Dear Ann Landers: My letter is about allergic reactions, and I hope you will print it. It could save lives.
Recently, after eating a little bit of sushi, I woke up in the middle of the night and told my husband I felt itchy, especially the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet. My skin was red and blotchy, and my throat was terribly sore. I’d had mild allergic reactions to seafood before, so I got up, took an antihistamine and tried to go back to sleep, even though I was having a hard time swallowing. I never connected the sore throat to the itching and didn’t look in the mirror until I woke up the next morning. I was shocked to see that my eyes were puffy and swollen.
I went to the doctor immediately. She told me that I’d had a severe allergic reaction and that I was lucky because my throat could have closed up. I might have died.
Please tell your readers if they experience itchiness or hives along with swelling and a sore throat, or trouble breathing, to call 911 or go to a hospital immediately, even if they haven’t eaten anything unusual. I now carry epinephrine with me at all times so I can inject myself should I ever get another allergic reaction. The scary thing is that I didn’t know it was happening. I hope you will print this. As I said, Ann, it could save lives.
Lucky Lady in Phoenix
Dear Lucky: Your letter hit close to home. I witnessed such a near catastrophe several years ago. It was in Nashville, at a trustees meeting of Meharry Medical School, in the home of the president, Dr. David Satcher.
After dinner, a member of the group suddenly experienced a problem breathing. Dr. Satcher asked her if she had any allergies. She replied, “Not that I know of.” He told her, “Well, you are definitely allergic to something.”
Dr. Satcher ran upstairs immediately, returned with a syringe and gave the woman a shot of adrenaline. Within minutes, she felt perfectly fine. The woman later discovered that she was allergic to kiwi and remembered that she’d had a huge piece of the fruit at dinner that night. She vowed to carry a syringe of adrenaline with her every day of her life, and as far as I know, she has.
Bring on the newsletters
Dear Ann Landers: Every year about this time, you print a letter from some grouch complaining about receiving a mass-produced Christmas newsletter. I’m in favor of these newsletters. I really hate getting a card from people I haven’t seen for a long time with nothing but their signature. I already know their names. I want to hear what they’ve been doing all year.
Those “newsletter-haters” complain about having to endure endless bragging. I say lighten up. You should be kind enough to appreciate the good fortune of others. I have two multihandicapped sons, but I can still enjoy reading about your children’s success. We live in a rundown house and have no hope of getting anything better, but I can still appreciate the happiness you feel upon moving into a new home. The only vacation I have ever taken is when I stayed overnight at the hospital when one of my sons had surgery, but I can still be thrilled to learn you’re going to Spain.
When you write a newsletter, you are not bragging. You are only relating the facts about your life. When I read those letters, I don’t feel threatened. I need only appreciate that you are a good enough friend to share some part of yourself with me.
Sal in S.D.
Dear Sal: Your generosity of spirit is much to be admired. Thanks on behalf of all my readers who send Christmas newsletters.
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