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Original poster

Urgent health issue A&E???

85 replies

TomAllenWife · 15/03/2022 23:12

I've come to bed and have started itching all over, from the soles of my feet up to the top of my head, it's umbearable
I have a rash, my face is bright red, boiling hot, throbbing and my lips are swollen & tingling

I literally can't keep still, every bit of me is on fire

I called A&E as we have to here and they're calling me back

Any ideas?? I'm terrified

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 16/03/2022 13:14

Glad you are doing ok. Please, please ask your gp for a referral to the allergy service (not dermatology) if you think this might have been a reaction to food.

carefullycourageous · 16/03/2022 13:24

Definitely follow up with the GP, ask for referral to the allergy clinic for testing. Allergies can appear or change so do be careful. Asse you are allergic to pine nuts for now.

toomanydogsandcats · 16/03/2022 13:44

8nstead I suggest a system where people are able to go to A and E when they have an accident or emergency. It's the normal across the world in countries in the third world where people are poor a basic system is still available unlike the UK. And before you jump, I have lived across MENA and India since 2001 in my job.

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General health
amispeakingintongues · 16/03/2022 16:04

Glad you got checked out OP! A moderate allergic reaction is nothing to feel dramatic about!

Saltyquiche · 16/03/2022 17:40

Phew!

TodayWeShark · 16/03/2022 17:45

Please ask for an epi pen, if you don't know what you are allergic too, and, further reactions can be worse.

Do book into see your GP.

gogohm · 16/03/2022 17:57

And you can just turn up to a&e, it's urgent care (out of hours gp) you need an appointment for.

Original poster
TomAllenWife · 16/03/2022 18:24

@gogohm I'm not an idiot! Since covid you ring our local A&E and they tell you whether to come or not.
Unless you arrive via resus from serious accident or injury. And I think it's a good idea as it stops a lot of the time wasters

I've been absolutely shattered today, I've slept for 7 hours and didn't even wake for lunch And my head is pounding
Wondering if this is a normal post allergic reaction thing

Was a bit scared to eat dinner it's made me paranoid

OP posts:
TodayWeShark · 16/03/2022 18:53

Yes, it's normal post reaction - it takes a few days.

Drink lots of water.

RickRude · 16/03/2022 18:57

@gogohm

And you can just turn up to a&e, it's urgent care (out of hours gp) you need an appointment for.
You definitely can’t just turn up at our a&e unless you call ahead. Unless you’re coming via ambulance, they won’t let you in if you haven’t phoned 111 first.
RickRude · 16/03/2022 18:58

Op, sounds like a normal post reaction, your body needs to rest. Keep up the fluids and eat some light meals - maybe soup or similar. Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
TomAllenWife · 16/03/2022 19:06

Thank you, god I feel rubbish, it's knocked me for six!

I will phone GP tomorrow and see about allergy testing
Is it worth paying for a private one?

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 16/03/2022 19:09

DH had an allergic reaction like this just as we went into the first lockdown. Dates were the culprit! It was very alarming and as I was driving him to A&E (luckily only a 15 minute drive away) his throat was starting to swell.

He also had a steroid injection and his main after effect was feeling absolutely exhausted. He was very very tired for at least 3 or 4 days but did gradually return to normal.

Get lots of rest, drink lots of fluid and I hope you feel better soon.

Porcupineintherough · 16/03/2022 23:04

@TomAllenWife

Thank you, god I feel rubbish, it's knocked me for six!

I will phone GP tomorrow and see about allergy testing
Is it worth paying for a private one?

Depends on the wait time. Ds1 was seen within 5 weeks so we didnt need to go private, although we were prepared to. His case was urgent because we didnt know what caused the reaction and it's the same for you. Thinking of which, make a list of everything you ate that evening (and ingredients) for when you speak to the allergist.
mocktail · 16/03/2022 23:12

You need skin prick testing and/or blood tests. You can get it via the NHS or privately but please don't pay for any other dubious allergy testing as there are loads of quack practitioners promising to diagnose allergies via hair strand tests / kinesiology etc.

Any idea which ingredient you might have reacted to?

Original poster
TomAllenWife · 17/03/2022 06:57

Thank you for the update re testing, I'm ringing GP this morning
I slept for 6 hours yesterday, was asleep again by 10pm and slept another 8 hours, I was so drowsy last night

OP posts:
QuiltedHippo · 17/03/2022 07:02

Oh you poor thing, I have a baby with multiple allergies and I get nervous feeding her so I'm not suprised youre scared for something new and out of the blue as an adult. Hope you can get your referral to allergy quickly, it took about 10 weeks here recently but that was the paediatric team, we paid about £350 to be seen privately for tests and a follow up and it was well worth the money.

TodayWeShark · 17/03/2022 14:59

Yes worth paying for private testing as nhs waiting lists are long and it sounds like you can narrrow it down.

Worth keep a diary (food drink and cosmetics) as well in case it happens again.

Good luck!

Original poster
TomAllenWife · 17/03/2022 17:56

I spoke to my GP who said they can't test or refer me to allergy clinic unless I know what the allergen was Confused
Surely if I knew what it was then I wouldn't need testing???

So they've going to take blood and send it off to test for pine nut allergy but after that who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
TomAllenWife · 17/03/2022 17:57

I know exactly what I ate that day because I log everything on MFP

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 17/03/2022 18:15

@TomAllenWife

I spoke to my GP who said they can't test or refer me to allergy clinic unless I know what the allergen was Confused Surely if I knew what it was then I wouldn't need testing???

So they've going to take blood and send it off to test for pine nut allergy but after that who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is bollocks. They can totally refer you for an unknown reaction that's exactly what happened to my ds a few weeks ago. Then it's up to the allergy clinic to work out what's going on. Please dont let them for you off.
Gerwurtztraminer · 17/03/2022 18:17

OP it might not be food. It might an environmental agent like washing powder, soap or shampoo. I had the same thing, idiopathic (unknown) systemic (all over) allergic reaction. Lips and face swelled up, awful hives and areas of skin which looked bright red and 'scalded' , tongue went floppy for about an hour and I itched from top of head to soles of feet for several days. Like you no breathing problems.

Was put in IV steroids and antihistamines in A&E. GP referred me for allergy testing (a 6 month wait) which never happened due to NHS mistakes (long story). I never got to the bottom of what it was.

I was paranoid about eating for months and nervous of household cleaning and toiletry products too. It has never happened again in 4 years so I am less anxious now but I remember how scared I was.

The drowsiness is probably a combination of comedown from all the drugs and adrenaline rush now crashing down. Hope you feel better now and don't have a recurrence.

Fernandina · 17/03/2022 18:20

@TomAllenWife

I spoke to my GP who said they can't test or refer me to allergy clinic unless I know what the allergen was Confused Surely if I knew what it was then I wouldn't need testing???

So they've going to take blood and send it off to test for pine nut allergy but after that who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

Your GP is a stupid git. The whole point of sending you for testing at an allergy clinic is to find out what you're allergic to.
Anoooshka · 17/03/2022 18:30

The pine nuts could have traces of other nuts, so you would need to be tested for tree nut allergies too. And you absolutely need to get a prescription for an Epipen (or similar) in the meantime. My DS has a severe peanut allergy and this sounds like his first reaction.

littlenickyy61 · 17/03/2022 18:39

Did you by any chance put rocket in your pesto . My daughter had a bad reaction to this and apparently its quite common to be allergic to it Hope you feel better and get to the bottom of it. Make sure you carry antihistamines on you