Sigh....No more shrimp for me

[Anonymous]

I just had an allergic reaction to shrimp tonight. I suspected I was developing an allergy, but tonight after eating 1 shrimp, I developed hives, numb lips, and generalized itchiness. Damn. I love shrimp! Oh well, I guess.

Does anybody else out there have an allergy to shrimp, but not blue crabs? Or am I being naive?

[Anonymous]

I am allergic to shrimp. But that is it. Be careful - my reactions have gotten worse each time I have been exposed.

[Anonymous]

Bummer! I could live without shrimp but would be really sad if I developed an allergy to other shellfish, esp crab and lobster. I'm cooking mussels for a late dinner right now, actually.

[Anonymous]

I love mussels... what are you making?

[Anonymous]

Wow that is a bummer! As a shrimp lover I feel for you, Op. How long have you been eating shrimp and when did you start to suspect that you might be developing an allergy to it? Do you have other food allergies or did this sort of come out of the blue?

[Anonymous]

I'm going to go all Momish on you;

Please, be careful. Your allergy symptoms could continue for hours. I'd suggest taking a Benadryl now. Do you have someone who can be with you?

As soon as you can, go to an allergist and get tested. Find out exactly what you are allergic to and get an idea of how severe your allergy/allergies might be. You might need to carry epinephrine.

Don't mess around or sample any other seafood until you determine if you are allergic to anything else.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure you are allergic? You should at least get it officially checked out. I got hives once after a crab feast in my 20s, but I never again had that reaction. In my 50s now.

[Anonymous]

What is the origin of the shrimp??

I only eat Gulf shrimp; pricier, but peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I have no other allergies. But, for about a year, I noticed that every time I ate shrimp, I'd have gastrointestinal issues and, oddly, insomnia. Someone told me that both symptoms could suggest a shrimp intolerance or that I was developing an allergy. (Weird, I know). But we had shrimp with dinner at least once every week to 2 weeks and the correlation was uncanny. So then, I started cutting down a lot but I did notice that my lips would feel funny and I'd get diarrhea even if I ate a couple of shrimp, When we did have it. So now, I had not had any shrimp in the past 6-8 months and I haven't had any of those symptoms....till tonight. I am positive it was the shrimp. I made shrimp for my family for dinner tonight and, knowing my sensitivity, made myself mahi mahi. But I did "taste" one of the shrimp and now here I am.

I took a Benadryl right away and put Benadryl cream in the hives. Then about an hour later, I took another Benadryl. I've also been snacking all night, hoping it would slow down any residual absorption and give the medication a fighting chance. I feel fine now, except for the GI disturbance. Fun fun!

I will try to get to an allergist soon. Thanks for all of your advice and commiseration!

[Anonymous]

I love shrimp but have developed allergy to it. Severe enough that I had to go to the ER. I do not eat it anymore. I am fine with crab though.

BTW - I learned that you should use Benedryl as well as Maalox, to ease the symptoms. Some ingredient in Maalox also works as an antihistamine (or some sort of suppressor). Learned it in ER - where they gave me both. I have not abused the knowledge to continue eating shrimp. I hope you do not do so either.

[Anonymous]

I get the tingling fat lips rather often with stone fruit, but no other allergic symptoms. So occasionally I have some, with no worsening of symptoms.

However if you have worsening symptoms with each shrimp ingestion, I would strongly advise you to get tested and cross them from your list. Sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the origin of the shrimp??

I only eat Gulf shrimp; pricier, but peace of mind.

Same here. Much better flavor, no antibiotics or heavy metals (or at least less). Whole Foods has them and so does Giant at times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the origin of the shrimp??

I only eat Gulf shrimp; pricier, but peace of mind.

Same here. Much better flavor, no antibiotics or heavy metals (or at least less). Whole Foods has them and so does Giant at times.

Google what farmers feed shrimp imported from Thailand and other Asian countries...definitely stick with Gulf shrimp.

[Anonymous]

That sucks! I have an intolerance to scallops and it got worse every time (took 3 times before I figured out what was going on). Shrimp is harder to avoid than scallops!

[Anonymous]

Shrimp give me very bad hives... Like going down my throat kind. So no more for me it developed when i was about 7-8, after i realized that shrimp are super yummy.
My DH has the tingly lips with stone fruits too, only it got worse and now includes apples, pineapple, pears, basically any fruit except oranges are off limits.