allergic reaction - need some advice

[queenrollo]

I was woken yesterday am with intense itching behind my right ear. As I woke properly I realised i was itching all over. Came up with a few 5 pence sized hives. Took generic anti-histamine (10mg of larotidine). Saw Nurse Practioner 2 hours later who said definite allergic rash, and to just take the anti- h for a few days.

By 5pm I had hives/urticaria from my knees to the top of my head. not affecting my feet, arms/hands or face though. I was itching like mad, and felt like i'd got really bad sun burn. Saw GP who prescribed Cetirizine 10mg. I took one but it made no difference and I got much worse. I woke at two am with a temp, raging thirst, couldn't stand I was so dizzy and my eyes had swollen badly.
111 service told me to go straight to A&E.

After 4 hours waiting my facial symptoms had calmed down but I was given IV Piriton and hydrocortisone.
My urticaria has now gone from my body almost completely, but through the day has migrated across my face, arms/hands and feet, though is much more bearable than it was.

My GP was concentrating on what I had eaten/used the day before the reaction happened, but i'm wondering whether I need to look at the few days preceding too.
I got latex sap from a plant on my hands on Wednesday. I have had a severe but entirely localised reaction to latex sap once before (huge burn/blister) and have been very careful ever since. I also ate avocado on Tuesday night, and have read that this can be linked to latex allergy.
On Tuesday night I also wore a piece of vintage jewelry DH had bought me as a present so was wondering if had nickel on it?

Nothing else has changed. I haven't got new wash powder, toiletries or perfume. I haven't eaten anything new in my diet at all.

I do have severe penicillin allergy, but the reaction I have to that is entirely different to this.

Quite honestly this episode has scared me and if I can I'd like to get to the bottom of it. The hospital did some bloods, but I don't know what for and I was discharged before they came back.

How do broach this with my GP? What should I be asking for to get this looked into?

you need to be reffered to an adult allergy clinic, to see a immunologist. ring the anaphylaxis campaign to get name of one nearest to you.
take that name to your gp.

also, consider asking for epi pens from gp, as you have no real idea what the cause of your reaction may be.

even if gp refuses he knows you have done some simple research and are very concerned and need help.

good luck.

Thank you. I shall phone them tomorrow.

Was still itching a lot in the early hours, but mostly on my lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

In the last few hours the remaining urticaria have gone, but I am left looking slightly bruised and feel like the whole of my skin has a chinese burn.

My GP is generally quite good with referrals so fingers crossed he will take me seriously. I do happen to know his daughter has some severe allergies so I hope that his experience with that will mean he understands how frightening this has been.

Hope you get on ok, I agree with all the advice you've had and just wanted to add if you suspect latex allergy please do mention this to the GP and the consultant. It's a really important allergy to be aware of, and one of the ones they recommend a medic-alert bracelet for too for in case you are eg injured and unconscious etc and need medical treatment from paramedics.

I'm feeling much better today!

Going to phone the Anaphylaxis Campaign on Weds, as today and tomorrow are so busy I won't have a chance to do it.

I've been thinking really, really hard about anything else that might have set it off and I can't. So unless I've suddenly developed an allergy to something I've been fine with all my life, it must be the plant sap.
All I can do is write this stuff down and let the experts do what they can with the info.
Thank you for your messages.

I had a lovely chat with someone from the Anaphylaxis Campaign this morning, and an appt booked with my Gp tomorrow to ask for referral.

did you speak to moira? she is sooooo fab.

it was a lady but i can't remember her name

Well that was easy.

GP: how are you feeling now?
Me: much better, thanks
GP: what can I do for you today?
Me: referal to an immunologist please
GP: ok.

He basically said that he knows from personal experience how frightening it is, and understands my fear that it may happen again. He said he is not an expert, there are some investgations he could make but that he'd rather just refer me straight away to an expert and not time waste.

Just have to wait now!

excellent news! keep us posted when you see consultant!

Brilliant news! If only it was always that easy...

updating for anyone who is interested because I had my appointment with the immunologist today.
What a thoroughly nice chap too

He was very thorough and asked me lots of questions. He is absolutely sure that this was not an allergic reaction. It was in fact an immune response to an infection. I had been on anti-biotics for a UTI the week previous to this reaction, which he thinks hadn't properly cleared up but some of the symptoms were masked by my having AF at the time. He checked the blood results that they did an A&E and said it was obvious from them that my body was fighting pretty hard against something.
He said it was unlikely that I would have a reaction like this again, but that it is not entirely unheard of for people to develop chronic urticaria after an episode like this. He is writing a letter to my GP to explain and to state that if at any point I have another reaction, even if it is a mild one then I should be referred back to him straight away. He's told me to keep good anti-histamines with me at all times and take one as soon as I get any symptoms again and it should control it.

Hello Queenrollo

Wow, your GP sounds fantastic and so pleased that you were referred to the immunologist as he also sounds great.

As I was reading through the whole of this thread I did think that it sounded viral but again the A&E people didn't really seem to pick up on it. We had a very stressful time when DD who also as allergies had a bout of this as we also assumed it was an allergic reaction.

For DD it took about 3 weeks to clear. DD's allergist said on the phone that even though DD had swollen lips plus a rash that came and went, that he believed that a viral rash couldn't turn anaphylactic. I've never really heard that from anyone else, so did your immunologist mention anything line this? Will he request that you are issued with epipens?

Did he say anything about the SAP and the avocado? Or was that just a cruel coincidence?

Anyway, so pleased that you were seen as quickly as you were as it must be such relief that it isn't a new allergy.

take care

sorry I meant to come back and answer your questions and forgot

My immunologist said this type of reaction does not trigger anaphylaxis and so I don't need an epipen.

He said that if i was going to have a reaction to the sap/avocado it would have happened in roughly a 4 hour window. He basically said if A&E had done their job properly then I would not have had to question what i'd done/eaten/touched at all and was a little bit cross on my behalf that they had put me through unecessary stress.