Who's got an epi pen?

[y4m]

Because I do now...

Do you carry it everywhere?  In what?  Do you carry two with you or just one?

[y4m]

That's where I am too... I've never had anaphylaxis at all, but new allergist (who is AMAZING BTW) wanted me to have one because she's scared that my wheat thing and my exercise thing could combine to cause one some day. So that sounds like mostly I can keep them at home. But I have 4 of the damn things now.

[Deleted]

I have a non anaphylactic egg allergy. I carry one epi pen in my purse. I also have asthma.

[k3pick]

I have 4 for my kid. His school requires me to provide 2 for them and then I need one to keep at home and one to keep in the car/kid bag for when we're out.

[Redpoppy]

DS has one for bees/wasps. They say to carry two because some reactions require more than one pen.

Also, at least for the juniors we can get two boxes (4 pens) total for one copay because you shouldn't separate them. We have to request it is written that way and sometimes have to go back to get it sorted out (or CVS just screws up and gives us one box).

We need 3 sets between home, daycare, and school. He is too young to carry one himself.

[y4m]

Luckily home and work are generally the same place, so I guess two here. Then one permanently in my travel bag and I've got an extra.

Anyone have a cute case for it?

[Velvetshady]

I keep one in my briefcase (don't have a set workspace in the office), one in a drawer of our front hall table, and one with my other prescriptions in our bedroom. I'm bad, I don't always take one when I travel--but do if it's really far away or long (cruises, overseas). I have had anaphylaxic shock before, but so far only in response to medications. I was ~1-2 stings away from it from hornet stings two summers ago (which is why I keep one near the front door--I was in the front garden when it happened). I do take one with me if I'm going to be outdoors a bunch (now--didn't before the hornet incident).

[Deleted]

I have one, but keep it at home. The only things that will get me are flaxseed (which I'm very careful about) and bees/wasps (rare in my parts), so I take the risk. We have a lot of hospitals nearby.

[Pom]

I carry two in my purse (bee sting allergy) and there are also some in our home bath and on my desk next to the patio door. FYI, if you fly, it goes in your checked luggage or that's what I've been told thus far.

I don't have mine in a case since they have hard plastic covers. H might get too much of a panic if I disguised it and he had to go in search of them.

[Susie]

I have 2, hiding in the medicine cabinet at home. I'm not really sure I need them, so I am not motivated to lug them around. My Dr. prescribed them a year or two ago when I had a bee sting reaction that stayed localized to my arm, but just wouldn't go down on its own after a few days. I have a brother who has anaphylaxis reactions to bee stings.

[y4m]

Sept 4, 2013 9:22:47 GMT -5 swizz said:

Yeah, I always carry mine with me in my carry-on, and I know y4m often goes on short trips and wouldn't check a bag. I've never even so much as been asked about it, but keep a doctor's note/Rx for it with me in an envelope in case they ask.

Totally. Checking is for suckers. Actually more often than not these days I can do day trips, so I only have my purse with me. But my fancy Alesya bag actually has a perfect spot for an epipen, so I've nestled it in there. I'm looking forward to seeing if TSA ever notices.

[cosmowife]

Sept 4, 2013 8:52:47 GMT -5 Pom said:

I carry two in my purse (bee sting allergy) and there are also some in our home bath and on my desk next to the patio door. FYI, if you fly, it goes in your checked luggage or that's what I've been told thus far.
.

DS is going to an allergist next month to test him (he's five months old and broke out in hives once). Are you not allowed to carry the pens on planes? Can people who have peanut allergies even fly? Last time I was on Southwest, they still served peanuts.

Eta: Didn't see that people already answered the question about flying. What about peanuts?

[imojoebunny]

Related Question: do you send them on play dates with your kids? DS's BFF is allergic to sesame, eggs, shell fish, and nuts, tree and ground. He comes over a lot, and his parents have never sent an epi pen. It worries me. I try to keep things away from him. Limit snacks to fruit and dum dums, but we definitely have things with those things in the house. Sesame seems to be in a lot of things you wouldn't expect.

