Does this sound like a food allergy?

[wanderingenough]

Or would you think environmental?

For the last 2-3 weeks, almost daily, I've had occurrences where my entire body feels super itchy. It feels like pins all over-- usually my scalp, chest, back, feet, etc. The only way I've found to make it stop is taking true Benadryl.

I already take an OTC allergy med daily, FYI.

I've never had food allergies before. However, for the first time about 3 months ago, I ate this Kind bar breakfast granola bar and within like 20 mins had itching and my whole face/eyes started swelling. I was able to make that stop with Benadryl, thankfully. I thought it was a one-off thing. Now I'm wondering if I've developed some sort of late-onset food allergy?

My mom maintains that it has to be environmental because "XYZ fall thing" is blooming and it "makes (her) nose itch too." But this is so much more than what I've ever had with allergies before.

Yes, I know the answer is consult an allergist but A) I'm on lockdown at work for a couple weeks so I'm trying to consult the real experts (jk!) and B) I JUST had allergy testing done a year ago in KY.

[estrellita]

Hmm, I don't have a ton of allergy experience as the only food I've had a reaction to was Sunny D. But I feel like it might be food if it's all over? I think I've developed some environmental allergies and my sinuses get super itchy and irritated but that's it. Have you kept track of your food to see if it seems to happen after eating certain ingredients?

[wanderingenough]

estrellita - I haven't yet, because I haven't eaten the same thing to have noticed a pattern. I guess I should start. Ugh! This sucks.

[grover]

For what it's worth, I didn't develop food allergies until around the time I turned 30. I'm now allergic to Brazil nuts (it was the first time trying them that set of a multi-system reaction), cashews, hazelnuts, and pistachios (which I grew up eating and loving).

Do you recall if your throat itched at all?

[estrellita]

wanderingenough Maybe it's a common ingredient? I still haven't figured out what it was that gave me a reaction with Sunny D (and I was really little so I could have outgrown it) but it must have been some random ingredient. I hope you can figure out what it is!

[awick14]

estrellita- I would defiantly start a food diary and when work settles down I would see an allergist.

In the maintime I would try to avoid common allergy s to see if that helps.

[wanderingenough]

Ok, now I'm thinking my mom is right and it's environmental. It happened first thing this morning before I'd ingested anything. Unless it is my detergent or something, but that hasn't changed.

[katespade]

Oct 16, 2017 8:25:38 GMT -5 wanderingenough said:

Ok, now I'm thinking my mom is right and it's environmental. It happened first thing this morning before I'd ingested anything. Unless it is my detergent or something, but that hasn't changed.

Do you take any meds in the morning that you might be having a reaction to?

[wanderingenough]

katespade - I take Zyrtec, but I hadn't taken it yet today when it started.

I left a message at my PCP's office before my flight today. The nurse left me a VM and said keep up the Benadryl but he wants to see me when I get back.

[tacocat]

I have no idea, but I hope you get it figured out quickly! That sounds frustrating and very uncomfortable!

[grover]

Oct 16, 2017 8:25:38 GMT -5 wanderingenough said:

Ok, now I'm thinking my mom is right and it's environmental. It happened first thing this morning before I'd ingested anything. Unless it is my detergent or something, but that hasn't changed.

When did you last wash your sheets? I went to the allergist thinking I had developed either a detergent or feather allergy from my new pillow, but it turned out to be a dust mites allergy.

[wanderingenough]

Maybe like two weeks? They did test for dust mites last time I did allergy testing. It came up kind of medium, if I recall correctly.

In other news, I'm out of state on work travel and have NOT had any itching since I've been here. That narrows it down in my mind to either A) Florida allergens or B) fabric softener. I realized my husband recently started using Downy on our laundry. It's dye-free and he doesn't always use it, so I hadn't thought about it --but he uses it on towels/sheets/etc. It wouldn't be on the clothes I'm wearing out here because they are work clothes and those have been hanging in the closet forever (I WAH). I think environmental though since we used regular detergent forever before having R.

Going to try to get in with PCP on Friday when I get home.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Could it be a stress thing? Between you being busy at work and your work trip, perhaps it's stress finding it's "way out?"

[MrsMB]

Sorry that is happening. I hope you get some relief soon!!!