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Random Food Allergies

I  have a problem I call my random food allergy.  Once in a while, as I'm eating, I'll realize that my jawline is starting to tingle/itch.  That will be followed by my face swelling and turning red, hives inside my cheek popping up, nose running, and my throat will close up slightly.  It can be set off by things I've eaten before and I have no problem eating them later.  Recently I have had a couple of things that seem to want to set it off again, but not consistently.  This has been going on for about 9 years -- started suddenly.  I went to an allergist a couple of years ago who ran tests, and informed me that I'm not allergic to anything (never mind that I can't be in the same room with live flowers and perfume stops my nose up).  I've never been bothered by animals (or food, until now).  The allergist I saw (that I'm not sure about) told me that it was being caused by the act of chewing but that I'm not actually allergic to anythng . . . .

When I have an attack, I try to stop eating as soon as I notice it's happening, I'll drink a lot of cold water and take Benadryl, which seems to help.  The iffy allergist gave me an epipen (which I thought odd, since he said I wasn't allergic) but it expired and I never replaced it because it didn't seem necessary.

The things that have set off the reaction have been very varied.  One time it was a pasta dish that I ate every Wednesday for lunch, and one week it set it off.  One time it happened when I was eating plain potato chips and drinking grapefruit juice.  Our cafeteria has a vinagrette dressing that set it off once and now doesn't quite set it off but causes the initial tingling (but stops there) and I've stopped eating it.

It won't happen for a long time, and then it may happen off and on, irregularly for a couple of weeks to a couple of months.  Any ideas?
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Avatar universal
This is IndolentCin's older sister. My Hashimoto's was diagnosed at age 30, 12 years before hers & my blood was included in an HIV/autoimmune national study because no one under the age of 50 (without a family history of Hashimoto's or thyroid problems) had ever been identified. The initial diagnosis followed an apparent allergic reaction presumably to a pollutant in north Alantic fish. Soon after, an acquaintance warned me that his wife had ... the exact same reaction after eating fresh fish in the Mediterranean.
Unlike IndolentCin, I have no noted allergies (except mold in houseplant dirt & on old growth Oak trees) but our father had lots (along with only 1 kidney & breathing problems from childhood).
I have just discoverd that a friend suffers the random allergies like my sister & we're going to compare.
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Avatar universal
Did you try to discuss it with your doctor?
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Avatar universal
Please read my post on medhelp.  I think this is a condition that is rare and unknown
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Avatar universal
please read my post on med help.  I think this is a rare condition that is just now getting noticed.
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Avatar universal
... this is a continuance of my previous post.  

But I have experienced symptoms that mimic allergic reactions.  I consume, or use things that I have always used and suddenly Im allergic to it but after a period of time it goes away.   I have also had a doctor say that I am allergic to something ridiculous.  For me, it was cold.  Temperatures below freezing.  This was when I ate ice cream.  I was able to take a sample of the ice cream I ate and the allergist found no issue with any of the ingredients.  I live in south florida.  so the allergist said it must be the cold.  I was born and raised in the midwest, and only moved to florida three years ago, so I know im not allergic to cold.

everytime I have had an allergic reaction it has been intense.  I have been taken to the ER many times. swelling, loss of breath, breakouts.  Its crazy.  And most recently I had an allergic reaction that as far as I and my doctor can tell was not from something I ate.  Me and my husband went for a walk to a neighborhood diner for breakfast.  This is a date that we have had every week for about 2 years.  After the kids had gone to school of course.  The only thing i had before that was water.  That walk for us is a 45 min walk.  I started feeling weird at about 30 minutes in, but didnt say anything.  When we got to the diner I could barely breathe and my husband told me that my face was swelled with red splotches.  I woke up 4 hours later in the ER.  Whatever hit me, had to be airborn.  But there is still no answer to what it was and that was 4 months ago.  

