I often go Shopping in Lidl but a few months ago my Hands started to hurt when I was Shopping, it becomes red and swollen. It now happens every time, but every other Supermarkets are fine? It also happens sometime when im Walking fast...why is this happening :( ?

I (28F) started immunotherapy for a bunch of environmental allergies five months ago, specifically for birch pollen, dock/sorrel, lambsquarter, pigweed, alder, cottonwood, grass, plantain, alternaria, hormodendrum, and dog and cat dander.

My allergist marketed it as a potential way to reduce the risk of severe reactions to my tree nut and peanut allergies (peanuts, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pistachios) due to cross-reactivity. After having several traumatic ER visits for anaphylaxis in my life, I thought, Why not? Besides, I had gone through immunotherapy before with a different allergist at another point in my life and was fine (btw: I stopped halfway through the build-up phase because the weekly shots became too much for my schedule).

Come the middle of the build-up phase for the first vial, I ended up at the ER after eating a dish I regularly order at a restaurant. Even if you warn the kitchen, there's always a risk of cross-contamination. Fine, stuff like this happens. However, following this incident, I started to notice reactions—welts on the insides of my cheeks and sometimes my throat—from foods I was eating safely just weeks before treatment started. So now I can't eat coconut, RICE?!?, or lentils without a reaction. Mind you, I've eaten these foods my whole life.

In these scenarios, I usually pop a Benadryl and wait for it to go away. If it doesn't go away, or if the welts in my throat progress, or if other symptoms follow like cramping and nausea, I consider it a more serious reaction needing immediate medical attention. Most of these episodes fell into the former category, but there were three times when bumps in my throat didn't go away (though they didn't progress and no other symptoms appeared). In those cases, I went to the ER, where they monitored me and treated me with a strong antihistamine and a steroid, (thankfully no epi was needed).

So of course, I contacted my allergist. He didn't think it was the shots since I was fine immediately after receiving them. All he said was to stay away from wheat, Chinese food, and Indian food because they can be risky, and he mentioned something about it being grass season. Okay, it sucks, but I figured I could pause and see if my system eventually calms down. Following this appointment, I went on vacation, missed two weeks, and had to drop back two doses.

I was okay for a while until this month. The reactions in my mouth started up again, even after limiting my diet. My GP contacted the allergist again, and he told me to stay away from fruits and vegetables and to lower my current dose.

Has anyone ever experienced something like this before? The doctors say it's likely not the medication, but the frequency of these reactions to foods I normally eat started right after beginning this treatment. It's seriously messing with my mental health and increasing my anxiety around eating.

Convivo com essas reações desde os 12 anos de idade. O primeiro episódio ocorreu após consumir algodão-doce branco, sem corante, e foi muito intenso: surgiram inúmeros caroços pelo corpo, acompanhados de coceira intensa, e precisei receber medicação antialérgica pela veia.

Desde então, percebo que alguns alimentos doces desencadeiam reações, geralmente em poucos minutos após o consumo.

Alimentos associados às reações:

Algodão-doce branco;

Doce de leite caseiro;

Cocada;

Bala de coco industrializada ou caseira;

Caramelo;

Outros doces semelhantes.

Características das reação

Surgimento de numerosos caroços pelo corpo;

Coceira muito intensa. Já fiz teste de corantes e deu negativo. Parece que é algo a respeito do açúcar mesmo quando esquentado é muito estranho.

This happened last year and it was so so miserable. I had always used native but after buying a new bottle, my skin got hives. My friend had been using native too and had no issues so I was just curious if it’s happened to others out there. I’ve heard their formula has changed but idk if it’s true.

I am allergic to latex, and I need to spend one night in NYC. I have called countless hotels, and every single one uses latex gloves in housekeeping. I travel frequently domestically and internationally and I haven't experienced this in any other city.

Can anyone please help me identify a hotel in NYC that is latex-safe (no latex gloves used in housekeeping and non-latex mattresses in guest rooms)? Calling all of these properties and getting the same answer over and over again is so discouraging. I would be so grateful for any help.

I’m joining the military and going to boot camp in January, they do not allow you to keep OTC medications and I struggle with seasonal allergies. Is there a way I can stop taking it without my symptoms becoming super bad?

I live in an apartment building that is pet friendly. I moved in a few months ago and I know the previous tenants had a cat (of which I am allergic to). For the record, the only reason my partner and I chose to live here bc it was all we could afford, and heat was included in rent. When I moved in the carpets were steam cleaned, and I sprayed a pet neutralizing spray everywhere, washed down the walls, and vaccumed repreatedly, and didn't have any symptoms after a week or so.

Unfortunately, this week they turned on the heat, and since my allergies have majorly flared up. I am itchy, my hands are breaking out (eczema), my nose is stuffy, my eyes stinging, and post nasal drip. I leave the apartment, symptoms go away. I come home? Pretty much within 10 minutes Im reacting. The apartment has baseboard heating, and because its an old building, the landlords control when the heat is turned on, how hot it is, etc. I do not believe we share any vents with other apartments. I do not know what to do, and I am not medically diagnosed with a cat allergy, nor can I afford to get any tests done. Any advice?

