Food allergies are difficult enough to navigate on your own, but add a relationship to the mix and you introduce all sorts of potential issues.
Social media influencer Lexi Hensler says it all in this 9-second TikTok as she sits next to her boyfriend during an emergency room intake.
It’s evident he’s stressed as he nervously scribbles answers on an intake form while Lexi sits by with major facial swelling, not believing he could have forgotten that she was allergic to fish:
@lexihensler But did he forget or did i forget to tell him..
♬ how i love being a woman – editdiaary
We assume she’s OK after the ordeal, given she was able to post her TikTok afterward. As the video has already garnered over 50 million views, we appreciate her candor in educating others.
While we don’t have many details to go on, we’ll make some assumptions in the interest of providing a strategy for others to avoid a similar ordeal.
The boyfriend bears some responsibility for the error, assuming he knew of her allergy to begin with. Regardless, he was obviously rattled by seeing what an allergic reaction had done to his girlfriend.
That said, we do have to question why Lexi left it up to her companion to ensure her safety.
We urge all adults coping with food allergies to take responsibility for their own well-being by questioning all food they did not make in their own homes. If you dine at a restaurant, order takeout, or eat dinner prepared by family, friend or date, the onus is on you to make the final checks before you eat.
And remember to always take two epinephrine auto-injectors along everywhere, every time. Be sure to administer one when you first suspect anaphylaxis, and if that dose does not reverse the progression of symptoms in a few minutes, administer the second.
As protocols for after administering epinephrine have changed, discuss with your allergist whether you should call emergency services after the first dose or whether you should wait to see if symptoms abate.
ACAAI and AAAAI Release New Guidelines for the Treatment of Anaphylaxis
