Latest news with #EpiPens
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Medical Condition Upended My Life. Then A Doctor Said 6 Shocking Words I Never Thought I'd Hear.
I'm nervously waiting in an exam room at my doctor's office to see if my body is about to enter anaphylaxis. Nurses monitor my vitals and check to see how open my breathing passages are. Technically, I could die within the next hour because I've ingested peanuts — the thing I'm most allergic to — but I did it on purpose. Why would I have tested fate this way? Because I'm hoping to never face the possibility of anaphylaxis from peanuts again. I've been deathly allergic to being exposed to even minuscule amounts of peanuts for as long as I can remember. That may sound dramatic, but they have killed people. Last year, 25-year-old Orla Ruth Baxendale died after eating cookies that did not list peanuts in their ingredients, but did contain them. Although she carried multiple EpiPens, they were not enough to counter the effects of the allergen. I've been terrified of heartbreaking stories like Baxendale's for as long as I can remember. When I was 13, I ruined my first kiss by pushing the guy away and crying, 'You haven't eaten any peanuts today, have you?' Thankfully, I eventually found a supportive partner willing to give up peanuts for my safety. He forewent cuisines, restaurants and trips to countries that often use the nut, and obsessively began to read the fine print on food packages. I traveled to Philadelphia in 2016 to meet with an allergist about my condition, but he refused to 'challenge' me to determine how allergic I was. This process involves eating a tiny bit of peanut in a medical setting and waiting to see if you react, and if so, how badly. Instead, he told me I would never be able to overcome my allergy. It may seem like a peanut allergy is manageable, since many foods do not contain them, but what most people don't realize is that I've experienced ridicule, embarrassment and rejection most of my life because of my condition. Instead of having fond memories of attending birthday parties as a kid, I remember being mortified because I was forced to refuse cake to avoid a potential reaction. As a teen, I was berated by flight attendants for keeping them from being able to pass out peanuts to the rows around me. On one flight, a passenger made sure I was aware just how disappointed he was to be seated near me. 'The only thing I look forward to when I'm flying is getting my pack of peanuts, and now I can't have them,' he said loudly and angrily as I tried to disappear into my seat and remain hidden for the rest of the flight. I've also been asked to leave or refused service by restaurants multiple times. In my early 20s, I was eager to go to dinner with new coworkers, only to learn the restaurant wasn't comfortable serving me anything. I spent the rest of the evening awkwardly sitting at the table, sipping bottled water. Last year, I turned down multiple invitations to one of the most popular restaurants in our town because the one time I tried to dine there, they told me they couldn't make me anything, even though I only spotted one or two menu items containing peanuts. They weren't even comfortable with me ordering a cocktail. 'It's close quarters in our kitchen, and we don't want to get sued!' I was warned. Even worse than that are the group trips I haven't been able to take. I once requested time off from work and booked travel to attend the New Orleans Jazz Fest with friends. Right before we were supposed to leave, one of my (so-called) friends told me I could no longer go with them because too many people were concerned that eating out with me would be too hard. Things got even more unbelievable last Thanksgiving when my fiancé and I purchased our first home together... only to discover that our next-door neighbor regularly buys 40-pound bags of peanuts to feed to squirrels in the neighborhood. Somehow, we hadn't seen any signs of this when we toured the house, but once we moved in, we found thousands of peanut shells around his property — more than I've ever seen in one place in my life. Peanut shells don't disintegrate easily, so they'd been collecting for years, and our backyard was a deathtrap for me. After living in our new house for a few weeks, my eye swelled up after I toweled off my dog's paws. I wanted to love my new home — and I didn't want to worry that I was constantly at risk of an allergic reaction or even death — so I called a new allergist. That's when I heard the six most shocking words a doctor has ever told me: 'I'll cure you of your allergy.' After so many years of being told there was nothing I could do to overcome my condition, I was skeptical, but excited. Could I really be cured? I was willing to do whatever it took to find out. A few weeks later, I began Oral Immunotherapy, or OIT. This process involves ingesting 28 different doses of peanuts over seven months and increasing the strength of the dose each week. After I consumed the peanuts, I was monitored for a reaction by a medical professional in my doctor's office and, if everything went OK, I took home a week's worth of doses to eat each night — with Benadryl and an EpiPen nearby just in case. My doctor told me he has desensitized almost 300 people over the last six years, 150 of whom had peanut allergies, but OIT also works for milk, wheat, soy, egg and tree nut allergies as well. Even though the first dose of peanuts I was given was practically