Adult Onset Allergy?

CareBear0607 · May 2011

DD is PA and we recently participated in a family based study. I entered the study thinking that I had no food or environmental allergies. Long story short, they did the RAST test on me and I came back positive for shrimp. Though I don't the exact number, I know that it was less than 2. I then went to the allergist and they did the skin test for shrimp, crab, and lobster. Sure enough, a pretty big hive (3 out of 4 they said) came up right away. Because my number is so low, they want to do a food challenge which I scheduled for next month. From now until then, the allergist said to avoid all shrimp.

I am not a big shrimp eater to begin with, but I can't remember having any reactions when I ate it last. This happen to anyone else?

DD--allergic to peanuts and avoiding all nuts

EssBe · May 2011

I have an adult onset allergy, as well as my dad and his nephew.

None of ours were found by accident. We all had symptoms and got diagnosed that way. I think my dad and cousin both just randomly had an anaphylactic reaction one day (both allergic to shrimp). Mine was slower, I had hives that got worse and worse (and a worthless doc that told me to put lotion on it) and then eventually landed in the ER with trouble breathing.

My dad says his allergy is such that he could eat a shrimp sometimes and be fine, and sometimes just being around it being boiled can cause his throat to swell up. I don't really know if that's true because I pitch a fit if he tries to eat it around me. But it sounds like maybe what you're experiencing.

My cousin and I don't ever "cheat," but when I've accidentally been exposed, each reaction is faster than the last.

I don't want you to freak out about the test results, though. I tested positive for almost everything on the blood test, but most of them were a 1 or 2. Gluten was a 5. When I did the elimination diet it was the only thing I reacted to. The diet is the real test in my opinion.

Miller238 · May 2011

It has not happened to me, but I hear about this happening with shellfish a lot. Just yesterday, I was talking to my daughter's teacher at daycare and she said she had a shellfish allergy when she was younger, then it went away. It came back after getting pregnant and having her son. So weird!

blue33 · May 2011

MEE!!!!!

I had eaten shellfish and seafood all my life. My husband took me out for my 27th birthday and we went dancing and to a seafood restaurant. I had crabcakes and shrimp as usual, and we went home. I woke up itching and feeling like I had pepper in my throat, and my stomach was cramping really bad. I got up and went to the bathroom and I got so sick! The next thing I knew, I was covered from head to toe in huge hives, and my face was swollen 3 times it's normal size. When I got to the hospital, I had extremely low blood pressure and wheezing. IT WAS SOOO SCARY. I had to have an immediate shot of benedryl and epinephrine, and the rest of the day was a blur. I have NEVER TOUCHED SEAFOOD AGAIN. I followed up with an allergist, and my blood test revealed that I am so allergic to shelfish, that it was unsafe to do a skin test on me. So, avoidance is the only way to stay safe. I have not followed up with an allergist, because I don't have a desire to eat seafood. Getting so sick totally curbed my appetite from it. I know that it may seem sudden, but take it seriously, because shellfish allergies can cause major unexpected anaphaylaxis.

mrs_kelly1014 · May 2011

My FAs have gotten tremendously worse in the past year. I've always had some allergies, but the list of foods I am severely allergic to has increased by many and I'm still finding new alleges consistently.

heyitsme · May 2011

When I was 2 I was diagnosed with a seafood allergy. I avoided all seafood and shellfish growing up.

When I was 14 my mom noticed every day after school when I ate my favorite snack (PB and ice cream) that my voice sounded raspy, I'd be clearing my throat, etc. so we decided to go to an allergist. That time around I was diagnosed with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, seafood, green beans, chicken, and soy.

When I was 18 I was re-tested my chicken allergy had disappeared.

Almost 2 years ago I went again for testing after not feeling well after eating, I had lost weight, etc. Turns out I'm allergic to dairy, wheat and eggs as well (but they are all GI reactions).

As I've been exploring new foods, black beans and sorghum have been added to the list of my allergies.

It sucks.

ETA: My 54-year-old coworker had a reaction to something 6 weeks ago, and reacted again a few weeks later. She was clueless. Testing this week showed an allergy to shrimp, crab, and some other shellfish.

welcel · May 2011

Hey lady! It's been a while and your son is so cute!

DH developed his egg allergy as an adult. I will warn you that his allergy continues to get worse with time, and he was a kid that could always eat eggs with no problems. Good luck!

muffie1303 · May 2011

I used to eat shellfish quite a bit when I was young. I developed an allergy to it at 16. It started out mild, and now whenever I touch it or get near it, it's full on anaphylaxis. DH works in a restaurant where half of the menu is shellfish, so he has to change his clothes and take a shower immediately when he gets home. It sucks because I used to love shrimp.

My mom developed a sudden poultry allergy at 40. One day she was grilling chicken without issues, and the next day when she pulled the leftovers out of the fridge, her hand swelled up like a balloon. She had trouble breathing and her airway started closing off. It was so scary!

Fuzzy8252 · May 2011

I at shellfish all the time with no problem, until I was in my 20's. While I was in culinary school, i noticed that my hands would get very red and itchy whenever I peeled shrimp, but I didn't think much of it.

Flash forward a few years to a really nice, expensive dinner with DH's boss, and I had a severe reaction to calamari. My gums and throat were swollen up. Luckily, we were right down the street from the hospital, so we just went straight there. Then I saw an allergist and tested, where I found out I was severely allergic to most shellfish.

GHBEA · May 2011

My DD age 16 tested positive for tuna allergies. She has eaten tuna all her life. One day at Taco Bell there was an allergy sing stating their food could have traces of "fish". She doesn't eat Taco Bell any more.

It's scary she has carried her epi pen for other allergies so this is just something else she has to be careful of.

CareBear0607 · May 2011

Thanks everyone! You are all so very helpful!

:waves to welcel: Big Smile Your LO is a cutie too, Momma!

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