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Titchou
Guest
Zyrtec (cetirizine in Canada) is a good one for rashes, etc. It's very cheap in Canada so give it a try. It's a 24 hour med so you won't have to take as often as benedryl and it typically doesn't make you drowsy.
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Espria
Guest
Hello everyone... I've never had allergies before, but recently I've had some fairly serious reactions. Earlier this year I was on medication that I thought was the allergen and had a reaction that resulted in my face swelling for over a week and hives that persisted two weeks. After those two weeks I hadn't had an issue. It's been about 10 months since then, and I'm having problems again and I'm not sure why.
The last two weeks or so life hasn't been a lot of fun. I can't seem to pinpoint what I'm allergic to and I can't get in for an allergy test for about three weeks. I thought I had identified the allergen as being red dye (both Swedish Berries candy and Strawberry syrup caused almost instantaneous reactions), but yesterday I ate nothing containing red dye. And this morning I woke up with moderate swelling around my lips and cheeks and the worst hives I've seen since the first reaction I had almost a year ago.
I'm starting to get extremely stressed as I just don't know what to do anymore. Everyone just keeps telling me to watch what I eat, but that's hard when you have no idea what the allergy is to... I'm starting to stress myself to the point that I just don't want to eat anything at all and that's not good either.
I guess what I'm looking for here is maybe some suggestions on what I should do about my diet... What kind of food I should eat that might be safe for me.
Thanks for reading and any help you might be able to provide
The last two weeks or so life hasn't been a lot of fun. I can't seem to pinpoint what I'm allergic to and I can't get in for an allergy test for about three weeks. I thought I had identified the allergen as being red dye (both Swedish Berries candy and Strawberry syrup caused almost instantaneous reactions), but yesterday I ate nothing containing red dye. And this morning I woke up with moderate swelling around my lips and cheeks and the worst hives I've seen since the first reaction I had almost a year ago.
I'm starting to get extremely stressed as I just don't know what to do anymore. Everyone just keeps telling me to watch what I eat, but that's hard when you have no idea what the allergy is to... I'm starting to stress myself to the point that I just don't want to eat anything at all and that's not good either.
I guess what I'm looking for here is maybe some suggestions on what I should do about my diet... What kind of food I should eat that might be safe for me.
Thanks for reading and any help you might be able to provide
E
Espria
Guest
Thank you for your helpful replies everyone! I'll definitely look into putting myself on the diets suggested (I like fish so eating any sort of white fish for a few weeks won't be an issue at all).
As for what I've been taking after a reaction... I've just been taking Reactine (cetirizine) since I was concerned about the red dye in Benadryl and the dye-free Benadryl I was able to find didn't seem to target hives and swelling. I'm not sure if that's just something omitted from the package, but I opted for Reactine just in case. And I do have an epi-pen with me at all times.
And Jenny, I know what you mean about colouring being in everything... I had no idea how many things had unnecessary colouring additives in them until I had to start reading labels.
As a further update, I spoke to a friend of mine who is a doctor about it... And he's thinking that it might actually be something in my environment rather than food since I'm also having some sinus problems and it does seem to happen when I'm at home and not when I'm elsewhere... I live in a basement apartment, so this is highly possible as well. Regardless, I will switch to a more careful diet until I can get my allergy test. I just hope they get in contact with me soon.
As for what I've been taking after a reaction... I've just been taking Reactine (cetirizine) since I was concerned about the red dye in Benadryl and the dye-free Benadryl I was able to find didn't seem to target hives and swelling. I'm not sure if that's just something omitted from the package, but I opted for Reactine just in case. And I do have an epi-pen with me at all times.
And Jenny, I know what you mean about colouring being in everything... I had no idea how many things had unnecessary colouring additives in them until I had to start reading labels.
As a further update, I spoke to a friend of mine who is a doctor about it... And he's thinking that it might actually be something in my environment rather than food since I'm also having some sinus problems and it does seem to happen when I'm at home and not when I'm elsewhere... I live in a basement apartment, so this is highly possible as well. Regardless, I will switch to a more careful diet until I can get my allergy test. I just hope they get in contact with me soon.
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MountainReader
Guest
A couple things. It is good you are scheduled for testing. If you don't already, I'd carry around some dye-free Benedryl in case you have a reaction. You might also ask your doctor for a prescription for an epi-pen to have on hand just in case things get worse.