microscopic, I was still terrified to eat them. I was afraid that ingesting this substance I had been desperately avoiding my entire life would make me feel like I was dying, and I worried I would not be able to distinguish between a panic attack and a real reaction. This did happen during the first few doses I ate. Anytime I thought about what I was doing or a nurse asked how I was feeling, I immediately felt my throat start to tighten. My doctor reassured me that they would be able to tell what was going on in my body even if I couldn't. They closely monitored my vitals, checked how open my air passages were, and listened to my breathing. My doctor also suggested I bring a distraction, like my laptop to watch my favorite show, or a book. The first few doses I took were so small my body couldn't physically react to them, but they served to introduce my body to this foreign substance and initiate the therapy. I had my first reaction about halfway through the process. It wasn't what I was expecting — my mouth wasn't itchy, my eyes didn't swell and my throat didn't close. Instead, about 40 minutes into my second dose of the day (in the early phases, I could take multiple doses a day, with a one-hour wait period between each one), I began to feel a lot of stomach pain. I started sweating and alerted one of the nurses that I wasn't doing well. She went to get the doctor, and before I knew what was happening, I vomited. A few minutes later, I felt totally normal. My body had rid itself of the allergen and was no longer distressed. Because of my reaction, I had to retreat to a lower dose. When I tried to increase my doses again, I experienced unpleasant side effects like nausea and acid reflux. It took a few months to get things ironed out, so I stayed on the same dose for much longer than a week to prevent another reaction. When I reached the one-gram mark for peanuts, we celebrated! Now I was 'bite proof,' which meant I could eat anything labeled 'may contain peanuts' or 'manufactured using the same equipment as peanuts,' and not be at risk of having a severe reaction. I could also safely eat in restaurants where cross-contamination might be an issue because I was not likely to react. However, I was told I still shouldn't eat anything with peanuts, since there's a limit to my tolerance, and my goal wasn't to 'free eat' them. When I moved beyond the one-gram doses, I had to slow down again, but after nearly a year, I finally reached my goal of a five-gram maintenance dose, which is the equivalent of one teaspoon of peanut butter or five peanuts. To keep my tolerance indefinitely, I will need to ingest this dose every day for three years, and then after that, at least once a month for the rest of my life. If I took an entire year off from eating peanuts, my allergy could return. OIT was a significant investment of my time and emotions, but it changed my life. I no longer have the constant fear that a mistake or someone else's carelessness could kill me. My allergist also suggested my now-husband and I honeymoon in Thailand — a lifelong dream of mine that was previously out of reach because of the prevalence of peanuts in Thai cuisine. When I told a childhood friend I was now eating peanuts every day, she was shocked. 'I really can't believe it! It feels unreal!' she told me. 'Your whole life has changed.' I admit that since completing my treatment, there have been a few moments of panic after I've ordered my meal in a restaurant, and I realized I hadn't told the server about the severity of my peanut allergy. I'm not sure that anxiety will ever go away or if it'll ever feel normal to buy peanuts at the grocery store. I spent my entire life afraid that this little nut could kill me, and it's hard to believe that I'm safe and able to do things that most people take for granted. This new freedom is strange but wonderful, and I'm not taking it for granted. I'm confident that if I continue my maintenance doses, I can live the happy and healthy life I always dreamed of having. Summer Austin is a Portland-based writer with a passion for food, travel, and pop culture. She has previously worked for Food Network Magazine and OK! and has been published in Los Angeles magazine, The Daily Meal, and more. She also shares highlights from her trips to nearly 30 countries on her blog, When she's not writing, Summer can be found exploring new restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, or planning her next adventure. Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ I'm An ER Doctor. When I Became A Patient For The First Time, I Was Shocked By What I Experienced. My Doctor Forced Me To Do Something Disturbing. It Kept Me From Seeking Further Medical Care For Years. I Was Caring For A Patient With Down Syndrome. A Fellow Doctor's 8-Word Remark Left Me Stunned.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Drone814 partners: Johnstown test run 'just the beginning'
