latex allergy - is it possiblre to develop in adulthood? Fanjo/Condom question

[latexlady]

Changed my name.....

Is anyone allergic to condoms?

Some background
After my first pregancy I develop mild allergies to a variety of fruits: strawberries, bananas, kiwis, lemons, etc. My tongue gets really sore. Doctor thought I had 'geographic tongue' - which is honestly a real condition . This has been going on for about 4 years now and I just accept it.

However, in the last year, we have been using condoms for a variety of reasons. I have never used condoms much in the past. had only a couple of long term relationships where we used condoms to start with then went on the pill. For brief flings, used condoms.

When I met DH, we used condoms and I developed a bizarre fanjo problem. Both got tested at the clinic - nothing wrong with either of us. It has flared up from time to time.

Anyway - back to the story. Since we started using condoms again in the last year, the fanjo problem keeps coming back but has been more thrush-like but without the cottage cheese gunkiness. Not been having sex much until recently so did not really connect the two.

But now that things are getting back on track in that department I am starting to make a connectiom.

This morning, I am in agony. Itchy, swollen and red.

Took the kids' piriton medicine an hour ago and it is beginning to subside.

What to do?
BTW it isn't UCM

just reading up a bit more.....high proportion of latex allergy people are have hay fever, cat allergy and dust allergy, all of which I developed in my 20s

Sorry too stupid to post in usual name. Really odd to see this as I have been meaning to post same thing!
About 6 months ago I started getting what I thought was thrush (again without much discharge) had never had thrush before and thought it was a bit odd but it did clear up with thrush treatment each time although slightly itchy spotty vagina never seemed to get normal 100%
Few weeks ago DH was away for 10d and when he came back, I was lying in the bath Remarking how lovely and normal my bits had finally got (as you do ) That night we had sex and boom next day back to square one. They have taken a week to get better and last night we used an avant condom and they were fine.
Researching on the web I thought pos a latex allergy, I am a very non allergic person usually but do use latex gloves for work which apparently can trigger allergies. You can also get allergies to the spermicide apparently.
Odd though that am still fine with gloves, although I did wear a pair of hold up stockings last night and was left with a red wheal around one bit of leg where the rubber strip was so think prob am allergic.
Try avanti condoms.
Am thinking of doing a test run with normal condoms but dont know if I can stand a week of itchy spotty bits!

stupidlyembarrassed - sounds exaclty like me. the sore on and off for ages thing too

only just started making the connection recently though as not much 'hows your father' has been goingon here in the last year or so.....

definitely making a doc appt first thing in the morning

btw i tried thrush cream this morning and it made it worse

been typing then deleting this next question over and over but what the hell....

i dont get spots down there but do get like what i can only describe as 'raw' patches particularly at the top part furtherest away from vagina area....

Thrush cream can make thrush worse though. You could try the old garlic clove with a couple of drops of tea tree in it. (Thread cotton through clove for easy retrieval).

thrush cream absolutely wrecked me this morning

Hi havent read all the thread but....
I have a latex allergy from using latex gloves at work!
allergy is skin rash which is really sore and can blister! Not nice...down there (tmi I know)
Avanti condoms are latex free but expensive.
Boots generally have them on a 3 for 2 offer so its nearly £10 for 15 still though
However you can get them from FPC's but mine only give out two at a time because of the cost!
Other option is to ask GP for some advice may give you more free or a prescription!
Hope this helps!!

gaof jane- do you get an allergy to the gloves too? ie itchy hands?

stupidlyembarrased, I had the problems with condoms long before I delveloped an allergy to the gloves. I put it down to being more sensative down there!

Fwiw, I didn't get itchy hands as my first symptoms, I had sneezing/puffy eyes. My eyes would swell up so bad that I couldn't work. I have to get sterile water poured in them to wash out the dust from the latex. Then after about a year of puffy eyes (only once every month or so) I had a terrible rash on my arms, that's it when we (me & the dentist I was working with at the time) connected all my symptoms (although I kept the condom prob to my self, lol). So I had to wear latex free gloves. Even now, when I go to the dentist I can feel my eyes itch and start to sneeze. I can't blow up balloons either, which made me look a bit mean the last time dd was given one. I told her daddy would do it, and the lady said "why don't you do it for her" so I just said "because I am likely to go into anaphalatic shock" lady looked like she didn't haven't a clue! I just find the allergy worsens with contact, like yeaturday I wore rubber gloves (v v stupid, but dd had thrown up on her car seat) and I was sneezing for ages...had to go and wash my hands/face.

vvv, makes me sound like a hooker or something!

My latax allery developed after the birth of my first child along with alot of general atopia (odd random allergies) aswell as asthma.
If latex touches my skin I itch and come up in weals if it touches my mouth look like Leslie Ash on a bad day then can't breathe.
The probable reason is the latex reaction happens quicker on a mucosal surface as it can be absorbed quicer.
You MUST try to limit your exposure as the problem can get alot worse and can be life threatening. I have to carry an Epipen at all times you should see your doctor and get it checked as if you needed emergency treatment a hospital would need to know.

