Has anyone suddenly developed a serious allergy middle aged?

[Tr1skel1on]

I'm 46 and seem to have developed an anaphylaxis level allergy to I think cloves. I already have an epi pen after last time, but I simply smelled a pan cooking tonight, sneezed immediately and stepped away. Now full of snot, blotchy and really puffy and have had antihistamines. Luckily epi pen not needed. I have been fortunate enough to have never even had hayfever before. Is this a passing phase while I'm menopausal? I'm a vegetarian that mainly eats spiced foods, it was a Thai green curry that set me off tonight, I was cooking it to avoid curry. Help!

Is there anything at all recently that you took to stimulate an immune response?

Not a serious allergy but I have suddenly become lactose intolerant. I can't drink milk/cream without a rather urgent dash to the loo within about half an hour and stomach cramps for the rest of the day. Some cheeses set me off too so I mostly avoid cheese or get the lactose-free variety. I've been vegetarian for most of my life and it sucks having to adjust my diet and start checking labels all over again.

My Dad developed anaphylaxis to shellfish in his 50’s, and my cousin (maternal side) in his 40’s. (While travelling in Bali, of course…)

Yep my DH had a sudden anaphylactic reaction to a particular liqueur that he had been enjoying on holiday (too much evidently). From what I understand, an allergy that is sort of dormant can suddenly cause a reaction once the body consumes a certain amount of whatever it is.

Annoying for you, cloves seem to feature in so many curries.

I discovered the hard way I had an allergy to glucosamine (shark cartilage based), and was rushed to hospital... But oddly my body then developed an "allergic reaction" to tea with honey in it, a cup of which I drank at the same time I swallowed the capsule, and which I had never had a problem with prior. It took several months and multiple rushes to the doctor when my body reddened and swelled up after a cup of tea for it to calm down. Quite scary. I can now drink tea with honey again! It may be your body/immune response is trying to protect you by linked association, rather than a true allergic reaction? I was 40 when the honey thing happened. Probably best to see an allergy specialist.

Following with interest. Over the last few months I've been getting a nasty hive reaction (hard lumps/ nasty rash) on a regular basis. It's helped by cream and strong antihistamines from the dr. Now being referred to dermatologist for allergy testing.

nothing as serious as that, but I find lamb gives me serious indigestion/sickness these days, which is annoying as I used to love it.

Also the older i get, the faster coffee seems to go through me. DH and I now ruefully share a second cup if we go out for breakfast, while discreetly checking where the loos are. Sorry, TMI!

Following… I have just been diagnosed with severe shellfish allergy and was told not to leave without my epipens.
I’ve been eating prawns for years about twice a week! But 3 times over last few months, I was so sick after eating them (and just thought it was a bug) but the final time, I was so sick with it, my throat closed up, I was on the floor in the restaurant!!
the clinic said that shellfish allergies do develop in adulthood, an autoimmune response to the protein in the shellfish.

I don’t know why it happened though.

Yes, me! Out of nowhere I have developed a severe intolerance to soya, and any derivatives. I have eaten soya for years and yet about 2 years ago it started to make me itch. This has now progressed to upper GI tract spasms then catastrophic runs, exhaustion and a feeling of doom. It pisses me right off. No more oriental good, and more importantly no more chocolate.
I handle it by avoiding it, and antihistamine. I’m 51.

An update while yet again I'm having menopausal insomnia. I'm being allergy tested on the 5th Nov at the local hospital so should have an answer soon

Yes multiple and some are airborne. Sometimes I just walk into a business or someone’s home now and my lips start swelling or I start coughing. Adult onset allergies are apparently not uncommon