Do you have experience with food allergies? Please help me!

[HappyMommy2]

I know this is pretty strange! As far as I know, I don't have any food allergies. However, yesterday I bought a new salad dressing and had a little bit on my usual salad. As I ate the salad I noticed my lips and mouth were getting numb. It felt like I had used Chloraseptic throat-numbing spray. I didn't think much of it; it went away in 15 minutes or so, and I forgot about it...till just now, when I ate the same type of salad with the same new dressing, and it happened again, only worse! This time I stopped eating halfway through. It's been 15 minutes and my mouth still feels almost like I had novocaine shots at the dentist.

Does this sound like a food sensitivity to you? It just seems too strange. I definitely won't eat that type of dressing again, but I'm really wondering what could cause my mouth to become completely numb (actually the feeling is coming back now and now it just feels like tingling/burning--yuck!).

Thanks!

 

[Beth76]

I don't know exactly, but when I eat certain salad dressings, ketchup or BBQ sauce, my face gets really hot, like I'm blushing. I think it might be an allergy (or sensitivity) to vinegar maybe, or something else. It doesn't happen all the time though. It's very weird. It's probably just a mild allergy and if that was the only side effect, it's probably no big deal. Just don't eat that dressing again.

 

[luv2nascar]

sounds like you have a sensitivity to something
I'd make note of the ingredients for later use
in case something else makes you numb you can compare

 

[Mermaid02]

I would make a note of the ingredients and go see an allergy specialist. Food allergies (any allergy really) can pop up at any time of our lives and tend to get worse with each exposure to the offending ingredient. It's nothing to fool around with.

 

[Christine]

The most common symptom for a food allergy (mild) would be itching and burning of the mouth. When my son eats something he is allergic to, he will tell me that the roof of his mouth itches and his throat feels itchy. Even the inside of the ears. I'm not trying to rule out allergy because your symptom could definitely be a mild reaction. I would write down all the ingredients of this dressing and try to see how it differs from other dressings that you are okay with. It could just be a sensitivity to a food additive.
Christine

 

[zurgswife]

Like one of the above posters stated reactions tend to get worse with every exposure .....make a note of the ingredants....

My DH ate shellfish for 28 yrs and then one day went into antiphatic shock when he had shrimp...

so, please be careful...

 

[kixx]

Sounds like you are allergic to something in the dressing, or the lettice its self might have a chemical spray on it, that could be the cause of your reaction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am also a testiment to suddenly being allergic. It was pain meds when I was 38. Serious hives everywhere.

I agree with the others to note the ingredients and then get to an allergist if you are able.

 

[momof2inPA]

You might want to get some benadryl to take the next time something like this happens, too.

 

[jipsy]

Yes. My father died from this. I have posted about it many times; it is not something to fool around with. Take the bottle of dressing with you when you go to the allergy specialist. Also make sure to have a list of what foods were in each salad, as it could be one of those and not the dressing. The allergist told my father that you can eat a food all your life and all of a sudden one day be allergic to it. It was a hard battle for him.

 

[ahutton]

I also had food allergies that flared up in a big way later in life, and yes, I used to get a funny numb feeling. Then one day I didn't feel well, my entire mouth blistered up. I drank liquid Benadryl (they make it for kids, adjust the dose to the correct mg for your size) and it stopped the reaction. I now have to carry an Epipen just in case. Next time it may not be my mouth, and I'm not taking any chances!

 

[HappyMommy2]

It was so nice to log on this morning and find all these helpful responses; thanks everyone!

As you've all suggested, I'm going to write down the ingredients from that dressing and also make a note of the other things in the salad (just pre-bagged lettuce and cheddar cheese) so that if this happens again I can make a comparison. I hope this was just a fluke but I will take it seriously. From what you've said (and from knowing one of DH's relatives who nearly died from eating shrimp at age 40 after having eaten it all his life with no problems), I know food allergies are nothing to play around with!

 

[mom2boys]

You might want to get some benadryl to take the next time something like this happens.

It would be even better to get an EpiPen. When my boys eat food they are allergic to, their throats swell to the point that they cannot breathe. The benadryl is definately a help but doesn't work instantaneously like the EpiPen.

 

[momof2inPA]

Originally posted by mom2boys
It would be even better to get an EpiPen. When my boys eat food they are allergic to, their throats swell to the point that they cannot breathe. The benadryl is definately a help but doesn't work instantaneously like the EpiPen.

My kids have epi-pens, too. I meant until the OP is able to visit the doctor, the benadryl might be helpful if her mouth starts to itch again, but she also should be prepared to ask for someone to call 9-1-1 if she feels her breathing is compromised or her throat is swelling. Benadryl makes Fastmelts, now, which are supposed to work nearly as quickly as the liquid. We still carry the liquid, though.

mom2boys, have you ever had to use the epi-pen? We did once, and it worked wonders. My son was better in seconds.

 

[Kat walker]

I know this was posted in 04, but the same thing has been happening when I eat lettuce-I looked it up bc I thought maybe lettuce had something in it that caused this. It isn't unpleasant to me, just a lil less than chloraseptic and only lasts a few seconds- it is bizarre but again not unpleasant. I was just put on a 1200 Cal a day diet and I am eating ALOT of lettuce for first time in my life! Things that make you go hmmm...lol

 

[Hikergirl]

I know this was posted in 04, but the same thing has been happening when I eat lettuce-I looked it up bc I thought maybe lettuce had something in it that caused this. It isn't unpleasant to me, just a lil less than chloraseptic and only lasts a few seconds- it is bizarre but again not unpleasant. I was just put on a 1200 Cal a day diet and I am eating ALOT of lettuce for first time in my life! Things that make you go hmmm...lol

Look up oral allergy syndrome, that is probably what is going on with you.

 

[mickeyboat]

DD16 was just diagnosed with oral allergy syndrome. She has seasonal allergies, and has recently been reacting with mouth tingling when she eats some nuts. She saw an allergist last month and he prescribed an epi pen and told her to avoid tree nuts. There are other fruits and vegetables (and soy and latex) which can be associated with this syndrome. I would definitely see an allergist if I were you, OP.

 

[Wishing on a star]

While it could really be oral allergy syndrome, which can be very serious... I am not jumping right away to pin this as an 'allergy'... Especially since you have never experienced anything like this before.

OP, have you possibly ever had signs of any other respiratory or skin type allergies/sensitivities?

But, it seems obvious that there is SOMETHING in that dressing.
Try making a similar salad, and eating some of it with none of that dressing.
It is true that sometimes lettuce and veggies can be 'treated'.

I would love to know exactly what dressing it is!

I have absolutely no faith in the ingredients that are allowed into our foods. (considered 'safe')
I also do not assume that products are never 'tainted' with other substances.

(look at the pet food recall right now!)

Does anyone here know of a web-site to check, where people can post/report possible issues with foods?