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Moments after John Eberhardt fell to the turf Friday at Trojan Stadium, a drone was hovering overhead to lower medical supplies. It was just a drill. But Eberhardt, the managing director for ATA Aviation, and other partners in the Drone814 initiative hope the scenario will be saving lives statewide and creating jobs in the years ahead. ATA Aviation, Aerium, and Virginia-based DroneUp deployed a trial run of their Drone814 concept at Greater Johnstown High School – in front of the school-aged audience they hope will be piloting and maintaining those drones one day soon. The test run signals upcoming live trials this summer that will see remote medical drone operators work with 911 dispatchers to deliver Narcan, EpiPens and other supplies to real-life emergency scenes across Greater Johnstown. "This first demonstration is just the beginning," Aerium Executive Director Glenn Ponas told a crowd of approximately 60 students, educators and emergency responders Friday. "Not only can these drones save lives ... but drones can be a key part of any (career) field," he said. "It's going to allow people to make a living with drones, and we're going to do it right here in Johnstown." Building a workforce The Drone814 initiative has been underway for several years through a partnership between Aerium, the Cambria County Department of Emergency Services, the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, and companies in the drone industry. The aim is to show that dispatching medical drones to certain emergency scenes can lead to faster treatment, quicker recovery times and lower medical costs while creating local jobs, project partners have said. Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Amy Arcurio announced Friday that Greater Johnstown students will be able to pursue that career path this fall – and obtain a drone operator's certificate by the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year. Teens are already passionate about drone technology, and over just one school year, they'll be able to graduate with the training needed to find well-paying jobs that support Johnstown's burgeoning aviation industry, she said. "The sky isn't just the limit – it's just the beginning," Arcurio said. Ponas said Aerium's efforts with Greater Johnstown and other partners will enable that workforce to grow quickly and attract companies to Cambria County. Eberhardt can attest to that. Demonstration, driving growth Eberhardt is already moving his small Virginia business to a space inside Nulton Aviation Services in Richland Township. As Drone814 and a regional operation network launches in Cambria and Somerset counties, it will create opportunities for more drone-related enterprises, he said. They illustrated the concept on a small scale Friday, using a mock phone call to 911 to deploy a drone from Greater Johnstown's parking lot into an end zone on Trojan Stadium's football field. How Drone814's medical deliveries would work A medical supply delivery demonstration is conducted by Drone814 at Greater Johnstown High School. A drone operator worked quietly from a truck nearby as the buzzing drone dropped off its package, which contained color-coded boxes of supplies for different emergencies. The kit – not much bigger than a lunchbox – was lowered onto the field with a cable. Now, project partners have to show the world the method works from miles away. Through a more than $1 million test phase and federal airspace approval, Ponas said, medical drone flights will make history next month when operators start testing them outside their line of sight. Given the fact that every second counts, Drone814 wlll save lives, said state Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township, noting that rural locations and rugged Cambria County terrain can often pose challenges for local ambulance responders. Deliveries this summer won't just provide medical aid. Data reports from each flight will track response times and patient outcomes to enable Drone814 to make its case to the nation – and to Medicare – that the concept is a worthy one, project partners said. Support for responders Drone814 partners plan to work with the county and Conemaugh Health System to compile that data and see how the cost to provide care and recovery rates compare to traditional methods. But during a question-and-answer session with the public Friday, Eberhart and Ponas stressed that the medical drone deployment won't take the place of ambulance dispatches. They'll only support them, Eberhart added. When county 911 dispatchers take an emergency call, they will follow the same state-approved questioning scripts they already use to diagnose the nature of an emergency. If the incident involves a possible overdose, cardiac event or traumatic bleed, for example, they'll continue to dispatch the nearest available ambulance while also contacting DroneUp pilots to deploy a drone, Eberhart said. County dispatchers are already trained to walk callers through stressful emergency scenarios and to locate and use medical devices such as the opioid overdose-reversing medication Narcan, a tourniquet or a defibrillator, said Eberhardt. The only difference is that it will be a drone lowering a package of supplies from the skies, he said. Next steps, 'big deal' Drone814 partners said they'll be spending the coming weeks preparing for their real-life trial runs. County dispatchers will receive training in June, and Drone814 partners will gather feedback from them to help fine-tune the partnership before installing additional training, they said. Sensors working in tandem with drone software will need to be installed across the city of Johnstown, Ferndale, East Conemaugh and the West Hills, ATA Aviation officials said. If results from this summer's test phase support their efforts, a second, expanded phase in the region would follow in 2026, Eberhardt added. "The plan is to listen to stakeholders" and learn from each step in the process, said DroneUp Vice President of Business Development Greg James. "We're going to improve as we go." Burns and Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky praised the initiative and its sky-high potential for the region. "This isn't some pie-in-the-sky idea," Burns said at the event. "This is going to be a big deal for (Greater Johnstown)." "This project is about more than drones," Chernisky told The Tribune-Democrat following the demonstration. "It's about investing in our people, preparing for the future and showing what's possible when public safety, education and innovation come together."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Winter Park mother and son celebrate EpiPen training bill becoming law
