Peanut allergy and mean people at work

meredith6484 · September 2014

So I have a severe nut allergy. I will have an asthma attack from someone breathing on me after they ate nuts. Or if I come directly in contact, my throught will swell and I can't breath. So the people I work with are pretty good about labeling things in the lounge or covering there mouth and warning me. I have not asked for anyone to go out of their way because of my allergy. So I had an awful attack today because this mean person breathed in my face for about 20 minutes during a meeting first thing this morning. I tried to cover my face, but I quietly stepped out and took my inhaler and went to my office. So my inhaler makes the flem break up and I cough it out. Well now 8 weeks pregnant, that gags me and makes me dry heave or cough up tons of flem. My friend heard me, got water and mothered me and kept a close eye on me through the morning. It was awful. I went to the nurses office for awhile.

So my firmed went down to the same classroom I was in to tell them to send the group was going to see down to my office and if take the group in the hall. The two teachers, more so the mean peanut breath bee, were rude and disrespectful about my allergy and denied me my group. That in itself upset me to tears eventually, which made my episode worse.

Only certain people at school know in pregnant because I've suffered a miscarriage around what was supposed to be 13 weeks and don't want to have to explain it to a ton of people again. So I'm waiting..... Bit with my other pregnancies, my allergy ended up getting worse by adding more nuts I'm allergic to. It originally was a slight tounge swell from peanuts and now 4 pregnancies later (not including this one), I can't have any nuts and my allergy is severe. And I'm more more sensitive to them, hence my bad asthma attack vs a mild one.

Back to my story, this happened at 8:15 and I felt awful and wheezy until around 11. To make things worse I took home my liquid Benadryl and my husband couldn't bring it until my lunch break before noon. I had a student comment I didn't look like I felt well because I looked pale and this was at 10:35 (over two hours later).

Any way, this mean person is a big bee and she will never change. But again I HAVE TO BE THE BETTER PERSON. AND SOMETIMES I JUST HATE IT AND WANT TO BE MEAN BACK. Okay maybe that's the hormones kicking in. But it is true.

Thanks for listening to me vent about my day.

mollymsalyers · September 2014

I am so sorry you had to deal with such horrible people today! Please tell me you don't have to work with them regularly?

MPKbaby237 · September 2014

I have asthma and allergies too. My trigger is cats. Because I go into anaphylactic shock, exposure to triggers after a bad attack intensifies for later exposure. So if you're like me, sadly your nut allergy will get worse (pregnant or not) every time you get a bad episode.
Im so sorry that lady was a bee. Your day sounded horrible, but thank god it's Friday!
Maybe next time, you can leave work early? Not sure how strict your school policy is, but as an AP I would've most definitely encouraged you to take care of your health first and to see you Monday.

schwabab · September 2014

I agree with @snegde‌. This is harassment! Call HR immediately.

Dani428 · September 2014

Agree with @snegde‌ ! I'm so so sorry that happened to you--so scary and that chick needs a good slap!

Ncountrygal · September 2014

I'd be pissed off and stressed out too! HR dept is the way to go. This is a serious health issue as well as harassment and they can't ignore it! Hugs!