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Post by jennyap on Aug 17, 2014 20:20:59 GMT
Kind of a scary experience this evening.
I was in a restaurant with my DH, and part way through the main course my throat started itching causing me to cough. Initially I thought it was just a regular 'tickle', but water didn't help, and it got worse instead of better. I had to leave the table: my eyes were streaming from the coughing and then I started getting a runny nose too. I even started getting a little wheezy and my voice a bit hoarse.
Im 99% sure it was a reaction to something I ate. Luckily I happened to have some antihistamines with me and that seems to have helped a little. I still have an itchy throat, and I think my tongue is slightly swollen. My lips became quite tingly with obvious redness and even a what looks like a couple of small blisters and there's a little redness/swelling on my face (either side of my nose) although that may be from the coughing.
I've never had a reaction like this to any food before.
The only thing that I don't think I've had before is fennel - I'd not long had a first taste of that, so it's a possible culprit. I also had a bit of my husband's fish with almonds a few minutes before, but I eat almonds regularly and fish too (although not that particular type). Everything else I ate was something I eat often.
Has anyone developed an allergy to something they've previously been ok with, or us it more likely I just discovered an allergy to something I hadn't tried before?
Il'l definitely see my doctor about this, even though it wasn't a really serious reaction it was scary just out of the blue like that, and I'd worry about having a more severe reaction in future so I want to find out for sure what caused it. In the meantime, I'm curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090 
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 17, 2014 20:23:47 GMT
Yes... I now swell hugely when I drink beer and get very uncomfortable when I eat bananas.
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Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
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Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 17, 2014 20:29:02 GMT
Glad you are ok.
Yes, I can no longer eat shrimp. I get hives all over my face.
I used to think it was changes in body chemistry that caused food intolerance but now I am not sure if it could be chemical additives like sulfites and nitrates which I am particularly sensitive to and they are added to preserve food.
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Post by bianca42 on Aug 17, 2014 20:42:56 GMT
I've always been a big fan of nuts...especially almonds. 2.5 years ago, I developed an allergy with a reaction similar to what you're describing. I kinda ignored it for a year until the peas convinced me that the next reaction could be much worse. I went to the allergist and had testing done. He confirmed the almond allergy and said it's strong enough and sudden enough that he recommends I stay clear of all tree nuts. He also gave me a script for an EPI pen.
So, don't think about new things. I would make note of everything you ate with that meal and then make an appointment with an allergist.
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Post by ShesaRenegade on Aug 17, 2014 20:46:56 GMT
Yes, to cantaloupe (within the past 3 years) and products with gluten (about 10 years ago).
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by marianne on Aug 17, 2014 20:55:37 GMT
Quite a few years ago, I developed an allergy to eggs, which I had been eating all my life. As opposed to a rash, etc., my reaction was intense nausea, stomach pain and throwing up. It lasted for several years, and then disappeared, as quickly as it came.
I seem to remember something about mixing certain foods with others that caused reactions in some people. My former MIL couldn't eat seafood and something, I can't remember, but she would became very ill if she did.
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Post by missfrenchjessica on Aug 17, 2014 20:58:43 GMT
Wow, how scary!
I haven't developed allergies, but I've discovered I'm lactose intolerant.
Once that was discovered, I can't tell you how.much.better I feel. Like night and day.
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Post by katiekaty on Aug 17, 2014 21:07:27 GMT
I have a beef allergy I didn't know about until I had testing 2 years ago. Its severe. I had seeing a GI doc and been treated for IBD and early Chron's for years and years, Stopped eating beef and almost instant relief of symptoms. I am no longer on any meds for those conditions and the gut has completely healed. An added benefit is that my triglycerides returned to normal levels after being extremely high and I was bale to get off those meds also. I crave a beef taco or Wendy's chili or things like tat, but if I even take a bite, the reaction is severe (mouth sore, blisters, scratchy throat, sinus issues, severe diarrhea, etc. and symptoms for days. Beef is over for me. I carry an epi pen because it does effect my throat now. Listen to your body. Try to figure out what you ate and stay away from it!
