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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have been an idiot to eat this in the first place?

102 replies

Zulor · 03/12/2018 02:18

So about 6pm today, I ate 'fish, chips & mushy peas' ready meal.

About 7pm, I needed my inhaler (not terribly unusual, I'm allergic to just about everything)

About 7.30pm I noticed a nettle type rash on my arms. Looked at my tummy and it was like a measles type rash all over me; legs, arms, torso.

So I rang my Mum (as one does) and she was asking me all about different cleaning products etc., and I was like no, I bleached the floors this morning, but did not come into contact with the bleach. Then it struck me, the fucking fish. I had actually read the ingredients before buying it, to see whether it was cod/plaice/whiting etc. But the ingredients only state 'white fish'.

I was hungry, so ate it. I live far from shops and don't drive, and it was the only thing in freezer.

Now my brother is allergic to shellfish. I have never eaten shellfish in my life, so don't know whether I'm allergic or not, but it surely has to be the culprit? WTF is 'white fish'?? And why the fuck was I so dumb as to fucking eat it!!?

I've taken piriton, the asthmatic symptoms have eased, but the rash is glaring.

It had to be the 'white fish' right?

OP posts:
justilou1 · 03/12/2018 03:12

Could also have been cooked in peanut oil. It is cheap and it makes things really crispy.

MovingtoLondonAgain · 03/12/2018 03:13

coppercolouredtop I hear and share your annoyance at OP’s seemingly causal attitude to ambulance turning up. But if you think anaphalaxis is any less serious than a suspected heart attack - you are very wrong.

Original poster
Zulor · 03/12/2018 03:14

I'm not allergic to any food (that I know of anyway).
Apart from capsicum?

But I've never had a rash all over my body and I wasn't born yesterday.

Anyway. Conclusion: Do not eat fish anymore.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zulor · 03/12/2018 03:16

Please can I reiterate that I did not ring 999 and ask for an ambulance. I rang 111 and on their evaluation, I needed an ambulance so they sent one.

OP posts:
coppercolouredtop · 03/12/2018 03:20

Please don't lecture me ....my dd is peanut allergic and carries epi pen. I recognise anaphylactic shock.

If ambulance said go get checked I'd go get checked.

Op knows better tho 🤔

coppercolouredtop · 03/12/2018 03:22

Plus I'm work in emergency services. Given cpr to similar.

Groovee · 03/12/2018 03:32

My friend suffered a massive allergic reaction to nuts recently. Yet days before could eat them with no issues so a reaction can happen to anyone at anytime.

kateandme · 03/12/2018 03:34

depends how "good" the ready meal was if it was like they do with ham and mushed lots of fish together to make a fillet.but I think youd be able to tell by how authentic the fish looked

Reccy2018 · 03/12/2018 03:35

I don't understand how you're sure it was the fish...?

brizzledrizzle · 03/12/2018 03:43

It's not anaphylactic shock. I'm still breathing

That doesn't preclude an anaphylactic reaction, you can have one and still be breathing. -sometimes.

Magenta46 · 03/12/2018 03:49

Was there anatto in the ingredients.? This can cause allergic reactions especially if you have a nut allergy.

Excited101 · 03/12/2018 04:30

Mentioning anaphylaxis when making an ambulance call will catapult your call to the top of the queue.

Stopyourhavering64 · 03/12/2018 04:56

Could have been something the fish had been cooked in- was it coated in batter or breadcrumbs ( milk powder, flour.)
Anything can be an allergen and if you're known to be allergic to foodstuffs and have had this level of reaction, you really must get an epipen to keep with you in future at all times...reactions to allergens get worse over time, the more you come into contact with them
My husband is severely allergic to penicillin and once had severe anaphylaxis by merely touching some spilt amoxicillin syrup on our dd babygro when she was a baby and had an ear infection...he ended being taken to hospital by ambulance and stayed overnight after requiring adrenaline , antihistamines and steroids - you really should have gone to hospital as pulmonary oedema can develop as a secondary complication after the event

Teachtolive · 03/12/2018 05:13

OP could the rash be this? www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/hives-urticaria-angioedema
My daughter got this once, no idea what caused it but we got the fright of our lives as it was literally appearing on her body right before our eyes. Dr gave her an antihistamine and it was gone within 12 hours. Bizarre to watch as she hasn't eaten anything that day that she hadn't had a thousand times before.

Belindabelle · 03/12/2018 06:03

Could have been the peas. My son has an allergy to all légumes including peanuts, beans, peas and lentils.

daisychain01 · 03/12/2018 06:12

Hives and rash from seafood is a very very common reaction. It's actually top of the list of reactions,

We had to rush to the local A&E a couple of years ago because DH had a very sudden reaction to some fresh tuna. Normally he's absolutely fine but they said there is sometimes something in the fish that can set off the reaction, it's often random and impossible to predict.

DH suddenly came out in a rash all over his body, not itchy just very hot and throbbing within 30 mins, so they quicky administered Anti histamine IV and kept him in overnight for observation. They knew exactly what to do as we were quickly able to tell them he'd eaten tuna an hour before.

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 03/12/2018 06:13

White fish is white fish, (you said you know what that is) shellfish is shellfish, they are very different. It could be an allergic reaction, why wouldn’t you take your health seriously and get it checked out?

tiggykate · 03/12/2018 06:22

The packaging should have crustaceans in bold if the white fish contained shell fish. The same as other common allergens.

The point is you need medical attention. Even if you’re feeling ok now. You’ve had signs that indicate an anaphylactic reaction. Next time you’re exposed to this allergen (that you’re not sure what it is) it’s likely you’ll have a more severe reaction - that could stop you breathing. It’s likely you’ll be prescribed an epipen if you follow this up with a dr.

PurpleDaisies · 03/12/2018 06:32

Was there no way of getting to a&e without the ambulance?

Ambulance is for 999 emergency calls.

Not a rash. I think you should have gone to a&e absolutely. But by emergency ambulance?? No.

This is totslly wrong. The op had signs of anaphylaxis. That’s about as proper emergency as it gets. Some posters are absolutely ridiculous about A and E.

Hope you’re feeling better OP.

Fozzleyplum · 03/12/2018 06:33

We were told by the consultant who diagnosed DS's allergies, that once breathing is affected at all, it's anaphylaxis. The problem is that you can have a more serious secondary reaction once the first symptoms have abated.

AnnieOH1 · 03/12/2018 06:34

Wasn't there an issue with Vietnamese River Cobbler also known as Pangasius being sold as "white fish" and even being illegally sold as cod and haddock? There's a known reaction to this particular fish but I can't recall the details. It would be worth you checking the packaging but also getting allergy tests in case it was something less obvious in the product.

leeloo1 · 03/12/2018 06:40

I though 'white fish' was when they used cheaper fish like pollock, not cod/haddock?

Underpressureidiot · 03/12/2018 06:42

Did it have a may contain shellfish warning? That could have been why. I really think you should have gone to a&e if that’s what the paramedic reccomended (peanut allergy here), I understand you thought it was under control but it can spiral so quickly.

Blanchedupetitpois · 03/12/2018 06:47

White fish isn’t shellfish, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t allergic. You poor thing, hope you feel better soon.

Roaring · 03/12/2018 06:52

If you let them call the ambulance you should have complied with the ambulance crew's advice. You can cut fish out but it might not have been the culprit... you could ask the GP for an allergy test referral.