Unusual Allergies

[Chemar]

I thought it might be interesting to have a thread documenting some of the unusual allergies that we or family members may have

I had an allergy to onions until I was in my 30s and had my childen....it then seemed to be more sensitivity where I can eat scallions and other onion family members, as long as I stay away from the red, white and yellow regular onions
No longer get the same allergic reaction if I do ingest them, but still leaves me feeling kinda bleah

very hard to eat out with an onion allergy!

[Chemar]

ps...
meant to mention that I have recently learned that cats are also allergic to onions.

[Lara]

I have heard of people having sensitivity to onions and also garlic as well. I'm sorry you can't tolerate onions well. That'd be a real pain the way I cook with them.

My son had a very severe reaction to hairy caterpillars when he was little. He didn't even touch one. He touched the area where they had been crawling.

Talking of cats...
one of my cats nearly died from eating tulip leaves.

A relative became allergic to mangoes when she was in her 40's or so. What happened was she helped pick the green ones off the tree because they were making chutney. She got lots of the sap on her. It's a thick, white sap and hard to get off. Anyway, she could never drink tropical fruit juices or of course eat mangoes from then on. A lot of the mixed juices seem to have it in them.

[loisba]

Interesting thread, Chemar. My allergies are just the run of the mill dust and pollen. But my Daddy! Wow!! That man was allergic to just about anything and everything. The smell of new cut grass, many animals, including camels and elephants, chili peppers. I remember he used to love to put hot sauce on his food. Of course, he'd pay for it, but he ate it anyway. And the way we found out he was allergic to elephants was during a trip to the zoo, when he started to swell up like an elephant after being near them.
Hugs,

[mrsD]

My worst inhalant allergies are in early spring.. tree pollen.

When I was in my mid twenties I had desensitization for tree/grass/mold.
It worked pretty well. But I still get burning eyes from tree pollen.

Over the years I have developed some allergies to drug dust. These are impossible to control. Augmentin is impossible for me to reconstitute now.
I've had one full blown attack necessitating going home from Augmentin. Sulfonamide drugs also set me off.

This is an occupational hazard, and cannot be avoided 100%. This spring has been pretty bad for me too since the pollen then is additive to the occupational exposures. I am using Singulair now with good success. It seems better than antihistamines.

I did some elimination diets last spring, for my arthritis. Now I am orange free.
Seems that oranges/juice were flaring my knees. I also discovered an intolerance to onions. I used to use them heavily... but now no more. My reactions are mostly GI.

[Wittesea]

My husband is also allergic to onions. We had to get an EpiPen because there are too many times that onions can sneak into food when eating out. The biggest example is Subway sandwiches - for some reason they often have tiny bits of onion that end up in their shredded lettuce... and since Subway is one of my husbands favorite places to eat lunch (and since he loves lettuce on his subs) he has to be really careful.

[wishfulthinking]

I'm allergic to pollen, dust, mold, plants like trees and grass, animal hair, strawberries, powder chocolate (like hot coco. or oreo cookies), anything mint flavored. I get sever reactions from my allergies and have even developed asthma to go along with it. It's not much fun that's for sure. I'm trying to stay inside during the spring and summer, but it's hard sometimes.
Wish

[Chemar]

:hug: Wish....you sure do have a bunch of allergies to deal with there huh


I meant to mention in my first post that I am also allergic to my wedding ring;)
seriously tho
I cant wear my gold band all the time anymore as it causes a red, itchy rough area on my finger. So now I just wear it when I go out and remove it as soon as I am home. That seems to prevent the allergic rash

[Curious]

vinagar and mustard. i have been deathly sick in the hospital from eating foods that i was told didn't contain either.

weird ones huh?

hubby get super sick from bell peppers. green ones. not from the red or yellow.

one of my daughters had a red dye allergy fo ryears. thankfully she outgrew it. boy was that hard to find food it was snuck into.

[Chemar]

someone I know from another forum has been having a dreadful time with rash and itch and trying to figure our what is causing it

well

turns out she is allergic to coconut and all products containing coconut which is in so many products from dishwashing liquid to soaps, toothpastes etc

since she diligently studied ingredients and eliminated all coconut derivatives from her life....all the rash and itching has stopped!

