? Because, although it's been a while, I had a pretty severe anaphylactic reaction today to a dish at lunch with a friend of mine. We're talking, throat swelling closed, nausea, stomach pains, the works. It was pretty miserable, and while I would never recommend that anyone simply take Benadryl and sleep it off, that's exactly what I did. Please please please do as I say here, not as I do. :P

Anyway, below is some information on what anaphylaxis is, the symptoms, treatment options, and ways to avoid a reaction. Hope y'all find it handy!

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) is a severe whole-body allergic reaction to an allergen, such as a bee sting or food. The reaction happens quickly after exposure, is incredibly severe, and involves the whole body as tissues in different parts of the body quickly release histamine and other substances.

"True" anaphylaxis and an "anaphylactoid reaction" are different -- the latter is often a result of exposure to a certain drug, such as morphine, x-ray dye, and aspirin. The reactions are not the same as with "true" anaphylaxis, but can exhibit the same symptoms, have the same complication risks, and are treated the same way.

Pollen and other inhaled allergens, by the way, rarely cause anaphylaxis, though it can happen. Some people also have anaphylactic reactions with no known cause.

Anaphylaxis is life-threatening!

What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis?

Symptoms can develop within minutes or even seconds from exposure to an allergen, and may include the following:

• Abdominal pain or cramping


• Abnormal (high-pitched) breathing sounds


• Anxiety


• Confusion


• Cough


• Diarrhea


• Difficulty breathing


• Difficulty swallowing


• Fainting, light-headedness, dizziness


• Hives, itchiness


• Nasal congestion


• Nausea, vomiting


• Palpitations


• Skin redness


• Slurred speech


• Wheezing

(For what it's worth, I had every symptom above today save only for the hives and itchiness. That one's reserved for mangoes. :P)

How is anaphylaxis treated?

Remember, anaphylaxis is life-threatening and requires immediate professional medical attention! Call 911 immediately if you suspect anaphylaxis -- one warning sign is a hoarse or whispered voice due to the airway closing.

1. Go down the ABC's of Basic Life Support checklist ("A"irway, "B"reathing, "C"irculation) and begin rescue breathing and CPR if necessary.


2. Call 911 immediately.


3. Calm and reassure the person, who is likely going into shock.


4. For a bee sting: Scrape the stinger off the skin with something firm, like a fingernail or plastic credit card. Do not use tweezers or otherwise squeeze the stinger, as this will release more venom.


5. If the person has emergency allergy medication, such as an EpiPen, help the person administer the treatment. Avoid oral medication if breathing is difficult.


6. Take steps to prevent shock: Have the person lie flat with feet raised about 12" off the ground, and cover the person with a coat or blanket. Do not place the person in this position if a head, neck, or leg injury is suspected or if it causes discomfort.

DO NOT...

... assume that any allergy shots the person has already received will provide complete protection. Call 911!

... place a pillow under the person's head if the person is having trouble breathing, as this can block the airways.

... give anything, even medication, by mouth if the person is having trouble breathing.

A paramedic or physician may open the airways with a tube through the nose or mouth (endotracheal intubation) or perform a tracheostomy to place a tube directly into the trachea. Antihistamines and corticosteroids may also be administered to further reduce symptoms after lifesaving measures and epinephrine are given.

What are some complications of anaphylaxis?

Some complications of anaphylaxis include but are not limited to:

• Airway blockage


• Cardiac arrest


• Respiratory arrest


• Shock

So yes, immediate treatment is critical.

How can anaphylaxis be prevented?

Obviously, avoidance is the best prevention.Triggers such as foods and medication that have caused even a mild allergic reaction in the past can go rogue and cause anaphylaxis in the future. Carefully examine ingredient labels... and especially after an experience like this, get clarification on ingredients when eating away from home and any potential contact with allergens.

If you have a child who is allergic to certain foods, introduce one new food at a time in small amounts so an allergic reaction can be recognized. (We'll have to do this with our kids, between my tree nut and mango allergy and Matt's shellfish allergy. Fun!)

A medical ID tag is a great idea if you tend to get severe allergic reactions. This can help alert someone who is trying to help you. Carrying emergency medications, such as a chewable form of diphenhydramine and injectable epinephrine ("EpiPen") or bee sting kit, is always prudent, too. And of course, never share your medications.

PubMed Health - Anaphylaxis