I personally think this is very serious but no doctor will admit defeat.  this is a new condition that they cant diagnose.  I can only hope that it is figured out soon because I cant lose more time off work.  The affordable care act is great..... if you still have a job
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem.  I have never been diagnosed with Hashimotos or any other permanent conditions.  Over my years I have been told that I have anxiety or high stress.  But normally I have no allergic reactions.  And have been told that I have no allergies
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Avatar universal
I have been having the same problem.  Tonight I was eating cashews, and my throat started to feel weird and it became difficult to swallow.  The last time I was at a restaurant eating eggs benedict.  The first time, two and a half months ago I awoke at 5AM having a severe allergic reaction.  I also have Hashimotos thyroiditis, and also alopecia.
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Avatar universal
IndolentCin,
I have the same problem.  It just happened this morning.  I was eating things I've been eating for years and had an allergic reaction.  If it's anything like the other times, I will be eating the same things again later tonight no problem.  However, it's not a mild reaction, it's intense.  I've stayed home from work before only to be totally fine later that day.  I have found that oddly enough, taking calcium and drinking 16 oz of water with 1000 mg of potassium chloride powder mixed in a few times a day seems to help.  Yeah, weird, I know.  Also, none of my docs can make any sense of it.  I would be very interested if you make any progress or happen upon any new ideas that help.
Take care,
Tim
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1365752 tn?1277947397
Hi.  I've heard of people experiencing extreme inconvenience because of something they are and that they immediately assume that was a food allergy.  I think it's really important that you check it with your doctor because although many people have adverse reactions to certain foods, most are caused by food intolerance and not a food allergy. Food intolerance can cause some of the same signs and symptoms as a food allergy, so people often confuse the two. The best is really to see your doctor.  I've had experience mistaking food intolerance with food allergy before, and my friend recommended "Histame" capsules and it really helped me a lot.  It relieved me of the headaches, and other symptoms that caused me too much discomfort.  You can check with your doctor about it.  This is just a suggestion.  Your doctor's still the best to ask.
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Avatar universal
Thanks everyone.  Some interesting ideas that I hadn't thought of (which is why I posted!).

@aldunn -- no, I don't think it's ever food from the same place.  It certainly isn't the same foods.  The tingling is simply along my jawline and is the precursor to itching -- I'm not even sure that "tingling" is the right word.  

@enzymelover -- I'll look into that. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
   Maybe you are reacting to the phenols in the food? You could try something like Houston Nutraceuticals No-Fenol enzymes, or another good enzyme blend. I've read that autoimmune disorders and enzyme deficiencies often go hand in hand. Just a thought.
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1343146 tn?1279330643
Sorry I dont know why it says "To:  Good to hear from you"  LOL
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1343146 tn?1279330643
Do you buy your food from the same place each time?

Im a little worried about the tingling in your face.  You might want to see a neurologist to see if this is anything neurological.  I have trigeminal neuralgia which is a nerve disorder that occurs in the face and it causes tingling, numbness and pain.  Im not sure if it causes all of the symptoms you are explaining, if it does, I have never experienced them.  

Glad you havent had a problem in about two months.  Hopefully you will not have anymore problems.
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Avatar universal
Thank you both.  My rheumatologist (who is very good) has no answers. My endocrinologist (also very good) doesn't .  I do have Hashimoto's, which is autoimmune, but I had it for several years (was diagnosed at 30 even though at that time they didn't think people that young would have it) before this started.

Unfortunately, I can't take the offending food(s) in to an allergist, because I almost never react to the same thing twice, and I don't know when I'll react to what.  Grapefruit juice has never been a problem again, and I eat any number of other vinagrette dressings or vinegar on fries, etc.   As of right now, I haven't had a problem in probably two months.  And it's obviously not a delayed reaction -- I start eating, my face starts to tingle and itch, if I stop then and drink ice water it stops, if I keep eating it gets worse.

Yeah, I thought the whole chewing thing was a crock -- and this allergist is supposedly one of the best in DC.  I really had the feeling that he didn't know and was making something up.  Several people independently recommended him, but the office was poorly run, they actually forgot about me in an exam room for about a half hour, and when I talked to him after the tests he kept interrupting to take calls, etc.  

I also find it ironic that none of the usual food allergies ever sets it off -- as far as I remember I've never had nuts or eggs or chocolate cause it.  I do have a slight reaction to a small number of certain things -- strawberries, cantalope, pineapple, bananas, oranges, tomatos, and walnuts -- but its a different reaction, they just cause my tongue to get sore, like I've burned it.  And its just those things -- grapefruit doesn't do it, for instance -- and it isn't bad enough to make me not eat them.
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1343146 tn?1279330643
It is possible to develop allergies to certain things after repeated exposure.  Ive never heard of chewing causing rashes or hives.  You should see a different allergist and take in the specific foods that you are having reactions to and let him/her do a scratch test on you with those foods.  Most allergists have a list of common allergies that they test for.  They do not have a full list of every food out there.  When I worked for an allergist, if a person thought they were allergic to something that was not on the list, we had them bring the food in and would do a scratch test from there.  I would get a second opinion and try to be tested for the foods that you are having a reaction to.  I hope this helps you out.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
  Well, it sounds like food allergy to me, but the inconsistency is curious. There are delayed hypersensitivity responses, that can take 2 or 3 days to show a reaction, but you said months, so...
Perhaps a visit to a rheumatologist would be helpful, to test for an autoimmune condition.

You are having a histamine reaction to these foods, so I understand your reaction to the vinagrette and grapefruit juice. You could contact a nutritionist and ask for an IgG Food Antibodies test. The Metametrix Lab website has a lot of info on tests and allergic reactions. This is a different type of testing than your typical allergist does. It may be worth looking into.
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