I'm having an allergic reaction, need some help.

[Cyclone1]

Hey storm2k, I woke up this morning (of all mornings) to discover I had a very swollen uvula. It's making it a bit difficult to breathe and swallow. I think it may be a reaction to some shrimp that we had at a Christmas party yesterday. I didn't eat any, but the ice bowl that had ice for the drinks was right next to the shrimp platter, and by the end of the day, I just ended up drinking a glass of the melted ice, because it was so convenient (I had just finished playing some football, and I was thristy). I'd be willing to be that the ice was at least a little bit shrimp-contaminated. Thing is, as far as I know, I have no allergies to shrimp, but the only unusual thing I came in contact with all day.

Questions: Does this sound like an allergic reaction to shellfish? Would it take a good 12-15 hours for anything to show up if it were just a small amount? What treats it? I've taken some Benadryl, and may take some more soon.

Needs your help s2k, thanks.

[CajunMama]

Is the benadryl working? You can become allergic to anything at anytime so it is possible that you've become allergic to shrimp. It may also be sinus related. Hope it's not a shrimp allergy...they're delicious little boogers!

[Miss Mary]

Both my A. daughter and B. I have allergies to A. peanuts and B. bee stings. You have to be VERY careful with allergic reactions! Especially anaphylactic reactions (this type of reaction requires an ER visit).

Benadryl is excellent to take. Make sure you take it every 4 hours (if your symptoms have subsided).

Are you having any other symptoms?

Such as, hives (itchy, patchy areas on your chest, face, neck, arms) that sometimes move, change places, drive you crazy with itching? Swelling of your lips, face, eyes?

If you have more symptoms like I've described, you need to go to the ER - NOW.

If you are experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, the symptoms will just escalate and get worse. I am sorry to have to say this but it must be said, the end result of an anaphylactic reaction will be your throat closing shut and you will be unable to breath. In the ER they will give you oral medications along with shots. You will definitely need someone to drive you home and you may have to take Benadryl around the clock for 5 days afterwards (I did after a severe bee sting).

Here's more detailed info:
http://www.foodallergy.org/anaphylaxis/index.html

[Ed Mahmoud]

I'd be dialing 911 if I had any difficulty breathing. Better safe than sorry.

[Dionne]

Are you a smoker? Were you using any alcohol? Did you become dehydrated?

Suggest you Google "swollen uvula"....there is some good info. A swollen uvula is not uncommon.

[JonathanBelles]

If it was food, I think it would have made your entire throat swollen. I'm inclined to say it may not be an allergy.

[Cyclone1]

Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it. Luckily, It was just a mild reaction with no other symptoms, and I'm completely fine now. I was close to going to the ER, but we decided to let the Benadryl work for a few minutes and it started to subside.

Fact: I didn't eat any shrimp, I just drank some water that may have been shrimp contaminated. I really really really hope it wasn't an allergic reaction, and there's still a good chance it was something else, but I had no other symptoms, so I ruled out sinus infections like Uvulitis and such, which really just left Allergies and dehydration (thank God for webmd.com), so I figured it must be an allergic reaction. But the fact that it didn't show up for 12-15 hours throws me off, too.

I don't know. Anyway, I was kind of tense this morning, but now I'm better.

I'll keep an eye on my condition, but right now I'm 100% better. Thanks again for the advice guys, and Merry Christmas!

[george_r_1961]

I'd be dialing 911 if I had any difficulty breathing. Better safe than sorry.

Agreed!

Difficulty breathing is a medical emergency. If it happens again call 911 without delay. Doesnt matter what the cause is.

[Cyclone1]

Okay, I'll be sure to do that if it happens again. Thanks

[Miss Mary]

Cyclone1 - Glad things turned out so well (thanks for your PM as well!). That was a close call! On Christmas Day too.....

Do you carry an Epi Pen and Benadryl with you? If not, maybe you should. Even though you know to avoid shellfish, other dishes, etc. can become contaminated with shellfish. For example, if a restaurant's kitchen doesn't use separate pans, spoons, etc. for preparing food, even though you may order chicken, you could have an allergic reaction. It's not common but it can happen. Best to be prepared, is what I always say. My daughter carries her Epi Pen and Benadryl with her.

[Cyclone1]

I don't carry one, I've never had an allergic reaction to anything before.

[Dionne]

Don't fall victim of a self diagnosis. Go see a physician.

