What I thought was an allergy may not be

The last three years I experienced severly swollen eyelids.  The skins feels like it is on fire (burning sensation), then the itching starts a few days later and then the peeling starts.  The cycle seems to repeat itself.  I also started to have exercise induced asthma.  I noticed 3 years ago a sensativity to shellfish.  Almost immediately after consumption, I started to have a swelling of my lips and eyelids...pretty much simultaneously.  After being perscribed many different types of allergy medications, with little relief, I came to the realization that I may just suffer for life.  After a quite few persciptions of prednisone for sever eye swelling, I developed  high bloodpressure.  He thought this would subside but I ended up in the ER with an elevated reading of 190/102.  I was given a beta blocker and a few other meds to lower my bp. This was in September of 2009. I was given a perscription of Propranolol and a diuretic.  Within five days the swelling of my eyes diminished and I have not had an exercised induced asthma.  At that time I didn't feel there was a correlation.  This spring I was anticipating the worst as I headed into the spring season.  I experienced very little a sneeze here and there....but no swelling of the eyelids.  I went on a trip and accidentally left my Propranolol at a vacation rental.  For the next 4 days I forgot to get my perscription filled....and bam...the swollen eyelids came on like a frieght train...the burning...was escrutiating.  I went online to look up beta blockers and rash swelling and hives.  Because not only did I have the eye lids swelling but I had hives on my cheeks.  After reading quite a few sites...could it be possbile that I have an autoimmune disorder and not allergies? Could it be that the beta blockers not only help me maintain a healthy bp but also help suppress my immune system?

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, recurrent attacks of allergy suggests Hereditary angioedema (HAE), which is a rare genetic disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency or dysfunction of the C1 inhibitor. This may be associated with laryngeal swelling leading to respiratory obstruction. Hence, it is important to rule out this condition.

There are many tests (various types of Immunoassays and Total IgE levels) are available which indicates the severity of allergy but we cannot predict your betterment.
At this time you need to restrict the foods or environmental factors to which you are allergic to. You will eventually come to know about your improvements.

Take your medications for hypertension on time. Your betterment of allergic symptoms when on propranalol is quite unusual as it is not related and effect is perplexing us. There should be study of this drug in allergy. Continue with propranalol as long the symptoms are in control. It is unlikely to be a connective tissue disorder.

I suggest you to consult immunologist or allergy specialist for further clarification. Take care and regards.