The Winter Park mom who spearheaded a bill to train school staffers to treat severe allergic reactions was thrilled when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law Wednesday — and so was her 8-year-old son, her motivation to activism. 'He was super ecstatic,' said Sherry Isler of her son, Lincoln. 'We're still on cloud nine. It's very surreal to us. We've been so hopeful, and we worked so hard with so many people to create this bill. So, yeah, I'm still crying intermittently throughout the day.' The bill, sponsored by Orlando Democrats Rita Harris in the state House and Carlos Guillermo Smith in the Senate, is aimed at the peril of anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal reaction to foods or other allergens that can be treated simply and effectively by injections of epinephrine through a device called an EpiPen, assuming the devices are available and someone knows how to use them. Lincoln is allergic to dairy, peas, chickpeas and lentils. His mother started her crusade when she learned there was staff on Lincoln's campus available to administer in EpiPen in an emergency during the school day — but that might not be true if her son attended an after-school program. Under the new law, Florida schools must train employees and contract staff working with pre-kindergarten-to-eighth-grade students to recognize the signs of anaphylactic shock and use EpiPens. They also must have a trained person available at all times when the students are on campus or participating in school activities, including extracurricular events, athletics, school dances, and contracted before-school or after-school programs. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers. DeSantis' signature means it will become law July 1. 'We know that this law is going to save lives as a result,' Smith said. 'It's a real common sense kind of bill,' said Harris, adding that Republican state Rep. Jessica Baker of Jacksonville was the co-sponsor. 'She said, 'I have a constituent in my district who has a child who has severe food allergies, and she wants to see this bill passed. How can I help you?'' Isler originally reached out to Harris in 2023, after she asked the third-party vendor that ran Lincoln's before- and after-school programs at Aloma Elementary School about their allergic reaction policy and received some unwelcome news. 'I was told, 'Oh no, we don't do EpiPens here. We would just call 911,' and I panicked,' she said. 'I told them that would be too late, he would be dead by the time an ambulance arrived, because his reaction is his airway, his throat would close up. And she just told me that she was sorry.' Marsha Robbins, then the director of programs for that vendor, Dramatic Education, later claimed there was a miscommunication and that all of her staff were trained. But Isler heard from another parent in Orange County who had been told that after-school staff could not give details about how EpiPens would be stored or administered. About two students in every classroom are likely to have food allergies, Isler said. Children have died of anaphylaxis in schools in Nebraska in 2022 and at after-school events in California and Jacksonville in 2023. Orange County Public Schools updated their third-party contracts in 2023 to ensure that at least two staff members are trained to use EpiPens. A similar bill filed by Wilson and then-state Sen. Linda Stewart failed to move forward in the 2024 legislative session, due to what Wilson said were concerns about what it would mean for high schools. This year, the bill only applied to K-8 schools. 'We changed it a little bit,' Harris said. 'And I think also Ms. Isler going up to Tallahassee and talking to the committee chairs and explaining why this is needed, and bringing her son with her, really helped.' Both Lincoln and his sister Liberty, now 6, spoke before a Senate committee last spring, just after the new bill was filed. Even with the bill signed, 'we still have more work to do,' Smith said. 'Our hope is to expand this to 12th grade after we have seen a smooth implementation of the law.' Isler said she also hopes to one day include high schools as part of mandatory EpiPen training. 'That was my original goal,' Isler said. 'My understanding was that there were some stakeholders who saw some potential difficulties with the bill as it is, in regards to liability, and that high school has a lot of more before- and after-school activities. And they believe that high schoolers should be able to carry and administer their own EpiPens.' But she worries most high school students may not realize they would now be on their own. 'Students in K through 8 will have these protections and safety net,' Isler said. 'And then who's going to tell them when they get to high school that all of a sudden it's not there?'
