i think i might have my first food allergy
February 2, 2017 2:29 PM   Subscribe

Yay, I'm 36 and now I have a food allergy (probably). I was eating some seasoned fries the other day, and suddenly my lip puffed up. A couple days later, the same thing happened eating a sausage pizza. And then two days ago, I put some Montreal Steak seasoning on a steak, and the third time was, uh, not a charm. I compared the ingredients, and I think I found my culprit:

Paprika. Well, I guess it could also be salt, but those are the only two shared ingredients, and I'm pretty sure I've eaten salt without problems. But who knows? A couple of days ago, I would have said I eat paprika without any problems. So now what do I do?

First of all, the good news is that it doesn't really seem to be that bad. I breathe normally, I don't break out in hives, my throat doesn't close up, the rest of my skin doesn't break out. My lip just tingles for a bit and then goes numb, and then I look like Goldie Hawn in First Wives Club So it's not really an urgent problem, just an inconvenience that I'd like to avoid.

My first question is how can I confirm this (aside from eating paprika and blowing up my lip again)? I know the answer is "go to an allergist and get tested"; I've been meaning to go in for a checkup anyway and I can get a referral there. But I don't want to wait that long. If it's somehow not paprika, I'd like to know kind of immediately. I tried doing a DIY patch test last night, where I rubbed some paprika on one arm, a different spice mix containing paprika on another arm, and some crushed red pepper on my hand as a control. Nothing happened in any of the locations, but then I wouldn't expect it to, because the only symptom seems to be on my lip. I'm going to have to rub some paprika on my lip, aren't I?

Second, is it weird that all of a sudden I just developed this allergy? I eat that stuff all the time. Literally, I just ate the same seasoned fries a couple of weeks ago. I had Montreal Steak seasoning in November. Why now is it causing problems for me? And is this a sign of a bigger problem?

Third, if it is paprika that's the issue, how do I avoid it? Paprika's in pretty much everything that involves spices. Do I just eat unseasoned food from now on? Because I love spicy food.

Finally, any suggestions for treating this lip swelling if it happens again? I've been taking Benadryl, but it doesn't seem to affect the swelling, and it just makes me extremely drowsy.
posted by kevinbelt to Health & Fitness (21 answers total)
 
Why now is it causing problems for me? And is this a sign of a bigger problem?

No one on the internet can answer this question for you. Go see an allergist and get some testing done.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:06 PM on February 2, 2017 [9 favorites]


I wouldn't risk it. Do not mess around with this and don't test it on yourself. Allergies can develop out of nowhere and get progressively worse. You have no way of knowing that the next contact won't create a full blown anaphylaxis throat swelling life threatening situation. For now, read your labels and if in doubt avoid anything which might have it in it until you can get tested. It's just not worth the risk. I'd also carry an epi pen just in case. Also, I'm not a doctor just someone concerned about you!
posted by Jubey at 3:11 PM on February 2, 2017 [10 favorites]


Bulk spices are pretty cheap; you can mix your own once you know what you are and aren't allergic to. Paprika's in a lot of spice mixes because A) it's made a lot of ways, including sweet, spicy, and smoky, and B) it's cheap; see my first sentence.

What you want to do is find out what other chiles are are allergic to, if any, and your doctor can give you advice how to do this, and under what conditions.

I'm no epidemiologist, but I don't know what's so different about paprika vs. other chiles: arbol (pizza pepper), cayenne, jalapeno, etc. There may be some kind of factory-processing element that's causing your allergy, and may or may not be around if you mix your own spice mixtures.

P.S. "Generic epinephrine auto-injector," not Epi-pen. Same shit, different cost.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:15 PM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]


Food allergies are serious. Go see a doctor.
posted by radioamy at 3:26 PM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]


Please go to a doctor. Food allergies kill. Also those three foods share many more ingredients than what you've listed. Ex: onion and garlic to start, almost certainly.
posted by Verba Volant at 3:32 PM on February 2, 2017 [3 favorites]


You say "lip". Do you perhaps have some kind of cut or abscess or open sore on the inside of said lip, that is possibly being exacerbated by paprika (or whatever)?
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:42 PM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]


Go see an allergist to get a scratch test. You may not need a referral (check your insurance) and if you do, you can likely call your GP to give you one without needing to go in. Allergies can kill you. It may not be paprika. You have no idea. They can do a big panel of tests. (It's not painful, just boring.)

