I have a terrible shell fish and fish allergy. I had a horrible reaction a few weeks ago due the food I ate was touched by something that had touched fish/shellfish (I think). I took my benadryl, but my pouch was full because I just finished eating and I don't think the benadryl was able to absorb like it should have. I ended up in the ER.

Has anyone else had this problem...and what did they do?

Did you take liquid Benedryl or a pill? The liquid may have been better, although the pill is awfully tiny. I don't know. I haven't had trouble with pills yet.

It was actually the pill. I would be afraid to carry around liquid in my purse:)

I'm so sorry for you!!!! Perhapse you need to stay away from places that serve fish and if that isn't possible just take benedryl before going to a restaurant just to be safe.

Would an epipen help?

I carry my epi-pens around with me at all times because I have had two near-fatal episodes of anaphylactic shock and unfortunately we never figured out what caused it. The allergist that ran all sorts of tests finally just diagnosed it as "idiopathic" which basically means they don't know what the cause is. He said it could happen again many times, or it may never happen again. It makes me feel a lot safer to have my epi-pens because I know that chances are they will keep me going until medical help can arrive, which is very important to me because the second episode was so much worse than the first one, I don't even want to imagine what a third case might be like!

I would highly recommend discussing with your primary care physician or allergist getting a prescription for an epi-pen to carry around with you just in case you get inadvertently exposed to your allergen again.

Benedrylnow has a little melt away strip that you place on your tongue and it dissolves,easy to carry. I too carry an Epipen and it sounds like you should too!!!! Good-luck :smile2:

Benedrylnow has a little melt away strip that you place on your tongue and it dissolves,easy to carry. I too carry an Epipen and it sounds like you should too!!!! Good-luck

I agree, Benedrylnow in the strip will be helpful. I agree even more strongly with carrying the Epipen - if you allergies can put you in the hospital, you need something a little stronger just in case.

I will have to definalty look for Benedrylnow. I do carry an epi-pen. Getting 2 hives didn't seem to warrant using it in the restaurant, it wasn't until we were driving down the road that it really started to hit me:(

Thank you for the info:)

I am totally dairy allergic. I am looking for non-dairy optifast liquid meal replacement alternative please? Ingredients need to exclude whey, casein, some calcium products that are dairy based.

I am dead scared of regaining weight whilst in this hiatus stage so getting information early if needed. Thanks for any suggestions. Barb