08/13/2025
Throughout my life, I’ve been stung by all kinds of bugs—bees, wasps, you name it—and never once had anything more than a little pain and swelling. But two days ago, everything changed.
While playing with my dogs, one of them stepped into a yellow jacket nest. They swarmed, chasing him—straight to me. Before I could react, I was stung multiple times. I ran to the four-wheeler where .co was waiting, but not before she got stung too. We sped out of there as fast as we could.
The dogs are okay—Flynn, the one who stepped in the nest, had a few stings but bounced back after some Benadryl. But for me… it started with my head itching. Within minutes, it escalated into something terrifying. My body began reacting fast, and I was on the verge of anaphylactic shock. I’m so grateful Kathlien was there to rush me to the ER—without her, I don’t want to think about how it could have ended.
Now, my reality has shifted. I have to carry an EpiPen everywhere. I run the risk of a severe reaction every time I’m stung by an insect. I spend so much of my life outdoors with my dogs, but now I feel a knot of fear every time I see something flying near me. The closest hospital is 20 minutes away. What if I can’t get to my EpiPen in time? What if I can’t even give it to myself?
I already live with MCAS, but my triggers have always been food-related. Now, I have to worry about the possibility of going into anaphylaxis from something as simple as a bug sting. I’ve never felt this kind of anxiety before. I’m trying to figure out how to keep living the life I love, without letting this fear take it from me.
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