Basically, I was admitted to A&E on 2nd Feb. Whaaaat happened??
I was at my best friend's house, for a primary school CNY gathering because it's the festive season for gatherings!! At that time the alert was still yellow but anyways..
I woke up pretty fine that morning, actually slept quite late the night before as I do on most nights. Went around some errands and stuff because had to prepare for the potluck happening at her place. Every one is sick of steamboats hahaha so this was a great idea. I only ate some dumplings before I headed out.
Okay so I arrived at her place late because my potluck dish (dumplings) didn't turn out well so I bought some extra sushi to make up for it. Apparently everyone thought it was fine though hahaha.
So we started eating and all...
About 3pm?? We finished eating and were starting to pack up. A little discomfort started. I had a feeling like my throat was kinda ticklish and I needed to cough, so I did, a few times. But the itchy feeling didn't go away. It felt like there was something stuck at the back of my throat. I felt like I needed to clear my throat and my eyes were getting watery and my nose was starting to drip. I excused myself to the toilet.
I proceeded to cough quite a few times and kept trying to clear my nose because for some reason it started like a tap. I thought maybe I got contact with some dust?? Because I'm quite sensitive to dust that my nose would start running for the whole day if the environment around me is dusty. Or am I going to fall sick now? Were my thoughts.
Nope, it did not get better after about 10-15mins in the toilet. In fact, I noticed that my eyes started to swell up. But I wasn't having a fever nor a headache. (Normally my eyes would swell a little if I'm running a fever.) I was puzzled okay. I exited the toilet feeling worse.
I went to my friend's room to hide a while because enough said. I couldn't face the rest with my face like that right. My nose was still running and I was constantly using tissues. tadadadada... my friend's mother was alerted of my situation and she prepared some warm water and towel for my to put on my eyes. I tried to rest on my friend's bed.
Subsequently I couldn't even breathe properly through my nose. Like my whole nasal passage was blocked. Not even blowing my mucus out helped. Also, I couldn't even swallow my saliva properly. I tried but, it like, just doesn't get through my throat. Of course I started to panic.
I tried to put ice cubes in a towel and put it over my eyes because de-swell right. All the while I was feeling extremely uncomfortable and panicking inside but still trying to calm down since I could only breathe from my mouth. I considered if I should go to a GP? But it was a Sunday, so a little hard. So my next best option was A&E.
My friends came in to check on me and I told them how I was feeling. Obviously I needed to see a doctor but question was where. They tried to google for me but no nearby clinic was open. *cries* So A&E it was. I lierally just waited for them to get ready and call a grab because I felt like I couldn't function anymore with my swollen eyes, runny nose and breathing problem. My eyes also dropped tears uncontrollably because of how watery it was.
How I looked like at my worst. Any more and I can't take it myself.
Fast forward to A&E.. It was already about 4pm plus. All the nurses and doctors who saw me immediately said 'allergic reaction', because my puffy eyes said it all. Thankfully I was led to a triage bed real quick. By the time I was on the bed I could already breathe better. I was prescribed a promethazine injection I believe because I asked the nurse hahaha. But it was a butt injection :( Wah I swear it was the most painful injection in my entire life. Maybe because they inject it in one of the bigger muscle for it to react faster. And also 6 tablets of prednisolone. Then I waited.
After about maybe 20-30mins a junior doctor came by and asked if he could set a IV plug on my dorsum. In case my condition worsens or whatever they may need to transfuse my drug so yea I agreed.
Okay now I know how patients with IV plugs on feel. (Ignoring the fact that he tried about 3-4 times before he could get my vein. After the 3rd time I told him that was too deep and he finally got it n maybe the 4th try.) 'Have IV plug not pain one what, a kind of flexible needle which is not sharp mah', was what I used to think. But no, for the whole maybe 4 hours I was there, I could feel it move in my vein with every hand movement I make. I can tolerate pain quite okay but the discomfort was... Now I know why patients say they feel like their hand is handicapped with IV plug. Because with every little movement you feel discomfort and slight pain that you subsequently don't want to move it anymore.
During my stay, I was transferred to a room with one other lady because I still needed further observation. The swelling on my eyes had reduced but it was still present. I was on the bed for so long I felt like sleeping. Maybe due to the meds too. Then the senor doctor came to check on me again and asked if I wanted to stay overnight so they can observe me until my allergic reaction goes down. I refused for many reasons and I did feel significantly better except that my eyes were still swelled up. So I signed AOR and all. The doctor also did refer me for a dermatology appt (tyvm). And... was discharged with compulsory meds for 4 days and 1 week MC.
So that was my A&E experience. Over the next 4 days I took the meds and now I'm obviously not a tomato anymore hahaah. Oh yes, also took the week off from work.
So yes, I do not know the actual allergen that caused my reaction although the doctors seem to think it was seafood. I have always been eating everything and not picky about food so I really don't know. Guess I have to wait until my dermatology appointment.
I am extremely grateful to those bunch of friends for stopping their CNY celebrations to accompany me to the hospital, all wearing masks hahaha. But really, I am grateful hehe. Especially to my bff who accompanied me to A&E registration and waited until I could see a doctor. I think my friends only left after my father arrived. SO really really thank you!!
The purpose of this post is so I have something to help me remember what I ate and all to help me know and figure out what caused my reaction and what food I need to take note of. I think it's highly likely due to food because it happened after I ate. Also the symptoms that I experienced so I can be better prepared and recognize it sooner. (I hope there's no next time!!) I was honestly shocked and a mess. Don't think it was make up too because I didn;t put any on.
For those of you who didn't know the whole story and are still curious, I hope the above answers it for you. I did cut out some parts otherwise it's too lengthy. But thank you for everyone's concern!! And see a doctor immediately if you experience symptoms like me. Stay safe! xx
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