Woman’s allergy test lands her in the hospital after she almost dies from being ‘allergic to everything’

A Washington state woman suffered a severe allergic reaction after tests revealed she was essentially “allergic to everything.”

Ploy Ling, 23, an engineer, underwent an allergy test in August after developing sinus problems, which started when she adopted two cats. Doctors injected her with more than 50 allergens as part of a standard skin prick test, which involves inserting small amounts of allergens into the skin to check for possible reactions.

However, after five minutes, Mrs. Ling realized that something was very wrong. She had trouble breathing and her heart was pounding.

“Everyone panicked, so they injected me with an EpiPen in the leg,” she told Kennedy News.

Doctors gave her antihistamines — medications that reduce the amount of histamine in the body, which causes allergic reactions — and two injections of an EpiPen, an injectable drug used when someone has a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

However, the reaction continued to increase and she was rushed to the emergency room.

Ploy Ling, 23, an engineer, underwent an allergy test in August after developing sinus problems, which started when she adopted two cats. She suffered a severe allergic reaction after tests showed she was essentially “allergic to everything.”

After adopting two cats, Ms. Ling developed sinus problems, prompting her to have an allergy test done

“I felt so cold and was visibly shaking and chattering my teeth,” Ms Ling said.

‘It was a frightening experience. There were so many people in the room, and I know it’s not usual. The ER (doctor) said this is only the second case of someone having an allergic reaction to an allergy test that he has seen in seven years.

“In fact, every spot except the last two rows (on my back) seems to have caused an allergic reaction within the first five minutes.”

Skin prick tests are used to diagnose allergies to substances you touch, inhale, or eat. Common allergens include hay fever, allergic eczema, food, penicillin and bee venom, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Eventually, Ms. Ling’s condition improved and doctors cleared her to go home.

“I was picked up by my roommate who said, ‘Oh my God, you almost died,’” she said. “It seemed like it would be a quick and easy test, but I ended up going to the ER.”

She said she would “never do a skin prick test again.”

“(Doctors) contacted me a day or two later and I said I didn’t want to take the food allergy test again and opted for blood tests.”