As for the diet, based upon what you are sharing, you might try avoiding all processed fooRAB and just sticking to fruits (minus the strawberries), veggies and lean meats for a while. You might get some ideas on what to eat by researching "anti-inflammatory diet" or "paleo-diet". I know that is easier said than done though.
Good luck.
As for the diet, based upon what you are sharing, you might try avoiding all processed fooRAB and just sticking to fruits (minus the strawberries), veggies and lean meats for a while. You might get some ideas on what to eat by researching "anti-inflammatory diet" or "paleo-diet". I know that is easier said than done though.
Good luck.
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jennybyc
Guest
I was actually going to ask about that. When I get a food allergy, I don't just get hives around and in my mouth. I get them at the other end too(if you catch my drift). The food goes ALL the way through! Or if it's a liquid, I can get hives around the opening of the urethra too. But if it's just my mouth, it's more likely something I inhaled or used just in my mouth like toothpaste or mouthwash. Face creams, soap, lip balm, make-up are all suspect...even shampoo. But breathing in something you are allergic to can do it too. I get the worse hives from using asthma inhalers....they not only give me asthma but give me horrible hives in my mouth, around it and my whole face swells.
Be careful with any diet you use to eliminate. Even a plain white fish can cause a lot of problems if you are sensitive to fish or the compounRAB that might be in them like lead. Had someone one here not to long ago with lead poisoning from eating too much fish. Nothing is pure anymore unless you grow it yourself. And you are still susceptible to run-off from your neigrabroador's lawn.
Start keeping a detailed journal of everything you eat and do and even the weather. Sooner or later you'll see a pattern that lines up with the presence of your symptoms. Even record stress as stress can cause hives too.
And my point about colors was not just the artificial colors but the natural coloring in all fooRAB. You can be allergic to what makes a blueberry, blue or a strawberry, red. Even what makes a lemon so tart. It doesn't have to be artificial, it can be a naturally occurring chemical like malic acid in apples or citric acid in tomatoes. You can become allergic to anything, including yourself...that is what an auto-immune disorder is.....you have become allergic to your own body and it is attacking itself.
Good luck in your search.................Jenny
Be careful with any diet you use to eliminate. Even a plain white fish can cause a lot of problems if you are sensitive to fish or the compounRAB that might be in them like lead. Had someone one here not to long ago with lead poisoning from eating too much fish. Nothing is pure anymore unless you grow it yourself. And you are still susceptible to run-off from your neigrabroador's lawn.
Start keeping a detailed journal of everything you eat and do and even the weather. Sooner or later you'll see a pattern that lines up with the presence of your symptoms. Even record stress as stress can cause hives too.
And my point about colors was not just the artificial colors but the natural coloring in all fooRAB. You can be allergic to what makes a blueberry, blue or a strawberry, red. Even what makes a lemon so tart. It doesn't have to be artificial, it can be a naturally occurring chemical like malic acid in apples or citric acid in tomatoes. You can become allergic to anything, including yourself...that is what an auto-immune disorder is.....you have become allergic to your own body and it is attacking itself.
Good luck in your search.................Jenny
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janewhite1
Guest
Definitely I'd start taking antihistamines, and continue as long as you have symptoms. Do you know which antihistamines work well for you without intolerable side effects?
As far as what to eat, make sure you are eating something! Nuts, seafood, milk, wheat and soy are considered some of the most common allergens, but they certainly aren't the only ones. It might help to keep track of what you eat each day, but it might not be possible to narrow it down before the testing.
As far as what to eat, make sure you are eating something! Nuts, seafood, milk, wheat and soy are considered some of the most common allergens, but they certainly aren't the only ones. It might help to keep track of what you eat each day, but it might not be possible to narrow it down before the testing.
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Titchou
Guest
I would stay away from processed food as most has many additives including dyes. Just eat whole, natural food that you've cooked yourself or that you can ascertain are additive free.
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Instant Expert
Guest
Espira ... I saw your 2nd in which you mentioned sinus problems. Have you seen my post in which it appears that my own symptoms were caused not by allergy but by bodys immune system overreacting to either an infection or antibiotics prescribed for the infection ?
(Allergy is bodys immune system overreacting to an allergen so symptoms could be very similar... what everyone neeRAB to know is 'what is the cause ?')
