tingling, lips swelling, bowel distress

Several people mention problems with tingling/lips swelling.  For my husband we have figured out that it happens to him when he eats the same food too often, too close together.  So he now rotates several foods, meaning he eats it one day but skips the next two days and can have it again on the 4th day.  It's called a 4 day rotation diet. It also works for me.  I have a problem with oats and with bananas, if I eat them too close, I have intestinal distress, but if I leave 2 days in between, I'm fine!


This discussion is related to persistant tingling.

[Dr Sharma]

Welcome to medhelp neurology forum. Thanks for posting this query. food allergies exist more commonly than thought. It is great that you people could figure it out that the tingling around your  husband’s lips and swelling is related with him eating certain foods, too frequently. Also you have worked out that staggering these food products helps him have them. I would say that you should observe he doesnot have more serious symptoms like hives, difficulty in breathing, stridor, facial swelling in response to any other foods. These are serious signs and symptoms and may warrant emergency treatment. In that case, he should also carry a medicalert and a prescribed epinephrine and syringe along with him. Is he symptom free with this abstainance therapy? If the tingling lips and swelling persist look into for other potential causes. Electrolyte disturbances like hypokalemia, hyponatremia etc need to be addressed. Hypoglycemia causes peri oral tingling and numbness along with nausea, dizziness and fainting and blackouts. It may present in undiagnosed diabetics on prolonged fasting, insulin overdose etc. Multiple sclerosis also causes tingling around lips.
Food allergies can manifest differently in different individuals .You have bowel symptoms on consuming certain foods like banana and oats. You can carry on the way you are doing by eating these on and off. Also you can withhold them for some time, and then subject yourself to a food challenge. If then you have no symptoms you can include these in your routine. The warning signs like anaphylaxis, respiratory distress however need to be carefully watched for.
I hope this makes sense. Take care.