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Original poster

Sudden very angry rash - food allergy?

40 replies

newposter8 · 19/01/2022 18:18

I went out for lunch today and about half an hour after leaving the restaurant, I started itching like mad, first on my neck and then all over my chest, stomach, back, arms and crotch area Blush I also got a sudden, large swelling on the inside of my bottom lip and felt like I had something stuck in the back of my throat (but no trouble breathing). The itching was really quite unbearable and my skin was bright red with raised white areas in a few places.

I got home and immediately took an allergy tablet. DH called 111 who said they would send an ambulance, which seemed like a bit of an overreaction but I guess they have to be safe not sorry? The ambulance team arrived, they took my blood pressure, pulse and listened to my chest and everything was fine. They said to drink lots of fluids and continue with the Piriton for at least 24 hours.

The itching has now stopped, the swelling in my mouth has gone right down and my throat feels almost back to normal, but my tummy, chest and back are all still bright red.

My question really is what would you do next? Should I be contacting my GP for allergy testing? It’s just so strange as I’ve never had anything like this before in my life. Any advice very welcome!

OP posts:
Aphrodite31 · 19/01/2022 22:07

Where there Padron peppers?

Aphrodite31 · 19/01/2022 22:07

Were there?

I went a less extensive but still v shocking version of what you describe after a padron pepper.

Morechocmorechoc · 19/01/2022 22:09

You will struggle to get helpful testing. They won't have random ingredients for skin prices you would have to take your own. It is really important you ohone the place ASAP and get the list of Ingredients. I had this as a teenager and did not so now a whole host of foods is out that could have been in the sauce thay did it to me. No epi pen. You have to fight for allergy testing etc. It's all pointless if you don't have a list of possibilities though. Sort that tomorrow.

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Morechocmorechoc · 19/01/2022 22:11

Should say skin pricks, not pieces!

LuckyWithMyLot · 19/01/2022 22:22

Soya is in a huge range of things so you probably do eat soy regularly. It is really hard to avoid and is in many breads, cereals, chocolate, tofu, edamame beans, sauces etc.

TooManyPJs · 19/01/2022 23:00

Yes all the restaurant and ask for a full list of ingredients. And see your GP for epipen and allergy clinic referral. As others have says second reactions are usually worse and can be fatal. Don't mess around.

TooManyPJs · 19/01/2022 23:02

Oh and just to add. You can be allergic to anything. It may not be a main or common allergen at all. So people posting suggestions as to their allergies or what it could be out of a mezze platter is not really very helpful. You need to have allergy testing done. If they have a full list of ingredients that will very much help narrow things down.

Justawaterformeplease · 19/01/2022 23:28

I had a very similar reaction to an antibiotic once, which was accompanied by what I can only describe as a feeling of impending doom. Maybe that’s what’s making you feel edgy still?

ThackeryBinks · 19/01/2022 23:53

Maybe keep up the anti histamine for a few days until the redness has gone? That's a big reaction and I've been told the subsequent ones can be worse. I think the GP is a really good idea.

BlueThursday · 20/01/2022 07:55

At the age of 35 I randomly took a reaction to things I never have before so it could well be something not out the ordinary for you.

I now carry pens

WeAreTheHeroes · 20/01/2022 08:06

I'm sure I've read that an allergic reaction doesn't happen the first time you have something. Having been exposed to it before, when the body has it again is when it triggers a reaction and you may have had it many times before an incident like the one you experienced. Contact the restaurant for a full list of ingredients. Did they ask you about allergies before you ordered?

FannyCann · 20/01/2022 08:33

You definitely need to contact your GP and discuss epi pen. It could be much worse next time.

Re ingredients something that was mentioned on our work e-learning is the minor ingredients. I think it was fish sauce that was specifically highlighted, it has shellfish and other ingredients in the sauce and is widely used as a flavouring in foods you really wouldn't expect, if you were home cooking the same thing you wouldn't reach for the bottle of Thai fish sauce. Also many of the items on something like a mezzo platter would likely have been bought in so it's difficult to pinpoint all the ingredients. Still worth contacting the restaurant though.

Avarua · 20/01/2022 08:38

It could be Sumac.
Not something often eaten in the UK but common in middle eastern food and highly allergenic for some.

HollowTalk · 20/01/2022 08:39

Could you ask the restaurant for a complete list of ingredients?

DinosaurOfFire · 20/01/2022 08:41

If it was vegetarian, did it have jackfruit in it? That can cause a nasty allergic reaction, and is in a lot of veggie and vegan foods now.

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