food allergy

I had a reaction to a seafood dinner last summer - shortness of breath, extreme dizziness and facial numbness.  My GP sent me to an allergest- they both said it sounded like a seafood allergy and said DO NOT eat seafood.  After blood tests and skin tests - all the results were negative.  The allergiest said it could be an allergy to a food additive or preservative? I continued to avoid seafood anyway and didn't have any problems for several months.  However, last week I ate a hamburger with mushrooms and cheese and had a similar reaction.  No facial numbness but extreme dizziness and breathing difficulty.  I have an epipen but have never used it.  Does anyone know of a common allergy to food additives or preservatives.  I have to eat out a good bit for my business and am getting very nervous about eating in restaurants.  How can I narrow down what is causing these problems?  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

As you have tested negative for the sea foods on allergy testing,so it might be that you are allergic to any of the ingredients or preservatives in which it was cooked.Same ingredient or preservative may have been used in the mushrooms or hamburger.

However anything can be said with confirmation only after allergy testing. Skin tests are used for this purpose. This test involves pricking, scratching or injecting food extracts into the patient’s skin. The skin will react with redness and swelling for those extracts capable of eliciting an allergic reaction when consumed.Other tests used are blood tests like RAST and food challenge tests.I feel that you should consult an allergist and get allergy testing done to the various preservatives and mushrooms.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[Jaco13]

mrsmac9595,

It certainly can be a food additive.  Has this only occurred in restaurants?

I'm just trying to think outside the box here, but could it be possible that you're experiencing anxiety attacks?  I've had a few and they're scarier than hell, often, with the same symptoms as you describe.  If you hyperventilate, I could understand your face getting tingly.

Just a thought....

Best of luck!