You may recognise Amanda Barrie as Alma Sedgwick in Corrie, or – for eagle- eyed fans – you’d be right in thinking she was the Ballet Mistress in TV show Are You Being Served? Thankfully, her time hasn’t passed to continue performing.
Back in September 1997 – on the night of Princess Diana’s funeral – Amanda was admitted to hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Express in 2018, she detailed her life-threatening experience.
“It was really terrifying,” Amanda admitted, reflecting back on the time where her throat suddenly swelled up.
“It blew up in the middle of the night,” she explained. “I was like a balloon.”
Struggling to breathe, and fearing her life, she sought immediate medical attention.
Once at the hospital, medics administered powerful antihistamines to counteract her severe allergic reaction.
Amanda had been diagnosed with anaphylaxis – a “life-threatening reaction to a trigger”, the NHS clarified.
Most troublesome, Amanda – still until this day – is unaware as to what caused her throat to swell up on that night.
The NHS stated that the condition develops suddenly and “gets worse very quickly”.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include: feeling lightheaded or faint; breathing difficulties; wheezing; and a fast heartbeat.
Other signs of the condition include clammy skin, confusion and anxiety, collapsing or losing consciousness.
There can be other warning signs of an allergy, which includes an itchy, raised rash; feeling nauseous; swelling; and stomach pain.
Should anybody suffer from anaphylaxis, it’s considered a medical emergency.
If the person has an adrenaline auto-injector (and you know how to use it), that’s the first thing that needs to be done.
After that step (or missing it completely), immediately call 999 for an ambulance.
If the trigger is identified, such as a nut or an insect stinger in the skin, carefully remove it from the person suffering from anaphylaxis.
The next move is to lie the person flat – unless they’re unconscious, pregnant or having breathing difficulties.
Should another adrenaline auto-injector be available, give another shot if the symptoms don’t improve after five minutes.
If the person requiring medical attention is on their own, it’s possible to perform these steps themselves.
There are various triggers that can set off this extreme reaction by the immune system.
Common anaphylaxis triggers include food, such as shellfish, milk, eggs and some fruits.
Other triggers include general anaesthetic, latex, some antibiotics and insect stings.
Amanda – back on top form – will be seen on We Love Are You Being Served on channel 5, at 9pm, Friday August 28.
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