I think I've developed an allergy to peanuts at age 44!

[Liz]

Is that weird to become allergic to something at my age?

Recently we were in California on vacation and we went to a restaurant that had peanuts to snack on while we waited for our food. It was the kind we had to shell ourselves. The next day my eyelids were puffy and swollen but I thought it was just something in the air.

Then after getting home I was camping and someone brought a bag of peanuts in the shell and I had a few. The next day my eyelids were puffy and swollen again, but not as bad as they were in Calif., I think because I hadn't eaten as many peanuts this time.

I can eat peanut butter with no problem. I'm thinking I should probably go buy a Snickers and a large bag of peanut M&M's - just as a scientific experiment to make sure! I wonder if it has something to do with eating them right out of the shell??? I don't know but I'll avoid them from now on!

 

[Christine]

Well, you can develop an allergy at any time and that's not a weird thing--happens a lot. It just concerns me that it is peanut. As you know, this is a very dangerous allergy. The fact that you reaction is delayed tells me that the allergy is not that severe--YET. I do think that peanuts in the shell have the highest concentration of allergen. It is diluted in peanut butter, candy, etc. If you are allergic to peanuts, then each time you eat it your are sensitizing yourself to the point that one day, if you don't stop, you will have a severe reaction.

I would make an appointment with an allergist and go have a simple test. This is the safest thing to do.