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 17, 2014 21:17:40 GMT
I just had this conversation with my doctor last week! lol. Well, not "lol" at your experience, obviously! That sounds really scary.
I haven't developed any real allergies, but I was diagnosed with celiac disease as an adult. I've also developed lactose intolerance, and intolerance to some kind of grain but I haven't figured out what yet. Yeah, falling apart in my old age. lol. I also had an irritated throat reaction to mango a month or so ago and have been afraid to try it since.
My doctor said a couple of interesting things. One was that as we get older these types of intolerances are more likely to occur, especially if we've been eating a lot of something. So I'm thinking that corn is my problem lately because since going gluten free I eat an awful lot of corn products. So I'm going to cut way down and see what happens. -- The other thing she said was that if we stop eating something entirely, like I've done with mangoes, it might make a more serious reaction more likely to happen. She recommended that I try a little bit of mango and have the benedryl handy. And I remembered that right before I had that throat reaction I had eaten TONS of mangoes. That was when those smaller bean-shaped mangoes were in the stores and they were SO GOOD! omg, I must have eaten a hundred of them. lol.
But OP, I'm not sure any of what I just said is relevant to you because yours sounds more like a true allergic reaction to me, not just an intolerance. Hopefully the doctor can help you figure out what it is.
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Post by winogirl on Aug 17, 2014 21:19:30 GMT
Not me, but a friend developed a severe reaction to raw tomatoes when she was in her late thirties or early forties. Bizarre, as she'd been eating them her whole life. She makes sure to special order salads and keeps an epi-pen with her just in case.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
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Post by Nanner on Aug 17, 2014 21:22:44 GMT
yes, brazil nuts
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Post by paigewh on Aug 17, 2014 21:24:17 GMT
Yes! Shrimp allergy here. Didn't happen until I was 26 and I LOVE shrimp  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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BarbaraUK
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Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Aug 17, 2014 21:29:38 GMT
Yes, about six months ago I suddenly developed a reaction to some types of chocolate which is very similar to yours - coughing, streaming eyes, runny nose! |
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Post by PEArfect on Aug 17, 2014 21:30:48 GMT
It definitely sounds like you had an allergic reaction to something you ate.
I have a lot of the same symptoms when I unintentionally consume gluten or wheat. I had symptoms when I was younger, but more like intolerance symptoms (swelling, upset stomach, intestinal issues.) Now I have allergic reaction symptoms ( swelling in my eyes, ears, nose, and throat.)
My 15yo daughter is allergic to tree fruits. Her lips swell and her tongue itches. Just within this last year she started having a reaction to tree fruits. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 17, 2014 21:35:59 GMT
Not to foods, but I developed a scent allergy/sensitivity (it isn't really the scent-that's just the best way to explain it.) It started about 10 years ago, but has gotten worse in the last 5 or so. It is awful and so hard to get people to understand because everything in our world is scented. Perfumes, lotions, air fresheners...all of it makes me break out in hives and get a scratchy throat. I am pretty sure that people think I am making it up.  |
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Aug 17, 2014 21:42:41 GMT
I have not but my aunt did. She became deathly allergic to alcohol and chocolate. If she drinks any alcohol what so ever her throat instantly swells shut with in a couple seconds. She had bad reactions to chocolate also. A about 13 years ago she went to a homeopathic doctor for something else (Her regular doctor recommended her go there for her other allergies). I can't remember what the doctor did but after about 4 or 5 visits she could eat chocolate in small amounts. but she still can't eat alcohol.
