~8 years ago, I got stung in the eyelid by a hornet. I immediately got hives all over my body, and both of my eyes swelled shut for a week, at the end of which both of my cheeks ballooned out from the swell line down. Hornet stings are one of those things that build up in your system for a lifetime usually resulting in a stronger reaction each time, so we don't really know what will happen if/when i get stung again, but that's not where my story ends. A few weeks after my sting, i damaged the cartilage in my hand and was on a wave of painkillers for months of rehabilitation, during which we discovered my food allergy to soy. Over the course of the last 8 years i've had a range of crazy rashes, reactions, and side effects (i spent 4 months allergic to being cold. google it. utterly ridiculous and so uncomfortable) that bring my current total allergies to 3 medications, 1 food, and hornets (not bees).
It took being pregnant to be prescribed an epipen. Every doctor i asked about it for 8 years told me i should have one, and none would write the script- but my obgyn wasn't going to leave me pregnant in summer and unprotected. I already knew how they worked, learned the storage (room temperature, no extremes) and the shelf life (~1 year), and that you only use it if your airway is affected- not before. I even had a little help from the pharmacist who told me to go on epipen.com for a prescription card that would make my co-pay $0 (i did this at the pharmacy on my smartphone. It would have been ~$80 with a regular insurance script card).
 |
| This is a stock photo of epi-pens out of the tubes they come in. |
A big part of epipens that doctors warn about (and why they told me they don't like to give them to college kids- beside the pricetag) is that you have to have it with you when you need it, and you can't leave it in a hot car. I was most concerned for at home, because we have gardens and a lot of fruit trees and bushes, and our neighbor has an orchard. I would absolutely take it hiking, but it's important to remember it anywhere you might be exposed- like picnics, etc. They make different carrying cases for it, from belts and fanny packs, to pencil cases, and strap-on sleeves for runners, some insulated to protect it from extreme temperatures and some not.
 |
| This is how they come from the pharmacist, as a pack of 2, in protective tubes, with a plastic connector and a practice pen |
I don't carry a purse and couldn't see myself as a fanny pack person, so i decided to share my solution. It comes in a tough tube when you buy it. I decorated the tube (both so it's not all medical looking and because it doesn't hurt to block sunlight) with patterned duct tape I had laying around. They sell it in all different patterns pretty much everywhere. 2 pieces meet up exactly on each side and you just so some folding at the bottom to make it look nice. I used 2 of my tiny black rubber hairbands to make a tight but sturdy holder and added a caribiner. I can hook it on to jeans, hook it onto my clutch, trade the caribiner for a lanyard, or get my husband to slide it into his much larger pockets, but i am more likely to bring it along (and not leave it in the car) if it's as small as possible.