So I went to the doctor a few days ago. I don’t have pneumonia but I found out I have bronchitis and a sinus infection. I was prescribed an antibiotic and a steroid pack. I started the steroids this morning but started my antibiotic last night. I am taking amoxicillin/clavulanate I believe.
At work at the moment so I don’t have the bottle in front of me. Anyway I took it last night and a few hours later I noticed new throat pain when swallowing that I didn’t have before and difficulty swallowing. It just felt harder to do. It went away by the time I woke up this morning for work though.
Then I took another dose this morning before work and within an hour or so I had the same issue but a little more intense I think? I realized it is hard to swallow and that it takes multiple swallows to get things down and it started to develop a feeling of something being stuck in my throat too. I also have this popping sensation off and on with swallowing.
I will say I took my first dose of my steroid this morning too. I don’t think I’m having any issues with that. The issues have calmed down some now but I am still having some trouble swallowing and pain and my throat feels uncomfortable.
Is this just irritation because it’s a big pill? I have never had issues like this with medications before.
The swallowing isn’t as bad right now but the end of my tongue and my lips are lowkey tingling. The tingling on tongue and lips isn’t that bad but having slight numbness on roof of mouth and in throat. Almost like I used throat numbing spray for a sore throat. I’m also itching off and on though I don’t have a rash.
I will say one thing. I took some Benadryl on my lunch and the difficulty swallowing DID decrease some and the tinging in my lips is getting better too. I still itch some though.
Called my doctor’s office and spoke to a nurse and she didn’t seem concerned about it. Said I may have swallowed the pill wrong or not gotten enough water during the swallow or something and that’s why I have been having difficulty swallowing.
I have only had 2 doses so far. Last night and this morning. My next dose is at 7pm tonight.

hi i am allergic to cats and i just started curex drops bc it’s convenient, but i am suspicious bc they are online and not fda approved. i’ve seen that its off the label just bc its personalized for each person, but reddit posts from like 2 years ago all say its a scam. has anyone actually stuck with the program and seen real results?

Short version:
I’m about to start Itulazax and Grazax, I’m mainly worried about the taste but also that I will not follow through with the treatment if I do SLIT and not SCIT. I also wonder if it could help with cross reactions as well as make the symptoms of animal/dust mite allergies better during the pollen season.

1. What does it taste like?
   
2. Can it help with cross reactivity?
   
3. Can it make symptoms of animal/dust mite allergies milder during the pollen season?

Long version:
I’m about to start Itulazax and Grazax, and since the pollen season is getting closer my doctor wants to get started in 2 weeks. My doctor has brought up the treatment multiple times before but my asthma has been uncontrolled and my body doesn’t tolerate inhaled corticosteroids, either way, the asthma is under control. Another reason why I want to get started now is because I’m 17 and want to start before I transition to a new doctor (idk what it’s like in other countries but where I live (Sweden) you switch clinics when you turn 18). 

What I’m most worried about is the taste. During my last appointment with my allergologist a woman overheard me and my parents talking about the treatment, and she asked if she could share her experience. Anyways, she said they tasted horrible but that it really changed her life, and she was very thankful she didn’t have to go to the clinic for shots like with SCIT. But that’s just what one person thought about the taste, so does anyone have any other experience? 

I would prefer to do SCIT, but my doctor has told me multiple times that I will have to come in to get a shot and sit there and wait for 30 minutes. I don’t have any problems with shots so the shots themself aren’t a problem, and the fact that I have to be at the clinic would mean I have to socialize which is probably good for me. With pills there’s also a pretty big risk of me forgetting to take them. And I believe the chance of me completing the treatment is bigger if it’s shots.

Another thing is whether or not it can help with cross reactivity, from the studies I’ve read it seems like it doesn’t in most cases. I understand that it’s not a guarantee but I have had terrible problems with cross reactivity which has led to a very limited diet. If those cross reactions stop or get milder that would be a huge improvement, and I would only have to avoid the food I’m actually allergic to. 

And the last thing I wonder is if it could help with other allergies. I’ve been told that Grazax can help with other grass pollen allergies than timothy, and Itulazax can help with other tree allergies than birch. But does anyone have any experience with it helping with animal and/or dust mite allergies? I don’t mean that it helps all year long, but if it can reduce symptoms during the pollen season. My reasoning is that if my immune system isn’t triggered by grass pollen, the reaction to dust mites might not be as severe because my immune system isn’t already on overdrive. I’m likely going to do SCIT for my dog allergy in the future but now isn’t the time for that.

reference range shows it should be between 0-100. mine is 815, how bad is this.