[Ed Mahmoud]

I think the Epi pen also comes in handy in case of a VX nerve gas attack.

[DanKellFla]

I think the Epi pen also comes in handy in case of a VX nerve gas attack.

None of us are that mad at you..... I think.

[Ed Mahmoud]

I think the Epi pen also comes in handy in case of a VX nerve gas attack.

None of us are that mad at you..... I think.

I think our auto-injectors contained atropine, based on interweb search.

[Brent]

Glad to hear you're okay Cyclone1. I agree though, don't take chances if it happens again.

[Derek Ortt]

Hey storm2k, I woke up this morning (of all mornings) to discover I had a very swollen uvula. It's making it a bit difficult to breathe and swallow. I think it may be a reaction to some shrimp that we had at a Christmas party yesterday. I didn't eat any, but the ice bowl that had ice for the drinks was right next to the shrimp platter, and by the end of the day, I just ended up drinking a glass of the melted ice, because it was so convenient (I had just finished playing some football, and I was thristy). I'd be willing to be that the ice was at least a little bit shrimp-contaminated. Thing is, as far as I know, I have no allergies to shrimp, but the only unusual thing I came in contact with all day.

Questions: Does this sound like an allergic reaction to shellfish? Would it take a good 12-15 hours for anything to show up if it were just a small amount? What treats it? I've taken some Benadryl, and may take some more soon.

Needs your help s2k, thanks.

you dont want to keep taking Benydryl unless it is essential. It will keep you sleeping (in fact, I use it nightly for sleep medication)

what is a uvula? Is it something related to the throat? If so and it only occurred when waking up, I remember having some throat issues before I stopped smoking to train for a half marathon. I tend not to have them anymore. Doesn't seem entirly like a food allergy and those tend to affect you immediately (last one I had, I felt it after about 20-30 minutes)

[JonathanBelles]

Benedryl does no harm that I was made aware of. I took it everyday for 9 years when I was allergic to everything but dogs.

Uvula-the little dangley thing at the back of your throat.

[Stephanie]

From Webmd:

"The uvula is the small fingerlike piece of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate in the back of the throat. It can usually be seen when a person opens his or her mouth wide.

Although its purpose is not known, some experts believe that the uvula helps keep food from going down the breathing passage when a person swallows."

You should never mess around when you're having breathing/swallowing problems. I'm glad that you did have Benadryl on hand to take. I would probably make an appointment with your doctor to rule out what you may be allergic too. People can become allergic to things as they get older and outgrow things that they were allergic to when they were children. The next time may be worse.

I'm glad that you are alright!

[Miss Mary]

Benadryl is not harmful, taken in the correct doses. It's useful to have around. I developed my bee sting allergy at age 38. Just the year before I had been stung by bees at my daughters' soccer games. I was absolutely shocked I was having anaphylaxis (full blown reaction). I walked into the med first and said I think I'm having a reaction to a bee sting but I'm not allergic to bees! They kept shaking their heads saying - well, now you are! From there I was told you can develop allergies later in life and to carry an Epi Pen and Benadryl with me at all times. It was scary. Because my daughter has a peanut allergy I knew what what anaphylaxis was. I knew not to ignore my symptoms. You will know if you're experiencing a full blown reaction - your symptoms seem to change by the minute. The top of my head felt like it was going to explode. The hives kept moving and inducing intense itching. My face and lips were swollen, the inside of my throat was getting thick and swollen too. After they gave me 2 shots, 2 oral meds, I needed to call my husband to come get us (had our then much younger daughters with me too), since I couldn't drive (I felt drunk!), the bottoms of my feet were swollen. I couldn't walk correctly, I felt wobbly! A nurse said to leave my shoes on because if I took them off I'd never get them back on again (to walk outside).

It was just an experience I will never forget!

But I've only had one bee sting reaction like this, a few others were local (swelling on my leg or arm but it never progressed).

Just don't mess with allergic reactions.

Once after a bee sting I sat in an ER parking lot. Because our co pay was $250 and I wasn't sure if it was going to escalate or not (it didn't). My daughter drove us home since I had taken Benadryl. But we sat there for a while, saving $, but nearby if I needed to walk inside. I guess we could have taken a chair inside but not signed in......I just didn't have $250 to blow that day but wanted to be near the ER if I had to hurry in.