To call the GP about this?

[Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep]

In the last five years I seem to have developed an allergy to kiwi and it has got progressively worse. I'm fine handling them, or at least I was, so I still bought them and cut them up for DC, but having done that today I am now having the strongest reaction so far despite the fact I am fairly certain I haven't ingested any. Unless one of the DC contaminated something I went on to eat, I am now wheezing and coughing and feeling shite just due to touching the damn things.

Bearing this in mind do I need to call the GP, as DP suggests? It feels a little overdramatic, but I have to admit to being rather freaked out. Esp as DP doesn't live here so I'm alone with the DC and no other adult who'd know if I had a stronger reaction.
YABU - don't make a fuss and call the GP, just stop buying food you're fucking allergic to you dozy mare
YANBU - call the GP, see about allergy testing at some point in case it's wise to get an auto injector. And stop buying food you're fucking allergic to you dozy mare.

Yes, you are wheezing, you need medical advice. Immediately. NHS direct would be better than the GP.

Your allergy is clearly evolving and becoming worse so it clearly needs proper assessment and management before you get to the point that you have an anaphylactic shock when nobody is around to help.

Yes if you're wheezing and having any difficulty breathing..please do call.

Personally I would get someone to take you to your nearest A&E as you are having a serious reaction - wheezing.

I took an anti histamine and it's not getting any worse. But point made, will make a call. DP will be relieved. I think he's panicking more than me

YANBU - definitely avoid handling them, but those are significant symptoms you're reporting. If still experiencing them I'd consider seeking emergency help as you can get re-bound symptoms after antihistamines wear off.

The chances are that you're sensitive to other things as well, so it needs to be investigated and if indicated have epipen prescribed.

Kiwi isn't a common allergy so there's more risk of you accidentally coming into contact with it & given your reaction today it could be a full anaphylaxis next time 😕

Also avoid strawberries meantime as well as they are closely related

I'm allergic to kiwi too - last time I ate some I got blisters in my mouth and my lips swelled up. I avoid them now in case it might be worse next time!

Interesting. I've never had any issues with strawberries, but haven't eaten them since last summer so will be cautious. Thanks.
Tongue feels less swollen now but I. Still itchy and wheezy. God this is uncomfortable.

I'm fine with strawberries though! Weird.

I developed an anaphylactic kiwi allergy in 2005. I've been back to the GP several times over the years. They just told me to avoid the food. I gave up trying to get a referral a couple of years ago because no point. DS has been waiting on a peanut allergy test (after anaphylaxis at 4 months old) for over 12 months. He can't get one so we have to avoid every type of nut just in case until we know if it's peanuts, all tree nuts, or otherwise (we have an epi-pen). I'd just stop buying kiwis for now and wait for a better time to sort this out.

i think kiwi allergy can also cause allergy to latex so be careful with that as well. please do call the gp or 111 if it gets worse.

Please call 111 and make sure you speak with a doctor today - you’re having a systemic reaction and your airway has swollen, this could get worse once your antihistamine wears off. The doctor might want to review you face to face and may prescribe steroids to stop anaphylaxis.
I’m sure you’ll be fine but your husband is right to be cautious and you shouldn’t be on your own until this is sorted, it could be very dangerous if it gets worse overnight while you sleep.

It does sound like a latex fruit allergy, so should be on your medical records

I have a kiwi allergy. I haven’t eaten kiwi since 1987. Everything swollen. Lips, eyes the lot , weals all over. Allergies weren’t really a thing then in my world. I think I just took an antihistamine. I did react to any fruit after it to a lesser extent for about 2 years and then gradually reintroduced. But I haven’t touched kiwi .

If it’d happened now I’d definitely go to the doctor.

I have a lot of allergies and have developed new ones over the last few years. I just avoid contact with the things I'm aware of and take an antihistamine if I do come into contact with an allergen. I did have allergy testing done years ago, and have an EpiPen due to a nut allergy, but I've never used it. I personally would avoid kiwis rather than go to the GP in your scenario. I'm probably too relaxed on this though..allergies are a bit of a way of life for me. I'd go the GP if it is was a reaction to medication, or if I had severe breathing issues.

I'd definitely call - I knew a kid who was mildly allergic to kiwi the first time he tried it (I think with a slightly itchy mouth), and the next time he tried them he ended up with a major allergic reaction - he now carries an epi-pen as it got that serious, that quickly. Definitely reach out to 111 or the GP. Hope you're feeling better soon, OP

Yes definitely call!! I have multiple allergies and an epi pen as I’ve been in anaphylactic shock multiple times. I saw a dermatologist and an immunologist who told me every time I exposed myself to an allergen it would get progressively worse. Hence why my hair dye allergy went from me having a mild itch to me going into anaphylactic shock, my face swelling up and half my hair falling out!

Similar happened to my Grandma who was allergic to nuts (would get a swollen tongue if she ate but was okay touching them) but kept using a body butter with coconut in and eventually she went into anaphylactic shock and now can’t even go anywhere near the things.

GP rang me straight away and told me to take a second anti histamine, which should help within 15minutes. If it didn't then I need to go to a&e. She's calling back in 15 minutes to see how I am.

My eyes and lips are itchy now, but my tongue feels less swollen.
Is my chest feeling tight part of it?

I wish DP was my husband and would be here tonight, but sadly I'm on my own until tomorrow night.

Allergies do sometimes get progressively worse, this is a thing. So you should definitely engage your GP, as it's not impossible that over time your reactions might get even worse and if you don't have an epipen that could be serious. I don't want to scare you, but worsening allergies is a common progression.

Yes - you definitely need to seek medical advice. Kiwi allergy is one of the allergies where there is a risk of cross sensitivity to quite a few other things including avacado, banana and latex. In your position I would be very keen to get skin prick testing done. You may not have reacted to other things previously but it sounds like your kiwi allergy is evolving so you need to consider the possibility that you may develop reactions to other related foods.
Unfortunately, in my experience as the parent of a multi allergic child, a lot of non specialist health care professionals are seriously lacking in knowledge on this subject so you might need to push your GP to refer you. I would start by looking up the relevant pages on the Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis Campaign websites and maybe print them out to show your doctor ivfyou get a face to face appointment.
At the moment there is of course another implication to severe allergies as they rule out at least some of the Coronavirus vaccines. Again you should ideally be discuss that with a suitably experienced medical practitioner to decide whether it will be safe for you to be vaccinated or not.
Hope you feel better soon, and definitely stay well away from kiwi from now on!

Anaphylaxis to kiwi is a thing, yes your chest tightness sounds like it is part of the reaction, is it easing?

I think some of thevswelling and itchiness have eased. My chest still feels tight and I feel a bit wheezy, but perhaps less. I feel really shaken and anxious now though. Given myself a bit of a fright, really.

As MrsAvocet says, it can be a crossover allergy and it's definitely worth a chat.

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/userfiles/files/kiwi%20allergy%20factsheet.pdf

How close is your nearest A&E? I woods have a very low threshold for going there just so they can keep an eye on you for a couple of hours while the antihistamines kick in, get some steroids on board and so you’re not needing to call an ambulance in a hurry if things get worse while you’re home. Your GP is quite bold if they keep you at home now you’re having chest tightness too.
You’re not wasting anyone’s time, you’re probably one of the most acutely unwell patients your doctor has dealt with today (also stop buying kiwis!)