Allergic reaction or something more sinister

I am really hoping that someone can help me.About 2.5 months ago my tongue swelled.I went to my gp and he gave me steroid tablets.

The next day the swelling got worse and I went to A&E.My BP was low.I was given high doses of hydrocortisone and piriton by IV.The piriton immediately brought my tongue down but was back up in 2 minutes.The docs repeated this twice more and sent me home with a prescription for prednisone and told me to take 6 piriton every morning for a week.The tongue came back down to almost normal after a week.

Two months later, tongue swelled again.This was on my way to work,had eaten nothing.Went back to hosp and was given same drugs. BP was high.Kept in overnight and got appointment to see Immunologist.Was given prescription for Telfast (had no effect).This was Tuesday.

On Sat tongue got worse.Extreme nausea,vomiting and diarrhea. Went back to A&E.Given same drugs and drip for nausea.BP was through the roof (187/123-I'm only 21).When docs came to see me they said that my C3 was high and some other complement was borderline high.Sent home after two days with piriton and neoclarityn.

Saw immunologist and he took blood and explained that he was looking for things like lupus,lymphoma,hereditary angioedema and allergies.He put me on piriton,neoclarityn and zantac (stomach ulcer meds and strong anti-inflam).Anti-h tabs no longer work.Zantac gives relief for about an hour.

Could anyone possibly give an opinion on this?I cant speak properly cos my tongue is so swollen therefore cant work.Sorry for the length and thanks for reading.Im 21yo Female

[boninclyde]

When all this started 2.5 months ago had you done or eaten anything different? Any other symptoms? Any new medications (birth control), rubs, shots? Gasiness or heartburn?

[deeflc]

Hi and thank you for replying. Not on any other medication. I had a Mantoux test (neg) a few weeks before the reaction happened but I cannot think of anything else. Sometimes get heartburn, have had that 3 or 4 years but not severe and the Zantac seems to have decreased its occurence.

My tongue still has not gone down. Zantac seems to have stopped working. I have lost over a stone in weight since this started 2.5 wks ago. I also now have pains in my legs and sometimes my lower back. And while I don't exactly feel exhausted I sleep about 14 hours a night and about another 1-2 during the day.

Any ideas?

Thanks so much.

[jenz_love]

It began yrs ago, my tongue became swollen & painfully sore, but not to the extent like yours. It lasted from a few days to a wk. I couldn't properly pronouced words well or twisted it freelly, but could speak. It was especially worst in the AM.  First, I thought it was r/t spicy/acidic foods but it didn't flare-up consistently, as it flared up even if not acidic/spicy foods were consumed, but those food made it worst. In 2004, one day eating really spicy papaya salad, my symptoms were at its worst the next day. This time it lasted for 3 months. I was referred to ENT (ear,nose throat specialist) who couldn't figure out the reason after meds, CT scan, various tx were prescribed. Next step would be a biopsy of the tongue. Got scared and decided to put up it with.  My swollen, sore tongue never went away, but 2 yrs later, i developed severe arthritis-like symptoms. Blood test revealed that I had high level of ANA , suggesting Lupus. Steroids did relieve the symptoms. After running more test by rhematologist, it was determined to be drug-induced lupus. However, the only med I was taking was birth control pills. When I stopped, it all went away. Of course, got pregnant from discontinued BC. Now, I have an IUD and my swollen, sore tongue is back monthly, starting one month after IUD insertion.  Of course, all MDs adamantly did not feel that the BC/IUD was/is the cause. I think otherwise, but don't want to discontinue the IUD b/c I don't want to get pregnant again. I'm now 31 y/o-female, of course.