Lights, Camera, Allergies!
Allergies & Asthma at the Movies
My daughter who is severely allergic to dairy, peanuts and treenuts (anaphylactic) often gets snuffy at the movies -we wipe the seat down but in this particular theatre the seats were cloth not vinyl or plastic so not very wipe-able. We buy her safe treats or bring our own from home. Half way through the movie she started to complain that she felt like she was going to vomit ("puke" in 6 year old terms) and that her throat felt funny. Instant worry and anxiety -could she be having a reaction to the traces of unsafe ingredients in the theatre???
We went to the bathroom -missing a good portion of the movie -to make sure she was o.k. While in there, I could hear a woman in another stall retching and making sounds like she was vomiting! When we came out of the stall, the woman was at the sink, washing her face. I asked her if she was o.k. and she said she thought she was having an asthma attack and that she forgot her puffers at home. She said that all of a sudden while in the movie with her 3 kids, she couldn't breathe. She went to the bathroom (which I told her she shouldn't do!! -Don't want to be alone in case of an emergency! but that's what people do b/c they are embarrassed and feeling sick right?)… She was itching her ear and grabbing her throat and hacking.
I asked her if it was possible that this was an allergic reaction rather than asthma and she said yes. I asked her if she had her epi-pen and she said she had left that at home also. All of a sudden I felt a worry that I might have to use the epipens I had to help this woman and what if my daughter got worse and I didn't have enough?!
What a stressful situation! I asked her if I could call for medical help but she said no. She was feeling ok and wanted to wait for her children. I asked her to please wait outside in the lobby where there were many other people so that if she had a problem someone could help her. She was gone when I came back out so I hope she was o.k. I worried about her the whole rest of the movie. My daughter was fine and I suspect she was bored rather than actually having problems. Ahhhhh what an UNENJOYABLE night at the movies! Next time I will rent one!!!
What experiences have you had with allergies or asthma at the movies?
Its scary how you have to watch out for reactions no matter where you are. Along with being more careful I've been visiting New England Allergy in North Andover, MA and they are great at diagnosing and treating my allergies. Check them out at www.newenglandallergy.com.
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