Celery? Really???? Anaphylactic Shock?

WHO ever heard of severe allergies to CELERY???

Hubs and I were at a party in the boonies. I ate a lot of celery, which has always made my tongue feel weird, so I usually don't eat much. I was eating lots of it instead of the wonderful-looking cookies and other goodies.

Suddenly, my tongue hit the wall and I stopped eating. It hit hard - burning and swelling. Next, my thin lips followed suit - actually, I didn't mind the bigger lips - it looked nice. Face was next - other than the swelling hiding each and every wrinkle and crows feet, the redness was not very becoming.

Next(which hubs actually probably wasn't too worried about) my voice went out. My hands started itching like crazy, and the red and swelling was covering my whole body.

The gracious hostess had me down some benadryl (which now I think probably enabled us to get home on that 45 minute drive from their home).

I started feeling pretty bad, and hubs made me leave the party. The car ride home was weird - it felt like someone had a chain saw in my stomach, and I was in and out of consciousness. I THOUGHT I was repeating to hubs that "I am not going to make it",
but I wasn't making any sound. (although that is what I thought I was saying)

When we arrived home, I managed to get to the bathroom to release a load of toxins, then crawled into bed. Hubs went on Internet to google celery allergy - and kept coming in the bedroom to wake me to ask me if I had a headache - check - if I was nauseated - check - if I had a tummy ache - check....if I was dizzy - check...the list went on. He had a hard time waking me up - I heard him say right in my face "Do I need to call the ambulance or can you get to the car?" I managed to the car (did not want to pay for ambulance).

Once at the E.R. I sat in the triage chair, and could not talk (hubs talked FOR me - that's a first!) They got me immediately into a bed, and immediately a shot of epinephrine and I.V. of steroids and anti-histamine. By then, my whole body was shaking uncontrollably and I could not respond. THAT is when hubs knew I was really in bad shape - when HE had to talk for me :)

It took about one hour for me to get under control, and then they observed me for a few more hours.

I will now have to carry an EpiPen with me. I think I need a new purse.

I am thankful that hubs was smart enough, and with me, and was watching over me. I surely most likely would have not been alive in the morning had I just stayed in bed.

Wasn't my time - I am thankful for each day we have.

But really????? CELERY??? It is second only to peanut in the anaphylactic shock allergy. Weird....if it is weird - I will get it.

Bummer I didn't think to get a picture.

The end.

I JUST READ MY ENTRY FROM 3PM SAME DAY OF THIS INCIDENT! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WEIRD IF I DID DIE!

UPDATE: the only other thing I nibbled on that night was meat drippings, I was telling the host that I started eating those out of the pan because I thought it would help my tongue, and he said " I used celery seeds to season the meat!" I got the concentration of them!