That said, I just did my scratch test because I had a weird reaction to almonds, and while I didn't pop positive on the test I'm still advised to NEVER eat almonds again, cautiously (if ever) eat other nuts, AND carry an EpiPen and Benadryl. (I was getting horrible stomach aches and then I started coughing and my nose wouldn't stop running the last time I ate them.) My husband has a severe peanut allergy. It isn't something to mess around with.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:43 PM on February 2, 2017


Nthing the allergies get progressively worse thing. Once upon a time as an adult, I could eat sesame seeds. Another time I ate them and my lip puffed up, same as you. The next time I accidentally ate them I threw up, and the next time I accidentally ate them my throat closed up.
posted by knownassociate at 4:09 PM on February 2, 2017 [6 favorites]


I just want to add that it's also been my experience that allergies can suddenly get a lot worse with no warning. If you do need to see your primary care doctor before getting a referral it could be good to check in with them about urgent care appointments so you don't have to wait so long. This seems like it should definitely qualify to me.
posted by Verba Volant at 4:35 PM on February 2, 2017


My first question is how can I confirm this (aside from eating paprika and blowing up my lip again)? I know the answer is "go to an allergist and get tested"; I've been meaning to go in for a checkup anyway and I can get a referral there. But I don't want to wait that long. If it's somehow not paprika, I'd like to know kind of immediately. I tried doing a DIY patch test last night, where I rubbed some paprika on one arm, a different spice mix containing paprika on another arm, and some crushed red pepper on my hand as a control. Nothing happened in any of the locations, but then I wouldn't expect it to, because the only symptom seems to be on my lip. I'm going to have to rub some paprika on my lip, aren't I?

Second, is it weird that all of a sudden I just developed this allergy? I eat that stuff all the time. Literally, I just ate the same seasoned fries a couple of weeks ago. I had Montreal Steak seasoning in November. Why now is it causing problems for me? And is this a sign of a bigger problem?


This really sounds like oral allergy syndrome:
Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a type of food allergy classified by a cluster of allergic reactions in the mouth in response to eating certain (usually fresh) fruits, nuts, and vegetables that typically develops in adults with hay fever.[1]

OAS is perhaps the most common food-related allergy in adults. OAS is not a separate food allergy, but rather represents cross-reactivity between distant remnants of tree or weed pollen still found in certain fruits and vegetables. Therefore, OAS is typically only seen in tree and weed allergic patients, and is usually limited to ingestion of only uncooked fruits or vegetables.[2]
By the somewhat arcane rules of OAS, sensitivity to paprika is usually associated with allergy to ragweed pollen, so you could ask your allergist to test you for ragweed.
posted by jamjam at 4:37 PM on February 2, 2017 [6 favorites]


As to the sudden appearance of an allergy, it can appear out of the blue.


I love shellfish and ate it gleefully all my life until...

In 2000, I was working on a project in Salt Lake City and for a goodbye dinner I went with my colleagues to a very nice restaurant. I had a fish dish that had some mussels as well. I've tasted bad mussels, and I know these were not spoiled, they were fresh and delicious.

We ordered dessert and, as one does, I excused myself and went to the Ladies Room. While there I was overcome with the worst nausea and vomiting you can imagine. I was so sick that they had to call a cab to take me the hotel a half block away. I was completely mystified about what could have made me so sick and chalked it up to "one of those things".

Some time later, I ate a single shrimp when my daughter had a tempura platter. Sick again, but not as sick.

To make a long story short, I am allergic to all seafood that does not have an internal skeleton - shellfish, calamari, etc. At the emergency room a doctor told me to carry an epi pen because one can never know when it will be a full blown anaphylaxis.

