I think I had a moderate reaction the other day but I didn't clue in while it was unfolding. I tend toward GI anaphylaxis, rarely have outward signs like hives or major external swelling so I am missing a lot of the more typical signs/symptoms. This is what happened:
I had an appointment in the morning. I currently have an ear infection and sore throat so got up a bit late and found myself rushing to get dressed and out the door. I didn't eat breakfast. Halfway there I realized I forgot to brush my teeth so I stopped and bought some tic-tacs. I ate two of them before my appointment and was fine for the hour-long session and on the way home. I ate two more tic-tacs on the return trip. Once home I threw a quick salad together with bagged lettuce, packaged cherry tomatoes, a few chunks of mozzarella cheese from an open package in the fridge, chives that were chopped in my mother's kitchen (I've eaten from the same batch/container at least twice prior), and bottled Renee's balsamic salad dressing.
I normally don't buy mouthwash but I picked up a bottle of Life brand spearmint mouthwash last week and had been using it since. I can't remember if I brushed my teeth before or after I ate. After makes more logical sense, but lately I haven't always been logical so who knows.
After eating I started feeling pain in my stomach/GI tract. I think pretty soon after finishing but I'm not sure of the exact timing.
Things quickly deteriorated into what I can only describe as 'projectile' diarrhea. Severe pain, entire body seizing, can't breathe, limbs tingling, forceful, liquid diarrhea. This went on for maybe half-an hour (that felt like eternity). Followed by vomiting that came on with very little warning, and then another round of diarrhea. My face was red and puffy (not swollen though), I had goosebumps and was freezing even though it was 27 degrees in my apartment, and I felt faint and unfocused.
Gradually I felt a little better for about an hour, but still had a lot of pain, and then it all returned with a vengeance. Except I only vomited the one time. Afterward I pretty much crashed on my bed.
The next day I ate more salad (no cheese this time) and was mildly ill again after eating but only a little bit of diarrhea compared to the previous day. I also brushed my teeth and used the mouthwash again prior to being sick. I might have had a tic-tac but I can't remember for sure.
In hindsight I wonder if it was a reaction rather than a 'disagreeable lunch'. The tic-tacs and the mouthwash both have blue food dye, which I usually never have ... but I thought it was only food proteins that could trigger an allergy?
Also, if it didn't occur to me that I might be having a reaction and might need to use my EpiPen, then all the preparation and education in the world isn't going to help me if I'm not smart enough to use it. I'm still not sure if that would have even helped.
As far as I know I am allergic to peanuts, cashews, pistachios, shrimp and mango + raw eggs (and latex and a couple of meds and possibly other shellfish or tree nuts). I don't think mango or eggs would trigger anaphylaxis.
Allergies suck.