When I was a kid I was allergic to salt and every time I ate large amounts of it I would break out in hives. but as I grew I grew out of that. I love salty foods like popcorn, nuts, chips, etc...... I would rather have salty foods than sweet foods. I have never had any problems with my blood pressure levels. except once when I got bit on the lip by a dog. My blood pressure was elevated when I first went into the ER but after I was there for a while they did my blood pressure again and it was back to normal.
I hope it is just the fennel that you are allergic to. I would try fennel again maybe put it in a food that you know you have no problem with and see if you have a reaction to it.
good luck... I hope you are feeling better now...
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Post by flanz on Aug 17, 2014 21:56:33 GMT
Quite a few years ago, I developed an allergy to eggs, which I had been eating all my life. As opposed to a rash, etc., my reaction was intense nausea, stomach pain and throwing up. It lasted for several years, and then disappeared, as quickly as it came. I could have written this except about fish. Fine for the first 36 years of my life and then OMG. My first reaction was upset stomach for 2 hours. Second time I ate fish I was sick for 24 hours with severe vomiting and diarrhea. These reactions had only happened when I ate a then new-to-me fish, orange roughy. Two months later I ate a few bites of salmon and was very sick, literally could not leave the bathroom for 36 hours. Allergist told me to NEVER ever experiment iwth any fish, it could be deadly. this type of gastric reaction is called F.P.I.E.S. I don't remember what it stands for. I didn't have any problems with foods until I was 25 years old. Since then I have had very weird and disruptive reactions to an ever growing list of foods including dairy, oranges, coffee, cinnamon, corn, rice and wheat. After around a decade of avoiding a food I cautiously try to reintroduce the food and have had pretty good luck with it. An ever-changing mystery in my life. good luck figuring out what you need to avoid! |
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bomo
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Post by bomo on Aug 17, 2014 22:02:42 GMT
Dh and any sort of melon. Didn't happen until he was in his early sixties.
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Post by pb on Aug 17, 2014 22:07:18 GMT
Not a specifically diagnosed allergy but my spice intolerances have grown more varied and more severe as I age.
When I was around 30 I discovered that fennel gave me a headache. That has grown to anise, chili powder, turmeric, saffron, and others. Recently at 54 tarragon has been giving me some issues.
It has been very frustrating and I need to read menus carefully.
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MaryC
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Jun 25, 2014 21:52:55 GMT
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Post by MaryC on Aug 17, 2014 22:09:06 GMT
If you think it might be the fennel, any type of food challenge needs to be supervised by a doctor - don't try doing it by yourself because the second reaction can be more severe. I had some wheezing, coughing, and itchy mouth the first time I reacted to shellfish; the second time (accidental exposure in a restaurant), I went into full blown anaphylactic shock and nearly died. True food allergies can be lethal. Please check with your doctor before you do any type of food challenge.
All my food allergies were adult-onset as far as I know. It's possible I was allergic as a child and just didn't know it, because I was never exposed to certain foods like shellfish until adulthood.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 17, 2014 23:45:19 GMT
Fennel. I didn't know it as a kid or didn't have it because I didn't eat it or attributed it to something else. I noticed in college that if I ate a particular place's pizza my throat will swell, the roof of my mouth will become very irritated and I start to cough. Turns out the place uses fennel. I didn't even know what it tasted like at the time
Now, I can tell almost immediately if something has fennel. Because my reaction is irritating, not life threatening, I don't freak out. Typically I have some allergy med with me and I will take it. If I don't, I go get some as soon as it is feasible (like after dinner if we are out with friends) and I don't eat anymore of the offending item.
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Post by jenjie on Aug 18, 2014 0:03:28 GMT
Mine is shellfish. I used to order shellfish most times when we went out to eat, or we would bring home clams or shrimp or crabs pretty often. One night after eating shrimp I started having symptoms. I'm sorry I don't remember exactly. I went for an allergy test and was very disappointed when they said never to eat shellfish again.
Actually I must've had some sensitivity to it before and not realized it becausey hands would get really itchy after picking the meat out of the shells.