[wishfulthinking]

I know what you mean! I too get rashes from wearing jewlery. It's not fun! But the best way to cope with it is to take a cool shower or bath. Put some anti itching cream on it, and to listen to calming music while drifting off to sleep. Or at least that is what I had to do for a while. Any way, I completely understand all the allergy sympotms and I just pray that no one has to go through any of them any more.
Wish

[Chemar]

I was reading a thread on NT's general health forum on nickel allergy that I think explains my reaction to my wedding ring.....it is likely a nickel content/coating in the gold that I may be allergic to. :idea:

here's the thread on nickel allergy:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=9067

[Curious]

cheri..what about putting one of those clear guards on it?

[Dmom3005]

I learned just a year ago that the broncitus and sinus infections I get all the time at this time of year. Are really asthma and reactions to the allergies
I have.

So I have been trying to get through this. I'm allergic to pollen, ragweed
and dust mites.

But I take the shots for my allergies, and I also react to the shots, so I take claritin, benedryl, veramyst and then also all my asthma meds too.
Which is advair 500/50, singulair, and my emergency inhaler which I use 3 or
4 times a day at many times a year.

I was just in today getting my shots. And I had to once again use my benedryl rub on right away, and i"ve still got the reaction. But I had to make
a appointment for tomorrow also for my asthma is badly out of control.

SO I'm going back tomorrow.

Ugh, I just can't seem to get a break.

Donna

[Wiix]

Smoked salmon makes me itch. I can eat just plain baked salmon but not smoked.

I also think I am allegic to the carpet in my apt. :( Anytime I vacuum, I get all itchy and stuffed up.

[JDPhD]

When it comes to allergies, I'm a pro! I've dealt with them since I was 3. I've learned all along the way, and have had my life saved by savvy ENTs.

I don't know an "unusual" allergy. :winky: Back when I was young, there was the "boy in the bubble" does anyone remember him? Well, doctors don't know how I lived without living in a bubble. But I did!

I'm still highly allergic to medicines. Mostly it is the cheap fillers the drug companies use in the generics. I used to be allergic to all foods and all inhalents. I went through the "Lees-Miller derivative of the Rinkel technique, and that saved my life. (It allowed me to eat while I was desensitizing.)

I learned all sorts of weird stuff for me to store in my brain, such as paper plates are made from corn, so because I was allergic to corn I couldn't use them.

Right now I'm battling soy products, and also whatever it is in Oil of Olay. How sad I was when my fav cosmetics (Cover Girl) went with Olay. :( I've moved on to Lauren Hutton though!

Back in the 80s when I went through the last testings, I was so brittle (sensitive) the allergist would only have me or also one other lady in his office. She got heart attacks from her reactions. That doctor (now retired) also cured 2 children who were deaf because of allergies. I guess you would consider those unusual? TC!

[CTenaLouise]

mold is a very real threat to my health -
a tiny bit of info about mold -

Airborne mold spores can destroy your health. Many people are unaware that they are breathing mold spores until they are very sick. If you are lucky and have a minor allergic reaction to the mold, once you leave the affected area you will recover. But, if you have been exposed to the dangerous stachybotris spores you can have chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, heart problems bleeding lungs and more. Here is what you need to know about mold in your homes, schools, and places of work.

25 million Americans suffer from allergic reactions to molds, most of them don’t even realize that when they’re sneezing and sniffling the cause could be molds. Many molds produce airborne toxins that can cause serious breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and bleeding in the lungs. Common ailments from mold---including allergies, asthma and bruising---usually can be treated and reduced after people leave their contaminated environment. But other health problems may remain permanently, such as brain damage and weakened immune systems.


Fungus reproduces into spores that come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The spores will reproduce and germinate into new mold growth which in turn can produce millions of more spores. Molds are most prevalent from spring through late fall, but,in warm climates, molds thrive all year and can cause year-round problems.


Molds can be found wherever there is moisture, oxygen, warmth and something to feed on. In the fall they grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves, especially in moist, shady areas. In gardens, they can be found in compost piles and on certain grasses and weeds. Molds grow in our homes in moist warm areas like damp basements, closets, and bathrooms. Also molds can grow in places where fresh food is stored, refrigerator drip trays, house plants, humidifiers, garbage pails, mattresses, upholstered furniture, or foam rubber pillows. Molds can grow inside the walls and flooring of our homes, wherever there are wet cellulose materials they can feed on, such as wood, ceiling tiles, or plasterboard.


Molds come in at least a thousand different varieties, but only a few are the offenders that invade our homes. Alternaria and Cladosporium are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Aureobasidium are also common. The most dangerous mold strains are: stachybotrys (pronounced Stack-ee-BOT-ris). This black fungus releases toxic, microscopic spores that cause the worst symptoms that are usually irreversible.


