Adrian Peterson Nearly Died From Shrimp Allergy, Talks About Experience
Adrian Peterson’s life literally flashed before his eyes. The NFL’s reigning MVP remembers eating lunch… then, just 15 minutes later, gasping for breath and his throat swelling up.
The Minnesota Vikings star running back was in the midst of an allergic attack, apparently caused by a couple bowls of shrimp gumbo he had eaten for lunch.
"I thought I was Superman until I experienced that life-changing anaphylactic shock,'' Peterson told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm normally pretty good under pressure so I stayed calm, didn't panic too much and just called to get the help I knew I needed.''
The first person Peterson thought to call was Vikings trainer Eric Sugerman, whom he gingerly whispered to that something was seriously wrong and he needed help quick. As fast as Peterson hits the holes created for him by the Vikes’ massive line, Sugerman raced to Peterson’s dorm room on the campus of Mankato State University and immediately injected him with the drug EpiPen, which allowed him to resume regular breathing even as he was being rushed to the hospital.
Though the after effects were minimal, the event forever changed Peterson’s life. He since has partnered as a spokesperson with Mylan Speciality L.P., makers of the EpiPen drug that saved him.
Anaphylaxis affects up to 43 million Americans with children being among the most at risk. Peterson now carries two EpiPens with him at all times to combat any mistaken exposure to his allergic triggers.
"It's a serious situation and it's pretty common across the world,'' Peterson told USA Today."A lot of people can learn from my scare. Seafood was always my favorite food. I mean fried lobster? Come on. Once I found out shrimp, scallops and lobster were my allergic triggers, I had to change my diet.''
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