Thread: Eppie-Pens

I have no experience regarding Eppie-Pens for an allergy, but I'll BUMP this up. Hopefully someone has something to share.

KaytiC - My son was allergic to bee stings and I had to inject him several times during his childhood. He told me it made him feel very hyper and made his heart race. He preferred that over breaking out in hives and not being able to breathe. Nothing to be afraid of just learn how to give yourself a shot. You can practice on an orange.

Thank you for that information, I will certainly be sure to practice. Thank you for letting me know of his reaction.

I have had to use an Epi-Pen on myself due to a "Dairy" allergy I developed in the end of 2009. When you get an epi-pen dual pack a practice pen (no meds and no needle involved) comes with it. It is important to have it close by to you if you are near your allergy. The important thing is to stay calm the best you can ---take it out of the canistar and then pull off the safety cap, then hold it in your hand in a grip motion and jab (not too hard) the outer part of your upper thigh between your hip and knee. The needle has a spring mechanism so it will go in don't worry there--it will go through jeans. The pen will make a "click" ---that means the needle was injected...Wait 10 sec! (the med is dispursing) and then slowly pull up in a straight movement to remove the needle without bending it and place it back into the canister it was it. The clear window should now show RED indicating the med was dispursed. GO to the hospital -ER with in the next 2 hours this is VERY important because you might need another injection and other meds afterwards. (you can still have an allergic reaction many hours after the inital reaction that is why it is important) Every time you use your PEN you have to go to the ER...it is for your own safety. Also as an FYI---at work, let your coworkers know---where your epi-pen is and show them how to use it. If someone sits close to you ask if they can be your designated person. You might think you might be able to get to it in time or you will be able to do it yourself. (The more times you are in contact with your allergen the fast the reaction comes on)

The first few times I had the allergy come on the reaction would be around 1hr 45 minutes after the intial contact, then it went to 45, then 20 min, and my last time was around 5-3 minutes... Do you think you can get to your epi-pen in 3 minutes??? That is not long enough!!!