In some individuals, a minor exposure to mold can cause an allergy that can lead to asthma or to a lung disease. The symptoms are wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up of brown mucus. You will need to be seen by a doctor is you suspect that your allergies, bronchitis or asthma are related to mold spores. If you have any unexplained severe health problems, you may want to determine if you have been exposed to a dangerous strain of mold spores.


In some people, symptoms of mold allergy can be worsened by eating foods, such as cheeses, that are processed with fungi. Other foods like mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar can also produce allergic symptoms. Avoid these foods if you suspect any mold allergies.


To rid your house of mold clean counters, showers, tubs, sinks, window sills or anywhere there is mold with bleach. Fix leaking faucets or pipes that could be dampening walls. Install air conditioning in your home because this dries the air out, making it more difficult for mold to survive. Check houseplant soil, make sure it is not always very damp. Keep firewood outside. Keep your basement as dry as possible. You may want to keep an air purifier in your basement. Clean the bottom of your refrigerator, and underneath it. Clean up all water damage quickly. If your carpet, walls or any flooring is in a flood get an experienced flood specialist to dry it up for you. Any dampness left can cause mold to grow in your walls or under your carpet. When water is left to sit, for even 24 hours, common molds can begin to grow. If water continues to sit and areas become completely saturated, more lethal molds, such as Stachybotrys, can begin to grow.


The tricky thing about these airborne molds is, you may not realize how it has affected your health for quite sometime after you have been exposed. It is important to not live, work or stay for long periods of time in a place that smells mildewy or moldy. If you have done all you can to clean molds that are visible, maybe there is mold under the carpet or in the walls.


If you suspect that the air quality in your home is being compromised by mold spores you can have the air tested, but it can be quite expensive.

It's worth it if it helps save your health.

[FinLady]

I have a couple of strange chemical allergies.

I am allergic to Fabric Softner. Yep. It's a fun one I inherited from my dad. ;)

I am allergic to artifical rasberry falvoring. Doesn't matter if it's blue or red. If it's artifical, I look like a racoon.

I can't take allergy shots. Used to, until I had an allergic reaction to them at age 14.

Weird, huh? :D

[COK]

I have allergies to almost everything plant/animal...the strangest was Kapok. It is used in floating devices, and as I do a lot of fishing I have to be careful of those floating devices.

I took shots for years some things I tolerate ok as long as I take Allegra 180mgs a day and Flonase...the other things I avoid being around. I'm having a sinus flare up now. Since I am not working I haven't been having bronchitis because of all the colognes/hairsprays/etc.

I also have MS, which could be cause for the allergies...one thing or another that's how it goes!:)

[DizySara]

I have the run of the mill allergies, Aspirin, codine, morphine, Ultram, bee's, horses, and all types of peppers it dosen't matter which ones from bell to chili. It's an acid that's in them all that I'm allergic to.

Now my really weird ones.

I'm allergic to the sun. In the summer if I stay out in sunlight more than 10 minutes I break out in bad blisters which itch, burn and hurt for days. It seems to be worse in the summer than in the winter, but then again I'm more covered during the winter months so less skin is exposed.

I'm allergic to Iodine. Found this one out when we went swimming at Tabby Island in Georgia. Apparently it has the highest concentration of iodine in the water from the sand dollars and oh boy did I look like a strawberry after that day.

I'm also allergic to Magnesium Sulfate. Which is what they give women who go into pre-term labor to stop the labor. For me it induces it rapidly. They had to take the bag and send it out to be tested because I was the only person ever known to react that way when given it. Oh weeee. I'm famous in the medical community for having a backwards system. *sarcasm intended.

And just within the last month I've developed an allergy to peanuts. And now have to go back through testing to see if it's isolated to just peanuts or all or other different types of seeds as well.
Stupid me within 4 days of having the severe reaction to a peanut butter sandwich went and ate a reese's peanut butter cup :eek: forgetting until after I finished it that I wasn't supposed to have that anymore and wa-la another attack. I think I'll remember the next time. :rolleyes: But I live in fibro-fog so there's no guarantee I'll remember in time.

Now another weird allergy is.

My sister in law is allergic to the cold. She gets the same way I do in sunlight. Its very painful for her. She can't even run her hands in cold water without blistering. Figure that one out. :confused:

Sara

[Koala77]

I have lots of drug allergies including all the DMDs unfortunately.