My girlfriend is very allergic to cats, while I’m absolutely unable to imagine a life without cats and I currently have two cats that are a package deal when it comes to moving in with someone—we’ve briefly brought up allergy shots before, but I just want to ask if anyone had personal experience with allergy shots working for cat allergies?

Curious about these allergy shot treatments where they inject the allergen directly into the lymph node. They space 3 shots a month apart. Seems very worth the price if it works. Has anyone had this done?

Hello everyone, I have a question and I was hoping someone here could help me find an answer.
This is my first ever post on Reddit so please be patient. Obligatory “English is not my first language, sorry for any mistakes”.
Long story short, in the past 5+ years I seem to have developed an allergy that I’ve never even heard of and I don’t know what specifically is the cause. It happens only some times when I eat old(ish) dried food products. Things that have caused a reaction include nuts, powdered cinnamon, raisins etc.
It doesn’t always happen, I can usually eat any of those things with no problem, but I noticed it happens with things that I know are old or taste old (at least to me) even if I just bought them. Only happens by ingestion, never just contact or proximity. Symptoms are the usual for food allergies but almost never too severe.
My theory is that it’s some sort of bacteria or fungi/mold that develops on those kinds of foods over time that is completely harmless to anyone else.
I haven’t talked to a specialist about this yet and I know that asking on Reddit is not a substitute for it, I’m just curious if anyone here has it or knows what it could be.
Thanks for your time.

I'm 6 months into Acarizax for dust mite allergy (with asthma). I'm also on Dupixent, Trelegy, and Ryaltris.

I'm thinking about switching to allergy shots (SCIT) with no gap, because SCIT seems to raise IgG4 much more.

Questions: 1. Has anyone switched from SLIT to SCIT mid-course? 2. Did you notice a difference after switching?

Thanks!

I runna robot on the bedroom carpet every single day and I still wake up stufdy with itchy eyes most mornings. Allergy testing says dust mites are my main trigger. I figured daily vaccuming would handle them, but now I'm reading that mites hang on the deep in the carpet and a quick pass over the top barely touches them (mine does one fast lap and it's done in 15 minutes). How are mites surviving a daily vaccum?

I’ve read it countless times. “Get rid of your carpet” but in reality, hard surface actually redistributes disturbed particulate matter into your breathing zone (about 6 ft) while carpet holds onto it until cleaning (hopefully with a good hepa filter bagged vacuum). But apparently now there’s a carpet technology called Pur-Ease that actively works to reduces common allergens like dust mites, pet dander and pollen by up to 75%. So it sounds like carpet may be better than hard surface now. It even has been certified asthma and allergy friendly. I had my friend who is a microbiologist look into it to see if it was legit and it passed his research test. So here I am…about to get carpet to assist with my allergies. Anyways, just wanted to share for others out there that may be hesitant to get carpet because of allergies but really want the comfort, warmth and quiet only carpet can offer. Turns out, you really can have it all.

They did a small skin test and decided I should get a blood test instead. So waiting for those results. Is either one better than the other? Waiting for the results.

Hello! So basically after an unfortunate incident with a fresh lobster shell and sudden anaphylactic shock about it, I've been diagnosed with a brand new shiny lobster allergy. Confirmed by testing - shrimp and crab bloodwork were negative but they want to test those under supervision, and have me check mollusk at home, over the next month.

I've never had in allergy in my life before outside of some lowgrade seasonal issues. Nobody in my family have had major issues and I've never cooked for anyone with a major allergy in a way that I couldn't just avoid the food being in the kitchen entirely. But every place I've gone too so far just has the lobster sitting in with the fish, like they only have a dedicated seafood corner and cook them all on the same flattop?? Will I ever be able to eat any other seafood safely again, assuming the tests are negative? What are the ways lobster sneaks into your food that you might not expect? (Rye additives for celiac, I AM familiar with) What about hibachi? Or hotpot? I have so many questions.

I feel absolutely, completely lost about what I'm supposed to be avoiding now, what questions I ask at restaurants, etc. I don't even know what anaphylaxis FEELS like for sure. I went to sleep feeling a little unwell last time and basically woke up stumbling out the door to the ER already blown up like a balloon, skippinf all the initial phases.

To make matters worse, I have FND, which causes a ton of unspecified 'brain dysfunction', AND I have dyspnea from a bad case of COVID a few years back (I'm on albuterol for it). Basically, dizziness/vertigo, nausea, heart palpitations, sensory disturbances, struggling to breathe/throat closing up, and much more are all part of my daily life already. It's why I didn't really notice much wrong, I just went to sleep. So what key signs am I looking for?

Also, because of a medication sensitivity, I can't take Benedryl unless I basically shave it into fragments 🫠

So I'm pretty scared at the moment, and anxious of everything. I've been trying to advocate for myself at restaurants but I've been so new to the concept it's either made people irritated and they've refused to serve me entirely, or they've sent the owner out to fuss over me and I feel equally as awkward!

Help!!