I don't want to be all freaky parent and ask them to send one, but it makes me uncomfortable. The child is 4. My other friends with allergic kids typically send a little packet with the allergy list, acceptable foods typically available, and epi pen + instructions. I often have him for 4-5 hours, after school, until his parents finish work, so no food isn't much of an option.

[Deleted]

Sept 4, 2013 9:34:31 GMT -5 cosmowife said:

Sept 4, 2013 8:52:47 GMT -5 Pom said:

I carry two in my purse (bee sting allergy) and there are also some in our home bath and on my desk next to the patio door. FYI, if you fly, it goes in your checked luggage or that's what I've been told thus far.
.

DS is going to an allergist next month to test him (he's five months old and broke out in hives once). Are you not allowed to carry the pens on planes? Can people who have peanut allergies even fly? Last time I was on Southwest, they still served peanuts.

Eta: Didn't see that people already answered the question about flying. What about peanuts?

I've been on flights where we were told that we should not eat any nuts because someone allergic was on-board.

[Pom]

Glad to hear you've all had good experiences carrying your epi pens on the plane. I would just as soon keep it with me. I guess Delta was being overly dramatic about it.

[luvmagoldn]

My kids have food allergies and we always have epi pens with us wherever they go.

Conventional wisdom is that past reactions do not predict the severity of future reactions so one should always be prepared.

[luvmagoldn]

Sept 4, 2013 9:40:28 GMT -5 @buster said:

Sept 4, 2013 9:38:41 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Related Question: do you send them on play dates with your kids? DS's BFF is allergic to sesame, eggs, shell fish, and nuts, tree and ground. He comes over a lot, and his parents have never sent an epi pen. It worries me. I try to keep things away from him. Limit snacks to fruit and dum dums, but we definitely have things with those things in the house. Sesame seems to be in a lot of things you wouldn't expect.

I don't want to be all freaky parent and ask them to send one, but it makes me uncomfortable. The child is 4. My other friends with allergic kids typically send a little packet with the allergy list, acceptable foods typically available, and epi pen + instructions. I often have him for 4-5 hours, after school, until his parents finish work, so no food isn't much of an option.

I would mention it, especially if it makes you feel more comfortable. Do you keep Benadryl in your house?

 This would make me very uncomfortable.  The epi should go with that child no matter where he is.

[definitelyO]

DS has a peanut allergy and we have an epi pen. however, I am not vigilant about carrying it. he is okay with foods that are processed in the same plant as peanuts, etc...

We checked out the Auvi-Q at the allergist's office and it is AWESOME! DS can even do it himself (he's 7) but I'm sure would not be of the right frame of mind to use it on himself if he needed to.

I'm annoyed that they only have a 1yr shelf life - they cost me ~$700 (HDHP). There are coupons out there right now for epipens if you go to their web site and you can get them for $100 or less.

[blueberry10]

Sept 4, 2013 9:36:33 GMT -5 @buster said:

I carry two in my purse for DD. EpiPen had a free case giveaway within the last month or so.

Also, have any of you heard of or do any of you carry the Auvi-Q? I'm really tempted to go with that injector once DD's current ones expire. Auvi-Q is the smaller, smartphone sized one that talks you through the directions.

FWIW, I have always heard to keep two together in case of a misfire or failure on the first one.

DD was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy and we got the Auvi-Q - we have two two-packs. I love how it has voice instructions (plus a needle-free "practice" injector for any caregivers to try), so if it was needed at daycare or something it's totally clear how to use it, even in a panic.

I'm totally not used to having it around, and I'm trying to get better at making sure the injectors go wherever DD goes. Her allergy doesn't seem to be super severe at this point, but I don't want to be caught unprepared in case something goes wrong.

[y4m]

Sept 4, 2013 9:34:31 GMT -5 cosmowife said:

Sept 4, 2013 8:52:47 GMT -5 Pom said:

I carry two in my purse (bee sting allergy) and there are also some in our home bath and on my desk next to the patio door. FYI, if you fly, it goes in your checked luggage or that's what I've been told thus far.
.