I love fishing but I'm allergic to one of the most common fishes here in Southern Australia. Flathead fish are a good eating fish caught on sandy beaches, but they have spikes on their backbones. I only have to touch one of these and it's a trip to hospital for me.

I don't know if the coastal states of the US have them or not .... This is what they look like.

[reporter]

For an excellent look into unusual allergies, check out "Allergies: seasonal or not, sufferers are everywhere" by Roxanne Pinto.
There are also many related stories on the right bar.



(remove the spaces)

[christina86]

I don't know if any of my allergies are considered 'unusual' but I have a fair number of them...

My number one (severe-anaphylaxis) allergy is latex. Had it since I was born, *so* not fun.

I'm also allergic to: raw bananas (not cooked), kiwi, papaya, mango, passionfruit, avocado. All of these ones I've been allergic to since I was very young.

Over the past two or three years though... I'm now officially allergic to raw tomatoes, and raw peppers (like Bell peppers). Totally sucks, because I really did love tomato.

[Wiix]

I have a couple of strange chemical allergies.

Weird, huh? :D

No, not for me AND laundry detergent, even without any colour or fillers. I have to use a short piece of hose to add extra water to the wash and rinse cycle on the washing machine AND as it spins I just keep on spraying until it nears the end of rinse spin. This flushes most of it out and my allergies are much better when I do this. I NEVER can use fabric softener OR the sheets either. I get all stuffed up and phlegmy. I do think all the additives in our products are Killing us anyway. :( I TRY to use Minimal soaps and detergents and shampoos and conditioners and Rinse, Rinse, RINSE like Crazy when I do. AND drinking a lot of water throughout the day also helps with these problems.:winky:

[Chemar]

Wiix
you may be allergic to coconut stuff...there is a lot of it in toiletries and household products

I know some people who do have coconut allergy and as soon as they eliminated everything with coconut in it things improved

my son is hyper sensitive to chemicals so we have to be real careful. He thankfully doesnt have the coconut allergy tho as it is real healthy stuff! natural anti-microbial plus highly nutritious too

[Wiix]

I am REALLY having a terrible time right now. Coughing up GOBS of stuff now for about 2 weeks and yesterday my ears got all blocked up and I am sneezing and dripping all over the place. I'm NOT sick just gooky and phlegmy as all get out. I got some OTC MultiSymptom Allergy medicine, store brand, yesterday and I just took a caplet. Let's see if this helps. Usually a couple Benedryl at night helps quite a bit but in the morning, MAN!!! I am like a Gook Machine here couging up SO much stuff and dripping like Crazy. IF I attempt to do some cleaning I KNOW it's only going to make it worse.

You know what I think I am going to do is when I vacuum, I am going to use a spray bottle and spray everything with a fine mist of water BEFORE I vacuum. Maybe that'll keep some of this stuff to a minimum in the air. I KNOW I have to take my canopy down from my bed and wash that and my bedroom curtains too. I will do the same there BEFORE I attempt to take any of that down to wash. Yesterday I took a nap and woke up BLOCKED up so tight I had to breathe through my mouth. I almost needed a crowbar to open up my sinuses with a nasal spray. :o

[momXseven]

Wiix you might have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), check this out.

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/mcs.html

[lefthanded]

Wiix . . . have you ever considered that you should not have dust catchers like the canopy, being as you are hyper-sensitive to dust? I have read many times that those with dust allergies often contribute by they way that they furnish their homes. You might be better off eliminating those furnishings that noticeably catch or trap dust. I know we constantly monitor around here for things that collect dust, just to be on the safe side, as my partner has early stages of COPD.

[dizzie lizzy]

mold is a very real threat to my health -
a tiny bit of info about mold -

Airborne mold spores can destroy your health. Many people are unaware that they are breathing mold spores until they are very sick. If you are lucky and have a minor allergic reaction to the mold, once you leave the affected area you will recover. But, if you have been exposed to the dangerous stachybotris spores you can have chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, heart problems bleeding lungs and more. Here is what you need to know about mold in your homes, schools, and places of work.

25 million Americans suffer from allergic reactions to molds, most of them don’t even realize that when they’re sneezing and sniffling the cause could be molds. Many molds produce airborne toxins that can cause serious breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and bleeding in the lungs. Common ailments from mold---including allergies, asthma and bruising---usually can be treated and reduced after people leave their contaminated environment. But other health problems may remain permanently, such as brain damage and weakened immune systems.


