Can I be allergic to mushrooms and if so should I get tested.

[LargeLatte]

I generally avoid the buggers as have had a couple of episodes of vomiting or diarrhea after eating.

Tuesday my mum was frying mushrooms in her kitchen and as soon as I went into the room my eyes were streaming and my throat was really itchy.

This evening I have just been out to dinner and my meal came with mushrooms in the gravy (which it did not say on the menu). Didn't want to make a fuss, especially as not convinced I have a mushroom allergy so ate meal anyway and just left the mushrooms. 15 minutes later I had strong stomach cramps and diarrhea.

I've taken some Immodium which has helped a lot and now just feel really tired.

Could I be allergic to mushrooms? And if so is there any point getting tested or is that just a waste of my GPs time?

morning bump

DH has the same thing when he eats mushrooms - not itching, but diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

IME Doctors aren't usually bothered about testing for food allergies unless they are life threatening, but someone may well be along in a minute to tell me I'm wrong.

DH just avoids them and would have sent the meal back.

Thanks Trazzle. I am starting to feel a bit rude to keep saying I can't eat mushrooms when I don't have a diagnosed allergy - makes me sound like a right fuss pot. I can see dh doesn't believe me about the cause last night, but I felt really ill and still feel totally wiped out this morning.

Does your dh get an itchy throat around raw / cooking mushrooms as well? I have never met anyone else who has mushroom problems, so its helpful to hear it can be a real problem.

I just checked the menu online and it doesn't say mushrooms on there so I really wish I had just sent it back or swapped with dh - it ruined my night as had to come home immediately and go straight to bed.

I would be careful with Quorn as well. It is fungi based and there have been a lot of reports of allergies to it.

I would keep some piriton with you and take that in future.
I wouldn't worry that you gave been undiagnosed, the fact you have had a reaction when in the same room as cooking and after eating is enough.

Yes you can be allergic to anything. No mushrooms for you I'm afraid

I'm the same with mushrooms and Quorn. People think I'm just fussy because I never liked the texture of them, but the allergy is worse now and I avoid them.

Yey - not feeling quite so crazy now. Stupid thing is I do actually like the taste and smell so I know I'm not being fussy.

Last nights meal had the mushrooms floating in the gravy, and I am sure I didn't eat any of them but I am wondering since the gravy was so tasty it may have had some sort of mushroom oil (truffle oil, I know nowt about chefing) in it.

Thanks for the tip off about Quorn. I wouldn't have thought about that.

Would the Piriton sort out the erm digestive issues. And would it do any good this morning as I still feel a bit sick and really really tired.

It should do. My ds throws up as a reaction to nuts and seeds and piriton helps with that.

Thanks all. So no to testing. Yes to keeping Piriton and Immodium with me when eating out. But I pretty much stick to 'safe' takeaways that I've had before anyway.

I would suggest testing or asking if gp can send you onwards. are you asthmatic? , and are your symtpoms worse in the autumn?

you might need an expert to cast an eye over you and decide if you need to consider carrying more than antihistamine with you. only an immunologist is qualified to determine if your allergy is life threatening imo.

If the mushrooms have been cooked in a sauce then some of the moisture and bits will have gone in to the sauce so you can't really "eat around them". DH can't anyway.

He doesn't tell people he's allergic in case they expect him to go in to anaphylactic shock. I do say he's allergic though as we have had several people suggest he just picks them out of the meal but it still makes him sick.

No itchiness here though.

An itchy throat would be a massive red flag for me - if it was "just" the gastro symptoms I would say just avoid but with itchy throat you are getting into the sort of allergies that can become anaphylactic. Definitely go to your GP and ask to get tested, avoid in the meantime and yes, carry antihistamines with you in the meantime.

Thanks Trazzle - I have definitely learnt my lesson and will not be eating around them again.

Came across this post searching fgor something else. I too am allergic to mushrooms. I noticed a couple of times that I'd get the trotskies asfer eating them but was otherwise well . Just thought they " slipped through" undigested.
A while back I made myself mushrooms on toast . About half an hour later I began to feel off colour. I was due to go out for a meal that night but had to cancel.Later that day I was doubled up in pain,had the runs and chills. I thought I'd have to call the doctor out.
I've been carefull not to eat them since but the other day after giving my DD some medicine while we were out I licket the spoon clean Half an hour later, you've guessed it. The runs big time,cramps etc. It was pennicillin,something I have always maintained I'm allergic to( severe reation in hospital 25 years ago) hence my doc never prescribed it to me.
My cousin has just had major surgery to her colon and been told to avoid mushrooms.

I am a Registered Nurse specializing in Pediatrics and well trained in food allergies. You show all the signs not just of allergy but a serious allergy. The stomach upset and other allergy symptoms you described combine to put you at risk for fatal complications categorized as anaphylaxis. You need to avoid mushrooms and talk to your physician. Antihistamines and medications designed to decrease your symptoms will not save your life in a full blown anaphylactic response to mushrooms. Please speak to your physician so you can be prescribed and carry proper life saving medication. Even life threatening allergies are manageable with proper information, education, training and medication for the worst case scenarios. Be smart, be safe, live life.

I know this is an old thread, but I want to second Hjkod’s advice above. My DH has a severe mushroom, truffle, and penicillin allergy. An accidental (negligent) dose of penicillin as a child in hospital triggered anaphylaxis. If he accidentally bites into something containing mushrooms or truffles, his mouth immediately feels like it is burning (helpful though because he knows to spit it out and rinse his mouth and take an antihistamine). We carry epi pens to restaurants, especially during mushroom and truffles season. This allergy runs in his family.

Don’t second guess your instincts about your own body unless you are actually tested by a doctor and they confirm a different cause. You know what you feel.