Inhaled food allergy reaction question?

[mommakerry]

Hi.  I have an allergy to substances in the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers).  Yesterday, my DH made homemade tomato sauce.  We were very careful not to let any of the tomato products touch anything I was going to eat (including washing the cutting board with soap and hot water, etc.).  However, after several hours of smelling the wonderful aroma coming from the pot of sauce, I started to have allergy symptoms.  My eyes were watery and itchy, I started sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, my throat started to swell (just a little bit) and I started having tachycardia (palpitations), and my blood pressure rose (usually normal, was 149/95).  I was somewhat shaky and got very nervous.  Once I realized I was in the throes of an allergy attack, I took two Benadryl and went to bed.  I felt better this morning.  However, this is the second time I have had such an attack (the first time I also had some wheezing) when my husband was cooking tomato sauce.  Needless to say, I will leave the house next time, but my question has to do with the blood pressure rising.  Everything I read about anaphylaxis says that the blood pressure drops, but mine always goes up.  Is this normal?  What should I do?  The only medication I took both times was Benadryl.  

I do have a couple of other medical problems - low thyroid (on meds) and adrenal fatigue.  (The first time I had an attack like this I was not diagnosed as hypothyroid yet, and was not on meds for it.)  Otherwise, healthy.

Thanks for the info.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
The blood pressure can rise if you panic. Panic attacks and anxiety do cause a rise in blood pressure. Also in anaphylaxis initially the blood pressure rises and when the treatment is not initiated, it falls as the body is not able to cope with the reaction. If your blood pressure otherwise remains normal it is ok. Only get your adrenals checked once.
Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[FurballsMom]

Wow, it sounds like you'll have to make sure that none of the nightshade family is even near you again.  Some people can't even have the slightest hint of the allergen substance within their vicinity or they'll go into anaphylaxis.  This is quite common with peanut allergies.  One person told me that this happens if someone else has been eating something with black pepper and come near her with the slightest traces of black pepper still on their breath or on their skin or on their clothes or anywhere else.  I'm definitely sensitive to black pepper myself, so I can understand this one.

I'm sensitive to nightshades myself.  I don't go into anaphylaxis, but I can sure appreciate that the smells themselves will cause people to go into anaphylaxis.

The smell of coffee will certainly set off my allergies, even if it's not an anaphylacic reaction.  But, drinking the stuff will make it a little bit difficult to breathe, which lets me know that this is getting to be a little bit more than a mild sensitivity to coffee.  Coffee was causing issues with my digestive tract, too, so I don't go anywhere near coffee any more.  Fortunately, I live alone, so I don't have to deal with someone else wanting to make and drink coffee in the same household.