Jane Seymore, a famous 72-year-old star of the silver screen, is renowned for her roles in iconic films such as “Live and Let Die” and television programs such as “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”
She recently recounted a terrifying, near-death experience with anaphylaxis.
When host Joe Duffy asked Jane on the Irish Public Television program “The Meaning of Life” if she was on the edge of dying, she couldn’t help but think of how near to death she had been owing to this terrible allergic response.
Seymour said that, according to doctors, she had a close call with death at one point. She was making a documentary about Aristotle Onassis in Madrid, Spain, when she became ill and called production to request that a doctor see her.
The doctors decided she needed an antibiotic shot to improve in the next four days so she could return to work on Monday.
When the male nurse arrived to perform the surgery, I knew something was wrong. My heart rate quickly increased before coming to a rest seconds later.
As I happily drifted off to sleep, I realized I had gone into anaphylactic shock.
The peace I felt was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. It was almost as if I had been put into a deep state of meditation and wrapped in a blanket of peace and happiness. It was simply amazing.
Ms. Seymour was overwhelmed with fear as she looked down at her lifeless body, desperately praying for someone or whatever to bring her back and allow her to raise her children.
Regrettably, no record exists of how she was eventually brought back to life.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. Food, insect bites, medicine, or the environment can cause it. It can happen without warning and kill quickly, as it did to Ms. Seymour.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can result in various life-threatening symptoms. Some things that can happen to the skin are hives, itching, and a pale or red face.
Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is common in people with anaphylaxis. This can cause a weak but quick pulse. It can cause restriction of the airways, making breathing difficult, and tongue or throat swelling.
There may even be a loss of consciousness in severe cases. Individuals suffering from anaphylaxis should seek emergency medical assistance.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. It causes severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and fainting.
To keep this potentially fatal reaction from worsening, it is critical to understand that only epinephrine can stop and reverse the progression of anaphylaxis.
People allergic to food or chemicals should always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors in an emergency.
It is best to carry two devices because one dose might not be enough to stop anaphylaxis in its tracks or because the device might not work right or be given incorrectly.
