Swollen lip hours after eating seafood - please weigh in

[Anonymous]

My epi pen info sheet specifically states that reaction can happen hours after exposure. Get allergy testing. There are different reactions, and his might not progress but he should know.

[Anonymous]

I had something very similar to your husband appear out of nowhere. I didn't think it was shellfish because I could often eat it without any is swelling or hives and sometimes would get hives w/o shellfish. The current theory is that it was preservatives causing my outbreaks. I noticed that I had it more after work events that was catered with shell fish or if I ate somewhere that was not top notch. My allergist said that caterers or certain other places will use some kind of preservative on food to make it not brown or oxidize. I had these episodes for about a year and then it stopped as sudden,y as it came on. It was so very strange and really freaked me out because lip swelling is no joke.

[Anonymous]

He needs a new allergist, one who specializes in food allergy. I mean really.

[Anonymous]

Those of you who are allergic to something but "test" it once in a while by eating the food are risking a life-threatening reaction. You don't know how bad the next reaction will be.

[Anonymous]

Referral-Mark Scarupa at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy. Offices in Friendship Heights and Wheaton. Awesome doc-very science-based and excellent bedside manner.

[Anonymous]

DH is playing with fire here. That allergy could suddenly get much worse. no more shrimp.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely get a second opinion as well as make an appointment w/an allergist.
Testing for food allergies may be a good idea after what occurred.

I have eaten fish all of my life, and often as well.

Then at 42, I was eating a McDonald's Filet of Fish sandwich & my throat began swelling up to where I panicked, thinking I would die from anaphylactic shock.

Thankfully it was a mild reaction, but it alarmed me enough to seek an allergist stat.

I highly encourage your husband to do just that!

Good luck to him!

[Anonymous]

Aren't seafood allergies one of the most common adult-onset allergies? I randomly became allergic to mussels. I break out in hives. I still eat them periodically, but have access to Benadryl and an epi-pen since I'd heard/read that the can escalate without warning.

Your DH absolutely needs a second opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had something very similar to your husband appear out of nowhere. I didn't think it was shellfish because I could often eat it without any is swelling or hives and sometimes would get hives w/o shellfish. The current theory is that it was preservatives causing my outbreaks. I noticed that I had it more after work events that was catered with shell fish or if I ate somewhere that was not top notch. My allergist said that caterers or certain other places will use some kind of preservative on food to make it not brown or oxidize. I had these episodes for about a year and then it stopped as sudden,y as it came on. It was so very strange and really freaked me out because lip swelling is no joke.

Some people have an allergy to sulfites which are often found in shrimp and lobster.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy731

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband has, for the past year or so, been breaking out in intermittent hives. Sometimes they seems to pop up after he eats seafood, but other times he eats seafood with no hives, and sometimes he gets hives with no seafood exposure.

This week, he ate a shrimp dish for lunch at a thai restaurant. About 3-3.5 hours later, he realized his upper lip was hugely swollen. No pain, no problems breathing, but an enormous lip. The swelling lasted about 24 hours. He looked ridiculous!

This is a long shot but did you ever figure out what the culprit was? I too have intermittent hives (legs arms face etc) and we had sushi last night and my lips got HUGE hours later. Still big but going down, taking medrol dose pack. I also live in the Bethesda /silver spring area and if you found a good doctors let me know! Currently I am getting allergy shots for pollens and animals (I love with two cats I’m allergic to, but they don’t cause my lips to puff up and I’m around them daily.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband has, for the past year or so, been breaking out in intermittent hives. Sometimes they seems to pop up after he eats seafood, but other times he eats seafood with no hives, and sometimes he gets hives with no seafood exposure.

This week, he ate a shrimp dish for lunch at a thai restaurant. About 3-3.5 hours later, he realized his upper lip was hugely swollen. No pain, no problems breathing, but an enormous lip. The swelling lasted about 24 hours. He looked ridiculous!

This is a long shot but did you ever figure out what the culprit was? I too have intermittent hives (legs arms face etc) and we had sushi last night and my lips got HUGE hours later. Still big but going down, taking medrol dose pack. I also live in the Bethesda /silver spring area and if you found a good doctors let me know! Currently I am getting allergy shots for pollens and animals (I love with two cats I’m allergic to, but they don’t cause my lips to puff up and I’m around them daily.)

When my dd was allergy tested for nuts, sesame was one of the related allergies that they tested for. There is frequently sesame (including oil) in Asian food. They also tested for coconut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My epi pen info sheet specifically states that reaction can happen hours after exposure. Get allergy testing. There are different reactions, and his might not progress but he should know.

This. Please please get a 2nd opinion. It's crazy that she didn't give him the allergy prick test!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get this with oranges (eyes swell, not lips). It took me forever to link which food was causing me problems because it was hours later, sometimes the next day.

Now, I've never been tested because I haven't been concerned about breathing, etc. And it's pretty easy to avoid oranges. Time to time, I'll have a clementine or something just to see if I'm still allergic and yep... Still am.

That's funny. I'm the PP with the allergic brother. He still won't give up crabs (what he's allergic to) so he will stuff himself and then I make fun of his lips. Eats crabs, yep, still allergic.

My brother does this, too, except he takes like 4 Benadryl so his throat won't swell. I'm severely allergic to fish and shellfish and I fear cross contamination. Did you know oyster shell is used as a milkshake thickener? I didn't until I ended up in the ER.

[Anonymous]

I’m allergic to avocado. It started out with small blisters on my hands when I picked them up in our yard. (didn’t make the connection). Then, my hands started to swell. Still didn’t make the connection. I thought it was something else in the yard. Then, my lips started tingling when I ate avocado. Then, I broke out in hives. Finally made the connection between the symptoms and the avocado. My symptoms were mild and I love avocado, so I ignored the symptoms. I finally had an anaphylactic reaction. Now, even the tiniest amount sends me to the ER even with my epipen.

Don’t play with this, OP. Allergies can become deadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Referral-Mark Scarupa at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy. Offices in Friendship Heights and Wheaton. Awesome doc-very science-based and excellent bedside manner.

+1 for Dr. Scarupa. He is extremely intelligent, kind and he obviously reads and keeps up to date in his field..