Odd Situation

Last thursday someone in my class was drinking red bull, to which I am seriously allergic. I had to miss the class and the lecturer told everyone about anaphylaxis and asked them not to drink energy drinks around me. Ever since then a lad on my course has been making jokes about it to me.
He asked if lucosade was ok for him to drink around me as he drinks a lot of it, so I told him that was ok and he kind of joked about not killing me.

And he asked me again about it today, and when I said yes, he kind of thrust the bottle towards my face (actually in my face) and said something along the lines of hahaha energy drink diieeee.
He seemed to find this hilarious.

Later on, as I was waiting for the bus to come and pick me up he said "Not meaning to be funny, but, have you seen the adverts red bull gives you wings?"
Not meaning to be funny? He obviously was trying to be funny...
I couldn't work out if he was trying to be funny about my allergy, or the fact I can't walk and I'm in a wheelchair or both (if I could drink red bull it'd help me walk?).

He then asked if I needed to go outside and offered to hold the door open... so he's obviously not nasty, just seems to think that this is funny...

It really isn't.

To be honest I just find myself confused after he talks to me.
He's trying to make jokes, but... they're so not funny it's odd.

I'm so confused by it that I don't even know how to approach the situation. If I tell him it's not funny and could he stop, he'll think I've been really offended, or he'll think I'm being horrible...
It's just weird.

Nicola

Hey Nicola,

I am so sorry you have to through this. Unfortantly those of us who have anaphylaxis run into this WAY to many times. For the most part I believe these people do not understand just how severe anaphylaxis is. You need to sit down with him and let him know that this is no laughing matter, as well ask him what he thinks anaphylaxis is ... does he actually know that anaphylaxis IS life threatening. Also make sure he knows that it doesn't only need to be eaten to have a reaction. I usually show people my epipens as well as the CPR mask I carry, for 1) they can see how severe it is, and 2) it will give an oppurtunity to show them how to use it, and then they may become intrested and realize how severe it is.

May I ask what ingredient are you allergic too??

And, do you carry an epipen... I sure hope you do!!

Shannon

I really don't think he's trying to be a bully though.
I think he's just a teenager with no social skills who isn't really sure of how else to approach the situation so is making up for it by trying to appear confident about it; so confident he can joke about it.
He definitely has some idea of what's going on because my lecturer went in and told the whole class about anaphylaxis and the dangers of it and why it's so important to not drink stuff like that around me.

I seem to be allergic to taurine; it's only drinks with that in that affect me, and no, I don't have an epipen because the so-called Allergy specialist that I saw (the only one in the region and I had to travel to another city to see her!) said it's impossible to be allergic to something if you don't ingest it.
Which I know is rubbish, but her being the only person available makes it VERY difficult to get a second opinion.

So basically, the only way I can 'prove' it is by having another serious reaction and ending up in hospital.
I'd rather just avoid it as long as possible.