Can anyone knowledgable about allergies please help? On holiday and stuck in hotel room!

[mynycname]

Name changed as this will be identifying.

We are on holiday in New York. Day 1 I was fine.

Day 2 had an allergic reaction within 2 hours of being out and about. Hives, swelling all over, thought I was going to pass out, pounding heart. Within a couple of hours of being back at the hotel, I felt better and ventured out again and promptly had another reaction. Stayed in hotel room for the rest of the day.

Day 3 - today. Took 360mg of fexofenadine before even heading out. Walked 6 blocks and had another reaction!

We've got 4 more days here and I'm terrified I'm going to be stuck in the hotel for the rest of our trip 😭 any ideas of what I can do to try to still enjoy the holiday. I have NO idea what I'm allergic to - Mast Cell Activation Syndrome sounds very possible after reading up on it though. Thanks for reading x

It could be pollen in the air perhaps?
Is there any reason why you aren't seeking medical help?

Also, your day2 symptoms would merit using an EpiPen, do you have one available?

I really think it is a "see a Dr swiftly" situation not a "post on Mumsnet" situation

You need to see a doctor.

What are you known allergens? Do you have an epipen?

Sorry possibly should have explained more. I'm under dermatology in the UK for my allergies and have been for years. I get occasional reactions but the cause has never been established. I've never had multiple reactions like I'm getting here though. I'm not sure what medical help could/would do. I have antihistamine tablets and when I'm in the hotel room I'm fine. But when I go outside I get a reaction each time!

Yes I have an epipen but not sure my reactions are actually anaphylaxis as opposed to just a moderate/severe reaction IYSWIM. I've never used the epipen.

Are you near Central Park? I had a massive allergic reaction to the horses there. I could smell them from my hotel room!

@Shortpoet

Are you near Central Park? I had a massive allergic reaction to the horses there. I could smell them from my hotel room!

We're near Times Square.

Tachycardia is an indicator for low blood pressure in anaphylaxis. You need an immunologist/allergy specialist not a dermatologist. You need a proper allergy plan so you know what to do.

Has anyone considered 'exercise-induced anaphylaxis'? It's not just brought on by exercise and can have food triggers (mine is wheat dependent), but can also be triggered by temp changes, stress, alcohol, NSAIDs, and menstruation.

Tree pollen can be an issue in NYC in February, especially cedar. Pharmacies are a really good starting point - they are able to sell you far more drugs over the counter than in the U.K. and can give you antihistamine injections in some places.

I have MCAS and similar symptoms. It is a nightmare .
I take 4 x fexofenadine when things are bad . My immunology consultant said it is ok. 2 x pills 12 hours apart.

I sympathise as it is shit condition to live with .

@Zodlebud

Tree pollen can be an issue in NYC in February, especially cedar. Pharmacies are a really good starting point - they are able to sell you far more drugs over the counter than in the U.K. and can give you antihistamine injections in some places.

Thank you, we're going to pop over the road to the pharmacy and see what they say...

It’s a bit early for pollen, but if you aren’t used to the local kind a big flare up could happen with even a small amount. Buildings will have filters on the air systems that keep much of it out.

The default cocktail of drugs from every US allergist my dd and I have worked with has been Flonase and Zyrtec daily with Benadryl as needed. All of that is available over the counter (and even in generic form) at a NYC pharmacy.

Pharmacists can’t give as much medical advice as they can in the UK, but many of the major pharmacies have onsite medical clinics with Nurse Practitioners.

You can email Allergy UK from the USA and get advice from one of their nurses, they respond really quickly:

www.allergyuk.org/our-services/helpline/

Cold urticaria? I have no idea what the weather is like inNYC right now, but that would explain why it happens when you go outside.

We went to an indoor shopping/outlet mall in New Jersey yesterday. Not ideal but got a cab there and back so I could just get straight into it from the front of the hotel. We would ordinarily have taken the bus but didn't want to risk walking through NY to the bus station even though it was only a couple of blocks. Was fine all day, no reaction.

Today we're supposed to be going to the 9/11 memorial, over the Brooklyn bridge and a few other things. The weather is a lot warmer today so if it is to do with the cold hopefully I'll be ok. I'm going to round the block a couple of times before we go anywhere to see if I react today. If so I'll need to stay in the hotel while DS and DP go sightseeing.

The pharmacist was useless, but I managed to pick up some additional tablets that my dermatologist had prescribed last month (that my doctor failed to issue).

Good luck, here's a reminder of when to use your epipen.

Have you got any Zyrtec? I take that with fexofenadine (I am on Xolair too)

@Yarnivore

Good luck, here's a reminder of when to use your epipen.

Thank you, this is really helpful!

@pawpaws2022

Have you got any Zyrtec? I take that with fexofenadine (I am on Xolair too)

Zyrtec was actually the new antihistamine I've been prescribed but my GP failed to issue, and that was what I picked up from the pharmacy yesterday.

This morning I took 1 x fexofenadine plus 1 x Zyrtec and stayed in the hotel room til 10.30am (just in case it is a cedar allergy as someone suggested below, as apparently cedar pollen is worse before 10am). The weather was also so much milder today - 18 degrees! I took another fexofenadine before going out, and got a cab from directly outside the hotel to our first location. I've managed to walk around all day today without a single reaction!

So, so happy

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions and I'll be getting back in touch with the dermatologist when I'm back. I know she wants to run some tests to rule out anything underlying like lupus.

Phew! If you pay for your prescriptions then it's cheaper to buy online in bulk (I take 4 a day)