I have always had reactions to hay and grasses and I get a rash where it touches me. No big deal, it itches a bit, I wash and it goes away.
We have been using sheep pellets which are pretty much compressed hay
lately to feed the stock

A month or so ago we were pouring some of these pellets into a big bin and I breathed in some of the dust. Soon after as I went off driving on my own my throat started to feel quite thick like it was closing up, breathing became a bit hard but not impossible. By the timeI got home it had all subsided.

A trip to the doctor a couple days later and she put the fear of god into me LOL she drummed a plan into me .. first a asthma puffer, then call doctor and they can prescribe adrenalin which we have here, got me a specialist appointment and put it in my head that it will get worse. The main problem, I think, is that we are remote. The adrenalin will last about 45 minutes ... about how long it takes me to get to a hospital .. or an ambulance to get to me. You just know that that is the day that I get a flat tyre or the creek on the road is up or similar!! I do have to see a specialist in a few weeks who can prescribe an EpiPen which I think gives more time.

SO does anyone have any allergies and how do you deal with it?
DOes it still worry you or have you gotten used to it? Have you ever had to use the adrenaline or EpiPen?
Does KNOWING what to do stop you panicking?

I think it will Jill, you will be in control and know that you have the ability to ease the problem while you get help.

Think... burning your hand and soaking it in cold water; there's really no panic, you know what to do, you know it'll help, so you just do it... it's pretty much instinctual.

Btw, the EpiPens are injectors loaded with 0,3mg or 0,5mg of adrenaline (epinephrine)... and mine only promise 15-20 minutes period in which to get under proper medical care.

I've got a lot of allergies which I deal with by, yes, knowing what to do (and what to avoid) I do have one serious one that is life threatening - the others will give me a nasty couple of hours but that's all. That one, luckily, is easy to avoid - it's a medication, so I just don't take it. Never take any over the counter drugs until I've double checked the ingredients. Make sure my doctors and pharmacist are aware of the allergy, for prescription drugs. In other words, i just stay away from it.

You are very naughty handling stock feed without a mask when it's so dusty, Copago! Tsk ! Tsk! Use gloves too!

Even the lucerne will have me lighting up - or stud mix if handled too much.
I keep a mask and gloves in the feed shed, but I do use them but not all the time and then pay for it!
I've learned to minimise contact - although seeding rye grass is also very nasty - and I've resorted to keeping 25mg prednisolone in the cupboard for backup.

I'm not anaphylactic so can still breath safely - but I end up with a badly swollen face and can't see - which happens overnight.
I use regular dosed of vitamin C and zinc to boost my immune system and that seems to help minimise my reaction.

Discovered years ago when I was having allergy tests that I'm allergic to 'caine' mixtures, lognocaine etc and local anaethestic bases that dentists commonly used, which explained the all body rash I acquired after a chronic mosquito attack when I came up in welts after using an otc cream for he itch! :P

I have two friends who carry epi-pens. One is severely allergic to any kind of shellfish - which fortunately can be indentified from a distance - so needs back up for any sauce or dressing based on shell fish that might be unidentified when eating out.
The other to insect bites - interesting when we're out walking or bike riding a lot.

In both cases - yes off to hospital, but they were both told that the epi-pen will also calm the reaction and to rely on that 'mentally' as severe stress (like thinking about how bad it might be) will exacerbate the reaction.

Both my MIL and SIL have major breathing problems with sunflower or anything in that family - and tomato seeds - so I don't have anything related in any food preparation.

You are very naughty handling stock feed without a mask when it's so dusty, Copago! Tsk ! Tsk! Use gloves too!

Even the lucerne will have me lighting up - or stud mix if handled too much.
I keep a mask and gloves in the feed shed, I do use them but not all the time and then pay for it!
I've learned to minimise contact - although seeding rye grass is also very nasty - and I've resorted to keeping 25mg prednisolone in the cupboard for backup.

I'm not anaphylactic so can still breath safely - but I end up with a badly swollen face and can't see - which happens overnight.
I use regular dosed of vitamin C and zinc to boost my immune system and that seems to help minimise my reaction.

Discovered years ago when I was having allergy tests that I'm allergic to 'caine' mixtures, lognocaine etc and local anaethestic bases that dentists commonly used, which explained the all body rash I acquired after a chronic mosquito attack when I came up in welts after using an otc cream for he itch! :P

I have two friends who carry epi-pens. One is severely allergic to any kind of shellfish - which fortunately can be indentified from a distance - so needs back up for any sauce or dressing based on shell fish that might be unidentified when eating out.
The other to insect bites - interesting when we're out walking or bike riding a lot.

In both cases - yes off to hospital, but they were both told that the epi-pen will also calm the reaction and to rely on that 'mentally' as severe stress (like thinking about how bad it might be) will exacerbate the reaction.

Both my MIL and SIL have major breathing problems with sunflower or anything in that family - and tomato seeds - so I don't have anything related in any food preparation.

Oh dear - didn't mean to double post!
It's bad when I do that and don't realise.

I have a bad reaction to morphine - slows down my breathing rate to about 4 breaths per minute. I wear a Medic Alert bracelet always, as morphine is often given after an accident, and people are not always aware enough to report drug allergies in such a situation.
Anyone who has an allergy to a drug should have a medic Alert bracelet - as well as people with serious illnesses.
As a former nurse, I have dealt on numerous occasions with people found unconscious with no obvious cause. In one case, a rare condition was not picked up until too late - a bracelet would have probably have saved his life.

I have an EpiPen, too Copago. I've never realized that I might not be able to get help in time. But then I live in a densely populated area and would be able to get to the hospital if needed.

I cannot take aspirin, or any derivative. That means the only over the counter pain killer I can take is Tylenol (acetominiphin). In other words, no "non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.) NSAID

The last time I chewed two aspirin (for a sore throat) I wound up in intensive care overnight as my asthma about did me in. when I saw the Dr. he suggested an ambulance to the hospital -- only a block away (must have been the blue lips ) since the shot of epiniphrine did nothing to help me)! My pulmonologist has prescribed a nebulizer (breathing machine for medication) and also have prednisone for emergencies. On the rare occasions I need to resort to that I get TONS of work done for three days! It gets the adrenal gland going -- but also makes me jittery.

I understand how you felt breathing Copago. For me it was like being under water unable to breathe. And not being able to do so, frightened me even more, thereby exacerbating the breathing problem. It's terrifying when you know what is happening to you.

Also am allergic to tons of stuff (not to mention the trees and grass in my yard) but that only does a runny nose problem for me.

Do be careful Copago -- I've learned that the older we get the more probable it is that we become allergic to things we have used or eaten our whole life. I was never allergic to dogs (the dander, you know), but I am now.