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February 10, 2012

Patient Discussions: Food Allergy - Describe Your Experience

Question:Please describe your experience with food allergy.

Comment from: Iowaguy, 45-54 Male (Patient) Published: April 13

I developed an allergy to fish at the age of 32. Eating fish gives me hives, respiratory tightness, and difficulty breathing. I had eaten fish up to that age with absolutely no problems. To this day, I do not have any trouble with shellfish. After about two years of no fish whatsoever, I tested myself with salmon. Amazingly, I do not experience the allergic reaction with salmon. All other fish -- tuna, halibut, tilapia -- still give me an allergic reaction.

Related Reading: allergy | hives

Comment from: kentuckygal19, 35-44 Female (Patient) Published: March 26

I am a 40 year old female. I have had seasonal allergies since I was 13 years old. I Did have allergy shots as a teenager and stopped shots at 19 years old. I had very few problems until I had my 1st child. I had a very bad asthma attack and had to start back on over the counter allergy medicines. In the next 10 years have had at least 10 sinus infections a year, so they started me back on allergy shots last year. January of this year I am still having lots of congestion, stomach problems, and ear problems they tested me for food allergies and I found out I am allergic to wheat, soy, cows milk, eggs, white potatoes, tomatoes, corn, mixed nuts, and peanuts. I have eliminated all these from my diet and wow what a difference in quality of life. I have spent hours relearning how to cook but I feel like a brand new person. I haven't wheezed once since I have begun avoiding these things. I do miss the foods a lot, but with food challenges have found the ones I absolutely can't have no matter what and ones I can enjoy once every little while with just a few liveable consequences.

Related Reading: asthma | allergy shots | soy

Comment from: June, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: December 29

I am a 49-year-old female who has had bouts of breaking out with hives for the past two years after eating shrimp. It has been infrequent and not really a life-adjusting problem. Recently, we ate at a Chinese restaurant and I had fried shrimp. An hour later, I went hiking and broke out with severe hives. I had swollen eyes, and my tongue swelled to the point of not being able to talk. I raced uphill one mile to get to the car and made it to a drugstore with my husband. The pharmacist gave me Benadryl and called the paramedics because I passed out. After waking, I was taken to the emergency room and given more meds to reduce the swelling. This was life-threatening. Now I carry an Epi-Pen with me at all times. The doctor said it could be fatal the next time.

Published: July 09

I have suffered from asthma since I was 13, as I have gotten older, I find that any dairy products and anything with oil like butter and mayo, frosting will set off my asthma as soon as it hits my mouth. I will feel a tingling and then start choking. I try extra hard to stay away from that stuff that never seemed to bother me before. I could drink lots of milk but now I only drink soy because milk makes me sick to my stomach and causes lots of stomach symptoms. I can no longer tolerate fried food either. This started about 5 years ago. I'm 41 now, can my body start rejecting other foods that I need? Is there something in all those foods that is a triggering agent?

Comment from: Prissy, 25-34 Female (Patient) Published: April 13

An hour ago I had a poorboy. I eat it frequently and never have had a problem, though, this time I did notice the meat was pink. My usual outbursts develope when vegetables are cooked in a sauce, or as any side dish form. I trully believe that the food is cooked to quickly or not well at all and my body takes quick notice (on my face, hands,or scalp) Never together or all at once. Benadryl absolutely works!

Comment from: mazs, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: March 16

My experience with food allergies is after digesting, or in some cases smelling gluten, soy, and peanuts, I get big, blistering, itchy hives on my chest, back, stomach, knees, and sometimes scalp that scab and remain for up to a week. It's not pleasant. Also, my throat feels as if it wants to close up, and I have a difficult time trying to catch my breath.

Comment from: Lewis rd, 7-12 Female (Caregiver) Published: February 11

My daughter has been tested for 60 different types of food, but we still don't know what is causing the bump on the inside of her lip. We have to give her Benadryl for two days to keep the swelling down. She is very upset because she is being so cautious about what she is eating. She eats all-natural foods with no dyes or artificial colors or flavors. We think that raw red peppers are one of the bad ones.


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Food Allergy - Symptoms Question: What are the symptoms of your food allergy?

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Suggested Reading on Food Allergy by Our Doctors

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Symptom Checker: Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain


Food Allergy

Introduction to nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of an underlying disease and not a specific illness. Nausea is the sensation that the stomach wants to empty itself, while vomiting (emesis) or throwing up, is the act of forcible emptying of the stomach.

Vomiting is a violent act in which the stomach has to overcome the pressures that are normally in place to keep food and secretions within the stomach. The stomach almost turns itself inside out - forcing itself into the lower portion of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) during a vomiting episode.

What causes nausea or vomiting?

There are numerous causes of nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may be due to the following:

  • acute gastritis
  • central causes (signals from the brain)
  • association with other illnesses remote from the stomach
  • medications and medical treatments
  • ...

Read the Nausea and Vomiting article »




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