Experiencing anaphylaxis after exercising changed the course of Lauren’s life forever
My name is Lauren and I have exercise-induced anaphylaxis. I was 16 years old when I had my first reaction. My Mum and I were at a kickboxing class, and although we normally partnered together, we hadn’t that time. I held the kickboxing bag, taking hits from my partner as my skin started to prickle until it felt as though it was raging against my blood. I recall looking over at my Mum and silently begging her to just look at me as my mind grew foggier. I knew something wasn’t right, but I wasn’t able to put it into words.
I was already under the care of an immunologist and when we described my symptoms, he gave me the words for what had happened that day. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a condition in which anaphylaxis occurs either during or after exercise. I had never heard of the condition so being diagnosed with it was shocking. I was handed an ASCIA Action Plan that perfectly described the timeline of my symptoms: urticaria followed by brain fog and dizziness due to my blood pressure dropping.
I went to school after my appointment with my new adrenaline device in my bag; I was confused and scared. I told my friends in the hopes of receiving comfort but they responded with, “I would rather die than have to give up sport.”
I reacted a week later and although I had my adrenaline with me, I was second guessing myself. It was the middle of winter and I had walked 10 minutes to the bus stop. When I stepped onto the bus, I knew it was happening again. My skin felt like it was on fire and my brain was foggy. There were no seats left so I sat on the floor. When we got to school, I walked to the office where panic seized me and I was unable to speak. Luckily my brother was with me, but neither of us wanted to make the decision to use my adrenaline. In hindsight, I did everything wrong in that scenario but I didn’t know any better.
I avoided anything that would be titled ‘exercise’ for two years because I was fearful of going into anaphylaxis again. As time went on, the list of things I could no longer try started to pile up: I mourned the marathon I wouldn’t run, feared dancing at a party. In conversation with my immunologist, I slowly returned to exercise with immense fear but a stubbornness that could not be persuaded. I learnt that my reactions depended on a high heart rate and body temperature.
My allergy burden only stops when I’m not moving. When I am moving, my thoughts are jumping to my heart rate, my body temperature, how I’m going to carry my adrenaline, where I would lie down if needed.
My limits start at a 10-minute walk and can span into a 45-minute workout. Learning to manage my risk of anaphylaxis and relationship with exercise has been challenging, but I hope to help others like me through my work.
Lauren is the marketing assistant at Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and an Allergy 250K camp peer mentor.
Exercise-induced anaphylaxis
Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a condition in which anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) occurs either during or after exercise.