Fungus reproduces into spores that come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The spores will reproduce and germinate into new mold growth which in turn can produce millions of more spores. Molds are most prevalent from spring through late fall, but,in warm climates, molds thrive all year and can cause year-round problems.


Molds can be found wherever there is moisture, oxygen, warmth and something to feed on. In the fall they grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves, especially in moist, shady areas. In gardens, they can be found in compost piles and on certain grasses and weeds. Molds grow in our homes in moist warm areas like damp basements, closets, and bathrooms. Also molds can grow in places where fresh food is stored, refrigerator drip trays, house plants, humidifiers, garbage pails, mattresses, upholstered furniture, or foam rubber pillows. Molds can grow inside the walls and flooring of our homes, wherever there are wet cellulose materials they can feed on, such as wood, ceiling tiles, or plasterboard.


Molds come in at least a thousand different varieties, but only a few are the offenders that invade our homes. Alternaria and Cladosporium are the molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Aureobasidium are also common. The most dangerous mold strains are: stachybotrys (pronounced Stack-ee-BOT-ris). This black fungus releases toxic, microscopic spores that cause the worst symptoms that are usually irreversible.


In some individuals, a minor exposure to mold can cause an allergy that can lead to asthma or to a lung disease. The symptoms are wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up of brown mucus. You will need to be seen by a doctor is you suspect that your allergies, bronchitis or asthma are related to mold spores. If you have any unexplained severe health problems, you may want to determine if you have been exposed to a dangerous strain of mold spores.


In some people, symptoms of mold allergy can be worsened by eating foods, such as cheeses, that are processed with fungi. Other foods like mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar can also produce allergic symptoms. Avoid these foods if you suspect any mold allergies.


To rid your house of mold clean counters, showers, tubs, sinks, window sills or anywhere there is mold with bleach. Fix leaking faucets or pipes that could be dampening walls. Install air conditioning in your home because this dries the air out, making it more difficult for mold to survive. Check houseplant soil, make sure it is not always very damp. Keep firewood outside. Keep your basement as dry as possible. You may want to keep an air purifier in your basement. Clean the bottom of your refrigerator, and underneath it. Clean up all water damage quickly. If your carpet, walls or any flooring is in a flood get an experienced flood specialist to dry it up for you. Any dampness left can cause mold to grow in your walls or under your carpet. When water is left to sit, for even 24 hours, common molds can begin to grow. If water continues to sit and areas become completely saturated, more lethal molds, such as Stachybotrys, can begin to grow.


The tricky thing about these airborne molds is, you may not realize how it has affected your health for quite sometime after you have been exposed. It is important to not live, work or stay for long periods of time in a place that smells mildewy or moldy. If you have done all you can to clean molds that are visible, maybe there is mold under the carpet or in the walls.


If you suspect that the air quality in your home is being compromised by mold spores you can have the air tested, but it can be quite expensive.

It's worth it if it helps save your health.

Tena,

Do you know of any easy/blood test that can be done to determine black mold poisoning? It is one of my theories about what is wrong with me. If I knew what test would prove it, I could just ask for that test to be run. If it is that I think it's my workplace since my problems developed after the back of my desk area was flooded with black water last year. Everyone in my office is perpetually sick too. Some with "allergies", some with throat and sinus infections, some with "Post-Lyme Disease" and some with new on-set gastrointestinal "allergies". Any help would be appreciated.
Dizzie lizzy

[lifesaver54]

Zantac, Prilosec - Skin Rash, breathing problems
Cymbalta, Paxil, Zoloft - Severe facial, tongue, extremity edema, blistering/bleeding rash in throat and gynecological, severe skin rash with itching.
Diagnostic Iodine--skin rash
Sulfa-severe mental confusion
Bee Stings and other insects

Still trying to find more information on the allergic reaction to the Antidepresspants and Zantac etc, was taking both at same time when this started, but when taking zoloft was not taking any stomach meds. The only thing that saved me from an anaphylactic reaction was being on benadryl and meclizine for allergies and a balance disorder.

I would more than appreciate any information or resources explaining the hows and whys of the Anti-depressant allergies. I am on desipramine, a tricyclic, and having some side effects-bothersome, and starting the first signs of galactorrhea. I am just afraid of having no viable anti-depressant options down the road.

This is all I can think to write at this time. Thank you ahead of time for any information.
Lifesaver54