Blog

There's nothing quite like anaphylactic shock to make you realise, with violent suddenness, just how fragile and fleeting this life truly is.

Nothing can rip down confidence and trust in your body than suddenly feeling your breathing stop and your heartbeat dropping to an almost imperceptible beat.

I made my first, of many, acquaintances with anaphylaxis back in April 2016 and it's a hellish experience that I would not wish on my worst enemy. 

To feel your breathing suddenly and inexplicably drop, your heart rate plummet and the rush of absolute terror, panic and confusion that accompanies this is anything but pleasant. Experiencing that sudden, unrelenting and violent awareness of one's own mortality is...humbling.

All pretences, fantasies and illusions about one's self are immediately exposed and rendered asunder when you feel life suddenly stop inside you. 

No more dancing with lies and wishful thinking - the suddenness of anaphylaxis is educational and unrelenting. The school of hard knocks pales in comparison to this unpredictable taskmaster...little to no warning is given when their lesson is to be applied.

Having triggered anaphylaxis on a number of occasions from prior medical treatments I now avoid the pills and potions of modern medicine wherever I can. I will not subject myself to sudden respiratory arrest or even the more 'gentler' aspects of anaphylaxis (such as dizziness, the interior of my mouth itching, my tongue swelling and my throat starting to feel increasingly restricted) for any medical treatment ever again. 

The risk is simply not worth it.

• « Return to blog
• Top