DD at emergency room+food preservative allergies

[Boots]

DD's husband had to take her to the emergency room again last night with an allergic reaction. She had started breaking out in hives and turning red, but had not started swelling this time or choking. She took benadryl and clartin as soon as she started but didn't use her epi pen. Wanted to save it and just went to the emergency room. She had been sick with a horrible stomach bug for three days and hadn't eaten anything solid until last night. She said she had some plain tostido type chips, some hamburger with nothing on it, and tomato. About this time last year she went to an allergist and had the allergy tests. Nothing at all showed up. She feels like it is a food because she has the reactions within 3 to 4 hours after eating, but had not had a reaction in a year or so. I wondered if it could maybe be an additive or preserative in the flour that causes this. That is actually the only thing in common with the reactions. She keeps track of what she eats when she has these and always has had either pizza, bread, a bun, the chips from last night. Anyone have a clue as to what to do?

 

[cinlee3]

Not sure what to do, but that sure is scarey. My DD has food allergies but so far just hives. SIL has been to emergency room with tomatoes.

 

[hercamore]

Oh no,

it's so scary to have a reaction like that!

It sure sounds food related, doesn't it?

You said she has been to an allergist and nothing has shown up on the tests for food allergies?

Hope she recovers fast. Tht's nasty to have had a stomach virus, too.


Herc.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

my nephew has really bad allergies and was on shots for some reason the doctor said he was fine and took him off the shots and i want you to know he stayed sick all the time with migraines and vomiting at least twice a week and they put him back on the allergy shots and he has not had a migraine or vomited since then. i did not know allergies could do someone that way it really blew my mind. hope they find out what allergies she has and maybe they could put her on allergy shots.
best wishes,misty

 

[Serena]

I have no clue Boots, I'm sorry.

My dd has hives right now, worse than ever and I have no idea what caused them. It's not as bad as I've had them, but this is her first time with more than a touch of it, and she's feeling miserable.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

3 or 4 hours seems like a bit of a long time to have an allergic reaction if it is that strong.

 

[Boots]

It takes three or four hours to get full blown. The soles of her feet started itching about 20 minutes after she eats. Then she gets a headache and the top of her head starts itching. A little bit later she says the hives start. They also eat late so I don't really know how long it was after she eats. I have wondered if it is really food, like everyone seems to think, or something that is airborn. She was told to write down everything from paper towels to sprays to cleaners to detergents to soap to toothpaste when she has these. I just don't know.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

OH yea if it starts after 20 minutes that seems more reasonable

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sorry to hear that, Ellen. My best wishes for her that they can figure it out. Allergic reactions can be frightening.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know about the Tostitos, because they are made from corn. The other reactions to pizza etc could be a reaction to wheat products. Do you have a "Whole Foods" market in your area? Try switching to different grain or rice based products and see if makes a difference. Sounds like a lot of this is going to be trial and error. I have an adult friend that has what seems to be a sporadic allergy reation similar to your daughter's. The doctor's don't have any idea what brings on her allergy, she's tracked her food intake - no specific food seems to trigger it. Sometimes she'll go a few months without any reaction, then have several bad bouts with it. Best of luck to you.

 

[Snow White]

Wow, that's scary! Allergic reactions can be so hard to pinpoint! I hope she's doing better now!

 

[Shellie722]

When I had allergy tests done this summer my doctor said you may not react the same (or even at all) everytime you are exposed to the trigger. They had me do an elimination test w/ several different foods and ingredients. First for 2 weeks, I couldn't eat any of the suspected things, then I had to add them back one at a time and only one per week to see what triggered reactions and what didn't.
Hope your DD feels better fast!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

She needs to keep a food diary of EVERTHING she eats. It sounds like it could be preservative type thing, but you never know.

 

[clutter]

Try getting into the WashingtonPost.com archives. (It may cost you, but it may be worth it) Sometime during the last year, the Health section had an in-depth study about food allergies. There are some alternative tests (like a g test instead of an h one, or something like that). Most mainstream doctors are not doing them, and are against them, but tell that to those that they've helped. Maybe your dd can find a doc that does these. As I recollect, they are for food allergies.

 

[Saffron]

I have no clue boots. I just wanted to send a {{{{Hug}}}} t o you guys. I know that it's hard to watch children go through things like this.

 

[Rajah]

How frightening!

I hope y'all can track down the source of her reactions soon.

(As for 4 hours being a long time -- allergic reactions can be very delayed, including up to 24 hours)

 

[Kitty 34]

You poor dear. How nerve racking for you and your DD!! {{{{{HUGS}}}} and PD!

 

[NHAnn]

yikes...lots of this around lately!!
Hope she feels better soon!!