Bad news: I experienced anaphylaxis whilst on holiday. I was told something was safe for me to eat, I read the label twice (it read safe, but there were no precautionary labels), and after two tiny bites it didn't end well: itchy lips, lethargy, severe abdominal pain, and breathing difficulty. I gave myself an EpiPen and was relieved by how fast it worked. I needed some help giving myself the epi because I was so lethargic by that point, and my husband was there to help me and send someone to call an ambulance.
Good news: The paramedics and ER staff were VERY knowledgeable about food allergies! The paramedics monitored me very closely in the ambulance, especially when symptoms came back (not serious enough for epi at that point), and the hospital kept me for observation for four hours, checking in on me frequently. Good thing, as I needed additional care whilst there (my blood pressure dropped about an hour after I arrived). One of the ER nurses had a wife with severe food allergies and he was great at helping me feel better about the whole thing.
Result: Can't say I enjoyed spending an evening in the ER, especially whilst on holiday, but the fact that the hospital staff were so knowledgeable was reassuring. Everyone form the paramedics to the nurses and doctor applauded me for using my EpiPen so quickly. We received prednisone and EpiPen prescriptions and returned to our regularly scheduled vacation plans. The word is getting out and doctors are getting it. It was such a relief to have people caring for me who understood severe allergies. Kudos to them!