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Changing allergies

Hi,

I am asthmatic, allergic to pollen, animal hair etc.

About 8yrs ago I suffered anaphylaxis reaction to what I thought was pecan nuts. Symptoms being difficulty breathing, swelling closing airways etc. I was tested and from what I remember they said I was more allergic to dog hair than I was to pecan nuts which was weird.

Anyway, I have had no further problems since apart from mild allergy to bananas (itchy throat) which I thought was ok to just live with.

2 months ago I ate a sea food dish containing lobster and muscles - both of which i have eaten many times before with no issue. I started to get swollen lips and itchy throat, not extremely bad but enough to make me panic. I took some claritin tablets which were to hand and after a while I was ok despite a bit of a panic.

2 weeks ago I ate a piece of tuna which again I had eaten many times beofre and had a similar reaction, although milder.

Question is

1) Could these milder reactions become major anaphylaxis reactions if I continue eating the foods?

2) Is it common for people to suddenly become allergic to things or for the allergy to change severeness?

3) I have several Epipens. However, they are out of date(June 2008). Epipens are not available n the UAE and I am not going back to the UK for a while. I am told they should be fine but is there any alternative to epipens?

4) Doctor here in Dubai has done blood test yesterday so awaiting results. In mean time has prescribed me Telfast 180mg to take daily and 10mg Valium in case of a reaction to prevent panic which can supposedly make reaction worse. What are you thoughts to this?To what extent does the Telfast prevent allergies/anaphylaxis?

5) Doctor was nervous to undertake *****/skin test as says he doesn't have facitilty to make sure it is safe! This is a major worry being stuck here with supposedly excellent health care?!

Thanks

Mark
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the responses guys and good luck yourselves!
Helpful - 0
681148 tn?1437661591
In addition to what was already mentioned, food sensitivities, like the bananas, can progressively become worse if you ignore your symptoms.  I've had that happen to me.  I'm allergic to crustaceans, too.  I had the milder anaphylactic symptoms myself.  So, now I steer clear of all shellfish, because I know it could get worse and become much more dangerous the next time.  So, eating shellfish just isn't worth it.  We're actually lucky in one regard, a friend of mine is so allergic to crustaceans that she will have a life-threatening reaction to crustaceans if she so much as touches the things with her bare hands.  Her husband can eat all the crab he wants to.  I noticed the empty crableg on the kitchen floor in their apartment, so she told me that she would have to bring it to her husband's attention and have him pick it up to throw away.  Then, she told me what will happen to her.

I have a similar anaphylactic reaction to certain kinds of nuts, so now I don't eat nuts either.  I don't know if there is a similar compound in them, but I'm not taking any chances.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,

Thanks for explaining the situation very nicely.

First of all,anaphylaxis can occur if you keep on getting the exposure of the allergens to which you are allergic.It all depends on the amount of allergen to which you are exposed and also to the resistance and reaction of your body to the allergen.Secondly,epipens contain epinephrine or adrenaline.They are used to treat anaphylactic shock. Using an EpiPen that has expired is mostly discouraged but is better than no medication in emergencies.There is no alternative to epipen in case of anaphylaxis reaction but if a mild allergic reaction is there then oral or intravenous antihistaminic and steroid can be used.

Thirdly,from your symptoms it looks like you are allergic to crustaceans. Crustaceans are aquatic animals that have jointed legs, a hard shell and no backbone, such as crab, crayfish, lobster, prawns and shrimp. Studies show that when a person has a specific seafood allergy, he/she may also be allergic to other species within the same group.So if you are allergic to lobsters,you may show allergic reaction to all crustaceans like crabs,crayfish,prawns and shrimps.

Moreover Crustaceans (prawns, lobsters, shrimps and crabs) contain various peptides (small protein molecules) that can cause allergic reactions. Various other chemical agents, such as preservatives, are often added to fresh fish or shrimp / prawn cocktails, and can be the cause of allergic symptoms in individuals who are not allergic to fish or crayfish.So it is better to undergo allergy testing to find out to which allergens you are allergic.

Lastly,Telfast is a non sedating antihistaminic, fexofenadine.It is used to treat hives ,itching and other symptoms of allergies and hay fever.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.







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Avatar universal
ps I am 27 and otherwise fit and healthy
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