Can you help me with a problem, please?

[Sarah111213]

Hi, I don't know if this is the right place to post, or even if this is the sort of thing you can help with, but I'll give it a shot!

I have noticed that most times when I eat celery my mouth goes numb and tingly and my tongue feels like it is swelling up.

Sometimes, though, the tongue 'swelling' doesn't happen, so I just get a numb, tingly mouth.

Because of this, I am scared to eat celery, although sometimes I do, but I feel really sick just after I am eating it, therefore, I no longer know whether it is nerves about something bad happening when I eat the celery of if it is the celery making me feel sick.

I was going to make a GP appointment about it, but I don't want to if I'm making a fuss over nothing, and because sometimes nothing happens, I don't want to make a massive fuss.

What should I do?

Thanks.

Um... stop eating celery perhaps? It's a revolting vegetable anyway [extra helpful today]

You need to talk to someone about this. Avoid celery at all costs - you have been sensitised and next time your reaction may be much more severe. Go to your GP as soon as you can get an appointment. Any GP worth their salt will not think you are a time waster. If something is worrying you, it is worth sharing it with a health care professional who will be able to help and advise you.
Good Luck

sorry for my flippant and spectacularly unhelpful post btw

My hubby gets this exact reaction if he eats tree nuts. It isn't bad enough that he needs an epi pen yet but he's been advised to carry piriton or another allergy medicine with him just in case. I doubt celery is in as many products as nuts though so hopefully it will be easier to avoid.

I do agree with Jareth however, celery is satan's work (yeurgh!)

Sounds like you have Oral Allergy Syndrome.

Thanks everyone!

tinytalker does that mean I should go to the doctors or not - sorry, I don't know what oral allergy syndrome is.

I get that with milk - docs said was allergy and should avoid cos could get much worse if carried on and ignored. No cure or advice beyond that I'm afraid. Could be worse... could be red wine

If you look at food labels you'll see that they often list celery as a potential allergen. Def get to gp for official tests, they could indicate seriousness of reaction...

I don't think I count as a more knowledgeable person particularly but ds1 has just started having exactly these symptoms (plus hives) to celery so.........

It does sound like you have developed an allergy to celery. It may be that the symptoms never get worse than this, on the other hand they could get very bad so I think you should stop eating celery, and also avoid fennel or celeriac which are also in the same family. Cooking does not change the antigens (bits that cause allergy) so this advice goes cooked and raw celery etc.

Buy yourself some liquid antihistamine (works quicker than tablets) for your house, and a bottle to stick in your handbag. If you accidentally eat some celery and get a reaction then take some immediately. If the reaction affects your breathing (ie wheezing, shortness of breath), or your throat starts to swell, or you feel drowsy then call an ambulance and DON'T worry about wasting their time - you won't be.

If you are lucky you won't start reacting to extract of celery which is in loads of stuff - from ketchup, to marmite, stock cubes etc etc. If you do then start avoiding these immediately and definitely see a doctor (see below). "Luckily" celery is a common allergen and must therefore be highlighted on packaging so is easy (if a pain) to avoid.

As for the GP - well you could ask for a referral to an allergy clinic but all they could do is confirm the allergy which wouldn't actually change your situation, so its up to you. It won't be a waste of their time, but maybe of yours. I don't think you'd be prescribed an epi-pen based on your current symptoms but if they worsen then definitely see a GP.

Hope this helps

Are you asthmatic? If so seeing your doctor may get you tests and if they confirm allergy an epipen. If you aren't asthmatic tests can only show if your reaction is allergy or psychosomatic.

It sounds like an allergy - so eating celery is like russian roulette. If your tongue does swell badly it can block your airway and kill you quite rapidly. Don't know enough about celery allergy to say if it is likely to get worse. An allergy consultant could give you a view on that, your gp probably won't know.

wb already given you good advice.

Thanks for everyone's help (especially Pixie for all the bumping)!

Tatt, I'm not asthmatic, but the swelling was quite near the back of my tongue, and I don't want it to block my airway.

wb - Will definitely avoid celery! I'm still unsure as to whether to make an appointment with the GP, though - I think I might, just to be on the safe side.