The Dangers of Chutney (duuh duh duhhhhhnn....)

  Okay, so I didn't really think anyone actually read this, i more of thought the views were just people who randomly got thrown here and that counted as a view. So even if it's just one viewer who actually values this blog, i'll do my best to keep posting! So in the past few months that i haven't posted during, a lot has happened, so my next few posts will include what has happened. First let's start with the most life changing event: my first reaction in over 5-6 years!
  So i had my reaction on Thanksgiving of last year (a holiday all about food, what a coincidence!). The day was going perfectly, family and friends arrived to watch golf and catch up. I into one of my favorite dresses and did my hair in a perfect little high-set bun. I was prepared for the conversations with adults i was soon to be forced to have. Me and my siblings went outside to kick around the soccer ball and try to burn some calories before eating our turkey feast.
  After playing for some time i got cold (i refused to wear a jacket in fear of ruining my hair) and went inside to grab a snack. I headed straight for my usual, pepperoni, when my grandfather started raving about the brie cheese and chutney combo. So through his persuasion, i decided to try something new.
  I had my mom make me up a cracker with the brie and chutney and ate it up. My first reaction was that it was delicious! I loved it and wanted another cracker. But, my second reaction was, fuck... my whole mouth is stinging and tingling... i haven't felt this sensation in a very long time.
  It had been so long since a reaction that i didn't actually remember what it felt like, i only remembered that i had had reactions and that it was terrifying (im actually shaking writing about this now). I knew that sometimes my lips would tingle when my lips were chapped and i ate something salty or citrusy, but that feeling on Thanksgiving was different from any other.
  I immediately told my mom that something was wrong and she lept into action, trying to figure out what i ate that could have caused this. She then ran to the fridge and grabbed the bottle of chutney, the only possible explanation for what was happening. I ran up next to her and in that moment, reading the ingredients of the chutney, my heart dropped. Walnuts.
  As soon as i read that i panicked, texted my boyfriend that i was scared i was going to die, and ran upstairs to brush my teeth. I picked out pieces of walnut from my teeth and started to cry. My mom and sister surrounded me and hugged me, trying to calm me down, and eventually i did. I don't know why i was able to calm down so easily, but it seemed that everything would be okay.
  My gums started to swell in the bottom of my mouth. My mom then informed me that she would have to give me to epi-pen. Well, this was an absolutely terrifying thing to hear. I haven't been shot with an epi-pen in years. Too many years to remember if "it won't hurt, don't worry", was true or not.
  I didn't really have the choice or the time to get over this skepticism so i laid out on the foyer floor.
  The epi-pen didn't actually hurt that much, which was extremely surprising to me, especially because it caused me to bleed and gave me a more-than-noticeable bruise.
  We all then rushed to the hospital, leaving family and guests behind at our house. When sitting in the waiting room i was shaking uncontrollably, partly form fear and partly from the adrenaline.
  Thinking about it now, while waiting for the nurse to finish filling things out, all i could think about was that i was glad i at least looked good in my dress and done-up hair.
  Everything calmed down once i was at the hospital. I was given an IV and pumped with life-saving drugs. I eventually fell asleep for almost all of the 8 or 9 hours i was there.
  Even though the whole experience was terrifying, im almost glad it happened. I learned so much from that one experience.
  So, for those of you who haven't had a reaction in months or years, let me tell you this:
    Stay calm, just get help and breathe deeply, freaking out will only make things worst.
    The epi-pen doesn't hurt that much, surprisingly, and you can show off your tough-guy, survival         bruise to all of your friends (as i did!)
    And last of all, you know your body best, you know best what's going on. The feeling of a reaction is different from any other. Trust your gut when you think something is wrong, it could save your life!
You can never be too careful!

It feels great to be blogging again and telling my stories, thank you to whomever commented and helped me to start sharing again :)