Is this safe/should this be happening?

[Sarah111213]

I posted a thread a few weeks ago where I asked if I should go to the GP about my allergic reaction to celery, during which my tongue swelled up, and I started to find it difficult to swallow. Another part of the reaction was that my nose ran like a tap for about three hours. I also found it difficult to take antihistamines as my tongue was swollen at the back.

I had the GP appointment this morning, and was told just to avoid celery, and prescribed some antihistamine tablets. She didn't offer a referral to an allergy clinic, or give me any other advice.

I'm really worried about having an anaphylactic reaction - should I go back and, if so, what should I ask for?

Thanks!

Ask for a referral to an allergy specialist. Don't discuss just ask to be referred, you don't know what chemical in celery is causing the problem, and celery is part of the onion family. This is what you need to find out.
And then be prepared to wait.

I would ask for a referral as well. I don't understand why they're not offering you one, but maybe your reaction wasn't severe enough?

ask for a referral and/ or for a epi-pen (adrenaline injection) prescription.

Ask for a referral and buy (and then carry around with you) some liquid Piriton plus a 5ml oral syringe - much easier to get a liquid down then a tablet and it acts quickly too.

you could ask another gp for a epi, and then push for a referal, keep stressing the closed airway and other symptoms.

ring the anaphylaxis campaign for the nearest name to be referred to, etc, and dont forget to mention to gp that you have rung them. you have got to get the gp to recognise this as a serious problem.

Thanks for all the advice.

Do you really think I need an epipen? This is really scary - I'm scared that I need a referral but they won't give me one, I'm scared that I'm going to have an anaphylactic reaction and not have an epipen.

Can I ask, if I get a referral to the allergy clinic, seeing that I already know what I'm allergic to, what will happen in my appointment?

You don't know what you are allergic to. You maybe allergic to one chemical in celery (probably). They need to find out which one, and if there is anything else. Then they can advise you what other things you should avoid.

As I recently said to a 16 year old who I think ignored me as if I'm stupid; if you have an allergic reaction it tends to get worse each time. So an epi-pen is probably a very good idea. Getting proper help is essential.

Actually there is a chance it wasn't an allergic reaction to celery, if it was something else you need to find out what it was.

So go and firmly ask for a referral. (Do contact the anaphylaxis people too.)

We might think that celery is easy to avoid in our diet and so an allergy to it is nothing to be concerned about BUT it is amazing the variety of foods that contain celery and so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you get this checked and then at least you know for sure that this is what is causing your symptoms. Then you can identify it in ingredients lists.

I was in MacDonalds yesterday and happened to read their allergy information and found that celery is an ingredient in the following foods:
Bacon Roll with Heinz Ketchup
Cheesburger (double & single)
Chicken Legend with Mayo
Chicken Legend with salsa
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Selects
Hamburger
Sweet Chilli chicken
Crispy Chicken & Bacon salad
Barbeque dip
Heinz ketchup
Sweet curry dip
Sweet & sour dip

I hope you manage to push your GP to take this more seriously. Ask for a referral.