Business Standard
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Air India flight emergency prompts call for better medical kits onboard
When a medical emergency struck mid-air on Air India flight AI504 recently, one doctor sprang into action to help the unwell passenger. But what followed was a wake-up call about the serious gaps in the airline's medical preparedness. Dr Amit Gupta, chair of the IDF School of Diabetes, who attended to the ailing passenger, later stated that the aircraft lacked essential diagnostic tools such as a pulse oximeter, glucose monitor and ECG machine. Dr Gupta emphasised that these tools are crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention during in-flight medical emergencies. He shared his concerns on social media on Saturday, stating, 'Perhaps time to consider adding these life-saving tools to the kit?' Air India responds to the concern raised by doctor What are the DGCA rules on onboard medical kits? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates that all Indian-registered commercial aircraft carry specific medical supplies in accordance with the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 2 'Airworthiness', Series 'X' Part III. These kits are intended to address in-flight health emergencies and include items like bandages, antiseptic wipes and pain relievers. What do ICAO rules recommend for medical kits? According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations body that works on international air transport, aeroplanes authorised to carry more than 100 passengers on flights longer than two hours must have a medical kit for use by medical doctors or other qualified persons in treating in-flight emergencies. However, the inclusion of advanced diagnostic tools like pulse oximeters and portable ECG devices is not currently mandated. Are passengers allowed to carry medical devices onboard? Passengers are allowed to carry personal medical devices and medications onboard, subject to certain conditions. Items such as insulin, inhalers or EpiPens must be declared at check-in or security, and passengers should carry prescriptions for any injectable medications or devices like syringes. For devices like portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), prior airline approval is required. For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
India Today
26-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Understanding Expiry Dates: Can you use a medicine just a few days past it?
Have you ever found a strip of medicine in your drawer that's just a few days past its expiration date and wondered—'Is it still safe to take?' You're not alone. Many of us face this dilemma, especially when immediate access to a fresh supply isn't possible. Expiration dates on medications are often viewed as strict cutoffs, but the truth is more some medicines may retain their potency for a short time after the expiry date, others can become ineffective or even dangerous. In this article, we explore what expiration dates mean, how storage conditions impact drug safety, and when it's necessary to avoid expired medicines. Guided by science and expert insights, we help you make informed decisions about using medications past their labelled shelf life. All you need to know from the expert Kasara, Director and CEO,Steris Healthcare Pvt. DO THE EXPIRATION DATE REALLY MEAN?Expiration dates are guidelines set by pharmaceutical companies and must be followed legally. These dates indicate the period during which manufacturers guarantee full potency and safety, assuming ideal storage conditions. It is well-established that products tend to lose effectiveness when used beyond their expiration SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS: ARE EXPIRED DRUGS ALWAYS INEFFECTIVE?A notable example is the collaboration between the US military and the FDA, which found that a significant percentage of over 100 drugs retained their potency even 15 years after expiration, provided they were stored correctly. However, this primarily applies to solid forms like tablets and MEDICATIONS: WHEN EXPIRY MEANS DANGERLiquids, injectables, and biologics such as insulin or antibiotics carry much greater risks when expired. These types of medications are more likely to lose potency and may even promote bacterial CONDITIONS MATTERThe preservation of a drug's effectiveness depends largely on its storage conditions. Heat, humidity, and light can accelerate degradation. Hence, storing medications in bathrooms or cars is not recommended. Instead, cool and dry places, such as linen closets, are better suited for maintaining drug IN POINT: EPINEPHRINE AND EMERGENCY MEDICATIONSEpinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) exposed to fluctuating temperatures may lose their effectiveness. Yet, studies show that some retain up to 90% potency months after expiration, making them potentially useful in emergencies when no alternatives are RISK OF SUB-THERAPEUTIC DOSESSome antibiotics and pain relievers may remain effective shortly after expiration. However, there's a risk they may deliver sub-therapeutic doses—potentially leading to ineffective treatment or antibiotic THAT MUST NOT BE USED AFTER EXPIRYCertain critical medications must never be used past their expiration date. These include:Liquid antibioticsNitroglycerin (used for angina)Insulin (for diabetes)Birth control pillsThyroid medicationsEven slight potency loss in these drugs can compromise treatment COST, ACCESS, AND SAFETYAccess and cost can complicate decision-making. While it's ideal to replace outdated medications, older drugs may sometimes be the only affordable option. In such cases, seeking advice from a pharmacist or doctor is crucial, especially for chronic conditions or high-stakes DISPOSAL OF EXPIRED MEDICATIONSFrom an environmental and safety perspective, expired medications should be disposed of properly. Use take-back programs or follow the FDA's disposal guidelines to prevent accidental misuse and reduce environmental many medications may remain safe and effective a few days past their expiration, especially if stored properly, this is not universally true. It depends on the type of medication, how it has been stored, and the clinical context. The best practice is to replace essential medications promptly and consult healthcare professionals for safe and informed decisions.