Oddly enough, we went to visit my parents today. They wanted to take us to this great Chinese buffet. I walked in and it smelled like seafood. Most of their menu items were seafood. I was really nervous about eating because of cross contamination.
I came back to the table and blurted out, "this is the worst place you could have taken me!" Dh shot me a look. I was like, did I just say that out loud?! I felt so bad and apologized immediately. And apologized again. They forgot I was allergic.
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Post by christine58 on Aug 18, 2014 0:07:31 GMT
Yes....to Rosemary. Cannot eat it as I get violently ill. Not an allergy though because my throat doesn't close etc. BUT if it's in anything, within an hour I have issues.
I found out by talking to a friend who is a food and science teacher that rosemary is in the pine tree family...I am HIGHLY allergic to pine trees. Now it makes sense why oregano also makes me ill.
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Pearl Clutcher
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 18, 2014 0:20:36 GMT
I read recently that an allergy to red meat is being linked to Lyme disease,
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Post by Suziee2 on Aug 18, 2014 0:44:54 GMT
For me it happened a few months ago and it was almonds. Haven't had them since. Only thing that happened was that they made my lips really swell.
It also happened to my mom with shrimp. Horrible hives sent her to the ER a couple times.
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Post by darkchami on Aug 18, 2014 1:12:36 GMT
Yes. I was about 30 when I suddenly could no longer eat shellfish. One little bite and I get a body full of hives for weeks.
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Post by tinafb on Aug 18, 2014 1:38:33 GMT
I read recently that an allergy to red meat is being linked to Lyme disease, It's actually linked to bites from a specific type of tick. Isn't that crazy? I've developed a bunch of food allergies as an adult. I'm worried that there will be nothing left for me to eat when I'm elderly! |
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Post by bluepoprocks on Aug 18, 2014 1:43:07 GMT
My sister developed a nut allergy in the past two years that has gotten worse every time she eats something with nuts. She doesn't take it seriously if she eats something with nuts she just takes a Benadyrl. I keep telling her some day that's not going to work and she's going to die but she doesn't listen to me.
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Post by Zee on Aug 18, 2014 1:56:00 GMT
When I was about 18 I developed an allergy to cantaloupe and honeydew. Also at that time,I developed a ragweed allergy, and the two are related. Sometimes raw carrots and bananas bother me a bit. I can eat watermelon in limited amounts. My sister and half brother have the same allergies. I love cantaloupe and haven't been able to eat it in over 20 years or even anything that touched it. |
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vanmama
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Post by vanmama on Aug 18, 2014 2:01:48 GMT
Two years ago, I had a very severe allergic reaction to what I thought was the salmon in Salmon Chowder. It was the first night of our vacation in Alaska, we'd been up since 2:30 AM Central Time and I ate at 10:00 Alaska Time...I was exhausted and starving...By the time I was done with that bowl, I had hives all over my body that itched like crazy. Figuring it was the salmon, I stayed away from it for the whole time I was there EXCEPT for a canned salmon/cream cheese appetizer we were served. When I used the restroom, I realized I had bright red spots the size of a pencil eraser all over my thighs. I didn't even look any farther...
When we came home, I had a blood test to check for salmon allergy which came back negative. I was shocked! I ended up whining to my cardiologist a week or so later, who suggested it could be the wood the salmon was smoked in. I went back, found the menu on the internet, which indicated it was smoked in alder wood, as was the canned salmon. The allergist said she probably would not have thought to check for that.
I saw an allergist who tested for alder wood and it turns out I am severely allergic to it! The allergist showed me about other things that cross-react...I have figured out I'm allergic to just about everything on that list.
Your reaction actually sounds severe enough that you should take it very seriously. It will probably be worse another time. Also, look into an epi-pen. If you do a search on-line, you can find a coupon that will cover your copay.
Sorry for the hijack! At the age of 56, I started developing these darn allergies. It's just crazy! |
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