Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SPRINGVILLE — Kelly Jensen has an allergy so severe it could kill her.
But when she tells people, "I'm allergic to exercise" the reaction is always they same.
They laugh. They don't believe her. But most of the time, they joke that they, too have an allergy to sweat and strain.
But in Jensen's case, it's absolutely true.
She has a rare but serious condition called exercise-induced anaphylaxis. In other words, she is — no joke — allergic to strenuous exercise.
"It all started when I was playing tennis at Weber State," said the Springville mother of four. "I was running around the tennis courts, and I ran really hard and fast. My hands and feet started to itch severely and my nose started to run. Then I got a rash." Coaches took her to the hospital, where they were a bit stumped. The diagnosis — scarlett fever. Two weeks later, she was in an aerobics class when it happened again.
"Each time it seemed to get worse," said Jensen, who had been active in sports all her life without incident.
"Any time my heart rate when up and I got hot, I'd have a reaction … I was gasping for air. I thought I was going to die."
But it wasn't until she was enjoying a tough bike ride up Hobble Creek that she got scared. The attack was so severe, she was gasping for air and her eyes swelled almost completely shut.
"I stopped at a person's house, and knocked on the door," she said. "I couldn't talk so I wrote, 'Please call this number' on a note. My mom's friend came and got me and took me to an Instacare."
The diagnosis was exercise-induced anaphylaxis, and once she had a shot of epinephrine and the symptoms slowly subsided. She did have to have surgery on her eyes because her eyelids had swelled so severely that it caused some vision problems.
When told what the problem was, she gave up something she'd loved all her life.
"I just quit exercising," she said. "I couldn't do it anymore. Any time my heart rate when up and I got hot, I'd have a reaction … I was gasping for air. I thought I was going to die."
So she reduced her outdoor experiences from tennis, cycling, running and skiing to simply walking.
"I was so bummed," she said. "I'd always been athletic. It changed my life."
"It's human nature to want to do what you can't. I've been running for 25 years now because I can."
She was 22 and thought her playing days were over. Then the doctor she was working for suggested something.
"He told me to take an Eppie pen with me and take two antihistamines before I exercised. I did it, and because of that, I've been able to do whatever I want. It just solved the problem." Jensen said her life would have been significantly different had she not found a remedy so quickly. The 49-year-old community health advocate has run 25 marathons (her most recent on July 24), and she bikes and skis regularly.
Almost losing the ability to be active gave her an appreciation that some people never have.
"I appreciate it so much," said Jensen. "I always thank God for letting me be healthy and run. It's human nature to want to do what you can't. I've been running for 25 years now because I can."
Being active has offered her experiences she treasures, but it's also made her a better person.
"I think (being able to run) has kept me healthy and sane," she said. "I love it. It's just part of who I am. I love being outdoors and seeing life go on around me."
Even if every once in awhile it makes her feet itch.
Twitter: adonsports email: adonaldson@desnews.com. Read more of her work on the Deseret News blog, Reasons to Run.