DS is going to an allergist next month to test him (he's five months old and broke out in hives once). Are you not allowed to carry the pens on planes? Can people who have peanut allergies even fly? Last time I was on Southwest, they still served peanuts.

Eta: Didn't see that people already answered the question about flying. What about peanuts?

I haven't seen peanuts on a plane in quite some time.  I'd still check with your specific airline to notify them and ask that an alternative snack be served, but in most cases there's no snack at all.

[sunnysideup488]

I carry one in my purse, one in my desk drawer, and one at home.

I'm allergic to bee stings and tree nuts.

I haven't had to use them in years, but you never know.

[Deleted]

My mom almost died a few years ago (not being dramatic) from a sudden reaction to shellfish. She carries 2 with her at all times now. They are allowed everywhere - we went to Six Flags a couple of years ago and were told we had to put all purses in lockers, but she got a special tag that allowed her to keep hers since she had to have her epi pens. They are fine on planes and generally anywhere else you ordinarily couldn't bring stuff.

Honestly after my mom's allergic reaction it makes me nervous that there aren't epi pens everywhere, lol. She never had any sort of issue and then almost died (and there is a hospital 10 minutes away). That's really unusual but it's scary that a previously harmless allergy - or no allergy at all - could escalate that quickly.

[hamster]

I just got a couple. I actually have no idea if I'm allergic to anything, but I got them because we spend SO much time out in the woods with no access to medical care. It's been years since I've been stung by a bee, but given my intense reactions to bug bites, it's not unlikely I would have a severe reaction to a bee sting. I don't carry them with me at this point, but they will go in my hunting/fishing bag.

[KaraOrNot]

I have one because I get allergy shots. My doc requires that I carry it on the day that I get the shot, but said that I do not need to carry it any other time. I just keep it in my purse, because I never remember to grab it when I have my shot.

[MrsManners]

Sept 4, 2013 10:44:41 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

My mom almost died a few years ago (not being dramatic) from a sudden reaction to shellfish. She carries 2 with her at all times now. They are allowed everywhere - we went to Six Flags a couple of years ago and were told we had to put all purses in lockers, but she got a special tag that allowed her to keep hers since she had to have her epi pens. They are fine on planes and generally anywhere else you ordinarily couldn't bring stuff.

Honestly after my mom's allergic reaction it makes me nervous that there aren't epi pens everywhere, lol. She never had any sort of issue and then almost died (and there is a hospital 10 minutes away). That's really unusual but it's scary that a previously harmless allergy - or no allergy at all - could escalate that quickly.

My aunt did die from a wasp sting in her mid-40s. She'd lived on a farm all her life and been stung before without reaction. It's scary to know that you can become allergic to something later and have it be so severe.

[redheadk]

Dd has an auvi-q. I keep one in the diaper bag, one in her backpack, and 2 in the kitchen at home. She's allergic to peanuts so we don't go anywhere without it. I might put 2 in the backpack and 2 in the diaper bag bc if she's home, they are home and then she'd always have 2 with her.

[redheadk]

I also explain how to use the auvi-q and show everyone where we keep it when I leave her with anybody. She's never had a reaction but it only takes one time. I brought the trainer to her teachers and taught them how to use it then sent it the first day so that the floaters could see it and everyone could practice. I'm otherwise pretty relaxed about things but this is life or death, not just some parenting preference.

[everam01]

I carry a set of 2 epis wherever I go because my son has a peanut allergy. He also has a set that stays at daycare. 

[everam01]

Sept 4, 2013 8:42:37 GMT -5 y4m said:

Luckily home and work are generally the same place, so I guess two here. Then one permanently in my travel bag and I've got an extra.

Anyone have a cute case for it?

Yes, I bought one on etsy. Am I allowed to say which shop? Search for epi pen case. Mine is cute with monkeys and a clear front. 

[y4m]

It's totally fine to promote products you like here!