I have also had OAS.
posted by Altomentis at 5:56 PM on February 2, 2017 [3 favorites]


You might also check out a recent (October) episode of Radiolab called "Alpha Gal," about a woman who developed a sudden meat allergy.
posted by pril at 6:19 PM on February 2, 2017 [4 favorites]


Allergies showing up as an adult are a thing. The people I know who've had it happen also had shellfish as the culprit, but it can happen for other things.

Get tested, and also see if you can bring in labels for the three foods when you go (and a picture if you accidentally trigger it again). Could be paprika, but it could also be a class of things that all show up together but are different ingredients (like shrimp vs scallops).

And if you're in the northern hemisphere, it may not be the right time of year for ragweed-triggered OAS. Usually OAS is worst when the pollen levels are high.
posted by nat at 8:15 PM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]


Oh yeah, scary allergies can spring up out of nowhere in adults. A 34 y/o friend all of a sudden found himself allergic to bananas after a lifetime of enjoying them with no issue. One day he had a funny feeling in his lips; the very next time, his throat swelled up and he had to go the ER. That's extended to cashews as well, now (and something else I can't remember.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 1:20 AM on February 3, 2017


Third, if it is paprika that's the issue, how do I avoid it? Paprika's in pretty much everything that involves spices. Do I just eat unseasoned food from now on? Because I love spicy food.

Welcome to my world. See also: capsicum. green peppers. red peppers. jalapenos. chili flakes. cayenne. I normally ask waitstaff about 'cayenne or peppers'.

Of course, on the label, under ingredients, it usually just says 'spices'.

I'd suggest making your own spice blends. And not to bother eating at Mexican, Indian, or Thai restaurants.

Also, get yourself to an allergist so you can find out if it's the paprika or the onion and garlic that's in Montreal steak seasoning, sausage pizza, and seasoned fries. In which case you'd be allergic to garlic, onions, leaks, chives, scallions, and so on.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:53 AM on February 3, 2017


It's dry skin season. For a week, put vaseline on your lips each hour. The salt sensitivity may disappear.
posted by Carol Anne at 7:26 AM on February 3, 2017


So I'm in a very similar situation, 35 and had my lips swell up over the holidays, still trying to figure out due to what. Had the allergy blood testing done but found nothing yet (I'm convinced is salmon even though the blood test was negative) and my PCP and the allergist definitely told me not to experiment because of what everyone else has been saying - reactions tend to get worse.

I don't have any other advice than to make an appointment with an allergist asap, but I did want to share something interesting i remember my acupuncturist telling me when i was 21 and she was trying to treat my sudden-onset cystic acne. At the time I didn't believe her because I also thought acupuncture was a crock (not anymore) but she said the body goes through changes on a roughly 7 year cycle. There are lots of Google-able things out there trying to explain why, some look shady, some a bit more make-you-go-hmm, who knows if there is truth to it. But honest to goodness the acne went away when i was 28 out of the blue, and now at 35 I've got my first ever allergy to...?

Something fun to research and distract you from self-experiments. Call you doctor, please.
posted by danapiper at 10:37 AM on February 3, 2017


Those things also likely have a preservative in common. Not to pile on, but please do see an allergist for testing.
posted by AliceBlue at 5:32 PM on February 3, 2017


What is Paprika?

I always thought it was it's own species of plant, but if you look it up you'll see that it's a colloquial name for a mix of peppers. It might be worth looking deeper to figure out what particular component you are allergic to.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 6:41 PM on February 3, 2017


If it's the paprika then he's probably allergic to all peppers, as opposed to one particular red pepper.

And maybe generally nightshade vegetables - peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. Or maybe it's the garlic.

I'd have the allergist do the experimenting.
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:45 PM on February 3, 2017


I grew up eating all kinds of shellfish and suddenly had a serious reaction in my early 20s affecting my throat. I tested negative on a scratch test, but positive on a RAST test. Cross-contamination some 15 years later causes major itching in my nose, but no anaphylaxis. I pack epi just in case, though.
posted by kamikazegopher at 1:51 AM on February 6, 2017


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