Latex allergy is normally one you develop in adulthood.

You need to see your GP and be investigated.

You need a medic alert bracelet so that in an emergency they won't save your life only to threaten it again by operating on you with latex gloves.

You need to stop eating kiwi, avocado and banana, and anything else that makes your tongue swell. The first three are must do's you only avoid the others (and on some sites it's a massive list) if you have to.

You need latex free condoms, which are nicer anyway because they don't have that smell and cold feeling. Perhaps you can have them prescribed as they are expensive.

When you go to the dentist, have a blood test or wash up - you need to make sure that latex free gloves are being used.

All tesco's plasters are latex free.

I have a son who has a latex allergy and I'm not sure why you have changed your name. It's not embarrassing to be allergic to something (or have sex).

Actually - not sure why I changed my name either....so here I am

I have a doctors appointment for Friday morning.
Fanjo is feeling more normal today but not totally right.

Actually, I avoid blowing up balloons as it makes my lips tingle - has done for years - so that would explain what someone said about mucous membranes.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.
Will avoid bananas, kiwis and avocado from today too

well done popsycal
and for using your real name!!!!!
As for the rash I would leave it if I were you
It will heal up on its own if you dont come into contact with any more latex! If its really uncomfortable I know mine was use a bit of sudocreme!
Good luck at docs!!

I have a friend who developed an allergy to latex condoms in her 30's - she's also allergic to tomatoes and so are her children. She reacts to balloons but her kids don't.

I developed a latex allergy after the birth of my first child. it was diagnosed after I had to go to A & E after an internal exam at my post natal check up! quite severe. I also feel very itchy round my mouth and tongue if i have kiwi or cherries, so I don't eat either now. also raw tomatoes or mature type cheeses, although i can eat both of those.
with birth of second and third children i had to have latex free stuff. although it was hard work reminding staff mid contraction not to put the gloves on as none of them seemed to read it on notes...
we use latex free condoms too which are fine. won't blow up balloons and allow it to excuse me from a lot of housework on rubber glove avoidance!

ought i really to never have another banana?
should i not be touching it when peeling it fr ds2 for example?
I know I havent been to the docs yet, but I feel pretty sure that I have this and have read that the symptoms can turn from mild to severe rapidly....

anyone have any advice?

I'm another who reacted to condoms. I never used to but when dh and I first got together I kept having thrush/cystitis type symptoms. It was a while before I put two and two together and realised it was the condoms. I thought maybe Little Miss Fanjo wasn't used to quite so much activity after a bit of a barren period.

I've never noticed any problems with things like balloons or the latex gloves which I wear when I'm doing first aid, but I do mention it when I'm asked if I have any allergies.

when I went for the testing to get diagnosed with the latex allergy (a blood test), I also mentioned other things that troubled me. I was given skin prick tests for some (fish mainly) and a blood test for kiwi and cherry - I don't know if that's because they come up more with latex allergy? i was told that my blood tests showed no problem with kiwi and cherry. however, i know that when i eat them my tongue and lips itch and swell so i avoid them now. however, if for eg there's a piece of kiwi in a fruit salad, i'm able to eat the rest of the fruit, even though it's been 'contaminated', if you see what i mean. however, in a similar situation, i would not be able to eat eg a chip if it had been on a plate with fish as i know the allergy is much more severe. also eg i can pick up a balloon, but i can't blow one up (and wouldn't hold one for prolonged contact).
obviously you must have your own tests and take your own advice, but i would have thought handling bananas would be ok in the context you describe if you have been able to do it so far.

We didn't even have bananas in the house until recently. People put away balloons when we visit.

Peeling a banana is the worst bit, it's all that stuff in the skin that is like the latex.

You can get latex free thin gloves which you could use, or latex free washing up type gloves. You can also get gardening gloves that are latex free.

Save your exposure to accidental exposure only - such as fruit and veg that have been put on display by someone wearing latex gloves, balloons hung up at a children's party and the Mall.

EEK! Did any of you see the article in the paper yesterday about the man who has been convicted of trying to murder his latex-allergic wife by shoving his fingers into her mouth whilst wearing a latex glove?

sound like a real charmer!

oh my goodness!!!

Quick question - can anyone tell me whether I ought to avoid PVA glue?

As a primary teacher, we use it quite often...

I know I have had any tests yet, but I am keen to avoid as a precaution after the knowledge that symptoms can turn from mild to serious without warning......

Latex is a natural product - milky sap from trees. Lots of plants with milky sap cause allergic reactions. I'm 99% sure there is no connection to PVA glue but you should check to make sure. I think 'Copydex' is based on latex, though, so definitely avoid that.

havent got time to read all threads but I have a latex allergy, developed post-pregnancy(maybe triggered by lots of gloves on hands during labour procedures!) and we have tried durex avanti (non-latex) which are fine.

It's worth doing a patch test and mentioning every time you visit the dentist as otherwise they use latex gloves! Plus get it on your medical notes too so in an emergency they know not to use them!