Pharmacist saves life of woman stung by wasp

A woman from the Laurentians is thanking her pharmacist for saving her life.

Jose Asselin was out working in her garden inSaint-Colombana few weeks ago when she says she felt a sting on her arm. She glanced downand saw what looked like a wasp.

Daybreak Montreal8:49Wasp-stung woman's life saved by her pharmacist

Jose Asselin had a close call after she was stung by a wasp and experienced an intense allergic reaction. Luckily, her pharmacist took quick action.

In less than a minute, Asselin says shestarted itching all over. She jumped into the car to pick up an antihistamine atthe pharmacy.

The drive only took about eight minutes, but Asselin says the itching kept getting worse. It spread to her scalp andher legs.

At the stoplight right before the pharmacy, Asselin started to have trouble breathing.

"It was getting more difficult [to breathe] and my face was getting numb," she told CBC's Daybreak.

When she walked into the pharmacy,her pharmacist, Ugo Deschnes, recognized her,butnoticedthere was something wrong with her face.

"He brought me right away in his office, he asked me a few questions He came back with an EpiPenandbang!on my leg."

I didn't think it was life threatening- JoseAsselin

She says after her pharmacistadministered theemergency dose of epinephrine, her symptoms went away.

Asselindidn't want to go to the hospital, but her pharmacist called the paramedics anyway.

On the way,Asselin's symptoms came back with a vengeance.

She said the itching was even worse this time,with bumps popping up all over her legs, arms and stomach.

"I didn't think it was life threatening," she said.

After spending hours at the hospital, her doctor told her that she should thank her pharmacistbecause he saved her life.

"I didn't really believe it," Asselin said.

Asselin is feeling much better now, although she's a little wary of wasps.