"Through your denims, ok?"

I have been told in the past that Epipens don't do anything for this condition, but was recently told by a fancy pants at UCLA that it could potentially buy me a little time if my throat was swelling. That is reason enough for me to get one.

The very helpful allergist, Cathy Green, said she would help me in any way she could, so when I said I needed an Epipen she said, "no sweat." She does, however, require that I come in and have a training session with the nurse to make sure I know what I am doing. Fine.

The appointment takes about 15 seconds. The nurse hands me a plastic bag with Epipen written on it and tells me there is a DVD I can watch (uh huh) and a free travel case for my epinephrine. Fab. Then she pops the cap off one without the needle, slams it against her leg to demonstrate and hands it me to do the same. I do. "Don't take the pants off. Through your denims, ok?" I smile and nod, even though it takes me a minute to figure out what she is talking about. "Don't waste time taking pants off..." OH, that's what she means. OK, no sweat.

I leave the office with my first little thing in my HAE arsenal, check. I can't help but wonder what's next...