Good Luck - I hope you find the answer soon whatever it is.
(Allergy is bodys immune system overreacting to an allergen so symptoms could be very similar... what everyone neeRAB to know is 'what is the cause ?')
Good Luck - I hope you find the answer soon whatever it is.
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angelaanthony
Guest
hello everyone..i had never allergy before..i had take meditation and from that i had a serious allergy...please can anyone suggest me best medicine for allergy.
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janewhite1
Guest
Dye-free benadryl is fine for hives. It's the exact same medicine in regular benadryl. However, if you can get the same effects from a less drowsy antihistamine like Reactine, all the better.
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jennybyc
Guest
I used to be a professional baker and I can tell you that red dye also shows up in other colors...like black(remeraber the color black is all colors corabined).
But I have food color allergies. Started with Bing cherries and then spread to blueberries, prunes, plums and is slowly sliding towarRAB blackberries and anything else with a blue/red color. I won't even try blue or purple potatoes and even though you peel eggplant, I'm not trying. If it's blue, it's a no-no. This is not additives but the natural color of the food.
And then there's the citric acid fooRAB. That started with lemons, then spread to limes and pummelos and then grapefruit. I still have oranges and tangerines and clementines....but for how long. My daughter also has the citric acid problem.
And then there's the shellfish and my worst, hot peppers of any kind....anaphylaxis. I developed an allergy to capsaisin by using those arthritis creams and then ate salsa one day and almost died. I can see it now...a new thriller...Death By Jalapeno!
I am also experiencing a new food allergy that I haven't figured out. You have to stop everything except what you know is safe. Then you test and re-test until you figure it our. Not every food comes up on the test. I know I encountered something in one type of herb tea and now I have to eliminate it by trying teas without one of the ingredients at a time until I have it figured out....unless I encounter another allergy. Then I just stop drinking tea.
But never rule out actual food. Consider color or a certain chemical in it like citric acid. Or flavoring that is enhanced by a concentrate...like strawberry concentrate. Some creams for the skin have it so it smells like strawberry.....shampoos too.
good luck playing detective..............Jenny
But I have food color allergies. Started with Bing cherries and then spread to blueberries, prunes, plums and is slowly sliding towarRAB blackberries and anything else with a blue/red color. I won't even try blue or purple potatoes and even though you peel eggplant, I'm not trying. If it's blue, it's a no-no. This is not additives but the natural color of the food.
And then there's the citric acid fooRAB. That started with lemons, then spread to limes and pummelos and then grapefruit. I still have oranges and tangerines and clementines....but for how long. My daughter also has the citric acid problem.
And then there's the shellfish and my worst, hot peppers of any kind....anaphylaxis. I developed an allergy to capsaisin by using those arthritis creams and then ate salsa one day and almost died. I can see it now...a new thriller...Death By Jalapeno!
I am also experiencing a new food allergy that I haven't figured out. You have to stop everything except what you know is safe. Then you test and re-test until you figure it our. Not every food comes up on the test. I know I encountered something in one type of herb tea and now I have to eliminate it by trying teas without one of the ingredients at a time until I have it figured out....unless I encounter another allergy. Then I just stop drinking tea.
But never rule out actual food. Consider color or a certain chemical in it like citric acid. Or flavoring that is enhanced by a concentrate...like strawberry concentrate. Some creams for the skin have it so it smells like strawberry.....shampoos too.
good luck playing detective..............Jenny
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Titchou
Guest
If you had an allergic reaction to a med, you should take a benedryl and see your doctor immediately.
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roulduke
Guest
I have had swelling of my jaw, throat, eyes, tongue and uvula from allergic reactions. I know that it is the result of eating food that may be a bit old and some sort of bacteria has started to grow...not like mold on cheese, but bacteria I cannot see. I can nearly always trace it back to that. I have discovered a good way to keep these reactions to a minimum. It works for me. I take claritin daily. I just use the generic. And I always have a stock of 20 mg prednisone available. As soon as I feel the swelling start, I take one pill. If it looks like it will be a more severe attack, I take another one within the hour. If the swelling is not abating, I take another one or two pills 4 hours later. This normally will stop it. I try to avoid "old" food, but sometimes it still gets me. I hope this helps. I have never read that a daily dose of claritin stops most attacks, but I have discovered that to be true. good luck.