Discussion: Allergy

There may be something to the wise wikipedia advice: "In addition, patients are advised to avoid the triggering foods". If you are having any breathing symptoms, you really should avoid all triggers, as it may lead to a severe reaction. The reaction also may get worse the second time around. While rare with the food allergy syndrome, anaphylactic reactions are a true emergency, and a person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction may not have enough time to call 911 from the time of symptom onset, let alone wait for the EMS to get there. You may want to see your doctor about this, and potentially get tested for allergies, epi-pen, etc.

Ah, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll bring a peach with me to my next orthopedist appointment at Mt. Auburn Hospital and eat a small piece in the ER. Alternatively, as you say, it's probably best if I just see my doctor. Thanks!

I must say that reading your description of the event is like reading the ship's log from an antarctic explorer that is about to be trapped entirely by the approaching winter ice. Or something. It's very interesting.

Did you thoroughly wash the peach? It could be a reaction to a pesticide or other contaminant.

Don't rechallenge yourself! And just to reinforce above advice- do recommend seeing an Allergist (skin sensitivity testing would be indicated) and get an epi-pen. Now we've got to find a way to keep you out of trouble :-)
BTW was the peach "organic" ie not likely exposed to pesticides etc and any evidence of mold?

This exact thing happened to my father in the 1970s. We were on vacation, he bit into a fresh peach, and as he described it "my throat closed up". Pretty scary for those of us watching who had no idea what was going on. He had never had any sort of problem like that before, but that was it for fresh peaches (and some other fruits as well) for the rest of his life, although cooked ones presented no problem. He had several other episodes, but survived them all (I can't ask him for more details, because he's dead now, but it wasn't fruit that got him).

I'd advise against screwing around with this on your own. It's very likely because of the peach, and it could kill you. Be cautious of other fruits as well. Professional help would not be inappropriate.

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I will seek professional attention. Bct - I did wash the peach, though only with water. I don't know of any water-insoluble pesticides. BP - I don't think the peach was organic, but I didn't see any evidence of decay.

Yes, but what about the yellow jacket?

You should talk to Tero about this.

My mom has a peach allergy, and I know a couple other people that do as well. They are all also allergic to apples, pears, nectarines, apricots, and a couple others here and there. I can ask my mom for the full list. And like JJ said, the problem is only when the fruits are fresh and raw. Cooked fruit is fine and canned fruit is fine, too. I'm not saying you definitely have the same set of allergies, and if you're having trouble breathing you probably don't want to assume anything, but the symptoms sound similar to me. And just to reiterate what everyone else is saying, allergies that involve your throat closing up aren't things you want to mess around with, especially since additional interactions with the allergen can cause the allergy to be worse.

Ian, if you have any trouble connecting with an Allergist, I'd be happy to put you in touch with someone at Brigham.

You've got to stay focused, Ian! Peaches weren't on that Vitamin D foods list that Becks sent you a week ago. They are only good for A , C, and niacin. They also don't do anything special for calcium. And all kidding aside, pay attention to all the above comments about being careful with allergies. They can have a sudden onset after years of prior exposure with no apparent reactions, and when they affect respiration they can easily be lethal.

I used to be allergic to a range of fruits and vegetables, starting in my mid-teens and gradually subsiding in my 30s. Peaches were a trigger, but not as bad as cherries, apples, carrots, and a few others. Anything cooked was fine. While I never felt like I couldn't breathe, I definitely got a distressingly swollen throat and Mick Jagger lips. As this was back in the days before allergies were as well analyzed as they are today, I just experimented from time to time. Eventually I got to where I could tolerate a bite or two of the offending fruits, and gradually the sensitivity just died out.

Cool! Thanks for the free medical advice, BP. It figures that my aura of invincibility would be shattered by threats as sinister as roller blades and peaches.

oro-pharyngeal angioedema ie a relatively localized sub-dermal / sub-mucosal edema (likely type 1 histamine-mediated... blah blah blah

Dude, you got hives in your throat.

My log entry about this episode would have read very differently. Probably starting with "Ahh! I almost died today!" Your calmness and objectiveness is quite... scientific.

Yikes Ian! Glad you're ok, sounds like how my peanut reactions started when I was little, then they got worse (anaphylactic). So heed folks advice above. Only thing I have to add is I'd keep benedryl around, and take very small bites of any fruits in the immediate future!!