Weird Allergies

[worddork]

Right, there's this chemical called 'Sizing' that is put on new clothing so that it will keep its shape, color, and repel dirt while in the stores.

Well ever since a freak allergic reaction to some antibiotics, causing my skin to be super sensitive to certain things, everything I own has to washed before I can wear it or I'll break out in a red itchy rash. All due to this sizing chemical. This makes shopping for clothes a real bitch, and why I can't work in a clothes store.

I had this issue for many years and have learned what I can and can't touch while shopping: clothes, no; hangers, yes; stuffed animals, yes. Well stuffed animals were a yes, now their more a touch it and find out. Yep, some twisted bastard manufacturer has decided to put sizing on the stuffed animals. So now whenever I see a teddy bear or little froggy that I might want, I have to run one finger arcoss the bear or frogs head and wait. Will I be safe or will my finger turn red? Can I put this bear on my bed when I get home, or do I have to first wipe it down with a wet washcloth?

This sucks, why couldn't they leave the stuffed animals alone? Did they really need to add sizing? Hmmmm? Were the bears on the shelve starting to sag and show thier age? Was their lovely brown coat fading to tan? Why in the name of Dot did they have to add sizing!

[dispatch]

If it makes you feel any better I found out I was allergic to spermicide the hard way.

[crazylegs]

If it makes you feel any better I found out I was allergic to spermicide the hard way.

I know a lady who is allergic to latex who found out in similar circumstances...

[BlaqueKatt]

I know a lady who is allergic to latex who found out in similar circumstances...

Latex allergies bite-there's a lot of cross allergens* associated with it-you get stuck being very careful.


*avacados, bananas, kiwifruit, cherries, strawberries, pineapple, peaches, neoprene-the list is really long....like really really long.

[freeatlast]

I have developed an allergy to the adhesive in Bandaids (both name brand and generic) as well as any type of adhesive tape I have tried. So if I get any type of wound that would require a bandage, I have to decide whether or not it is bleeding bad enough to put up with the allergic skin reaction that will result in bandaging it.:(

[MystyGlyttyr]

I'm allergic to gold and stainless steel. Telling me that's biologically impossible does not change that fact, though. :lol:

On the other hand, I'm immune to a lot of natural toxins, like poison ivy, oak, etc., fire ants, etc. Plus I can eat nail polish and not feel a thing. ...don't ask how I know that. I guess since all I have to really do is avoid jewelry, it's not a bad trade-off.

[crazylegs]

I have developed an allergy to the adhesive in Bandaids (both name brand and generic) as well as any type of adhesive tape I have tried.

Have you tried Micropore by 3M? It was originally designed for use on burn (as in major burn) victims, it migt be worth a try.

[Jester]

The only food allergy I have that I know of is bananas. Still eat them occasionally, though. It's a minor allergy....just a bit of a throat irritation. Didn't even realize it was an allergy until I was in my 20's and ran into someone else with the same allergy. I just thought that that was a normal thing with bananas.

I have developed an allergy to the adhesive in Bandaids (both name brand and generic) as well as any type of adhesive tape I have tried. So if I get any type of wound that would require a bandage, I have to decide whether or not it is bleeding bad enough to put up with the allergic skin reaction that will result in bandaging it.:(

Well, one way to avoid that is to get gauze pads and medical tape....and wrap the pad around the wound, finger, whatever, and have the tape go around the gauze pad, but never actually touch the skin.

[monolayth]

If it makes you feel any better I found out I was allergic to spermicide the hard way.

Almost spit water on the computer screen..........................my mother is allergic to latex and yes she did find out the hard way.

[Evil Queen]

I'm allergic to Tide (detergent) and it seems I have an allergy to sunlight.

Don't ask about the last one. I'm still trying to figure that out.

[Jester]

There actually is a condition where people do have allergic reactions to sunlight, so don't feel like you are a weird one. I don't know much about it, but have seen it mentioned here and there, so you might want to hit google and see what you can find on it.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but while I have seven cousins who are doctors, my own personal medical expertise does not really extend beyond knowing what works for ME. :lol:

[monolayth]

teehee....I am allergic to a lot.



Trees, grass, anything cute and furry. :( Sunlight (breake out in odd white bumps with too much sunlight.) Raw tomatoes. artifical grape flavoring. Mold, dust. Bannana, Watermelon. and some soaps and lotions.

wee.....sad part is I REALLY love raw tomatoes.

[crazylegs]

There actually is a condition where people do have allergic reactions to sunlight, so don't feel like you are a weird one. I don't know much about it, but have seen it mentioned here and there, so you might want to hit google and see what you can find on it.


It's called polymorphic light eruption and effects (apparently) 10% of the population to varying degrees, some people can only go out at night or whilst wearing a suit made from fabris from NASA http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-377714/Nasa-suit-mother-allergic-sunlight.html

[JLRodgers]

I have a slight allergy to latex*, bandages (due to latex + the adhesive), shellfish, different meats (original reason went vegetarian), pine trees (if I touch the needles or poke myself with them, I'll get a rash), ampicillin (which means, no penicillin family meds at all...), and what's really messed up: tires (like car tires).

If I come into contact with any of the non-food things, I'll get a rash. If I get in contact with the food things (like consumption [except for shellfish]) I'll potentially get a rash, fever and have vomiting within 5 minutes (even under a "blind death-wish taste test").
If I go to the doctor and they ask "are you allergic to shellfish" (as they do with some things, both the iodine and some dyes) -- I say yes. They stop, make sure they get another thing handy and say "I'm sorry, we have to use this. How bad of a reaction?" I once got a rash and itching from a shellfish-like-based iodine thing -- the dye.... well lets just say the bathroom was a straight shot 5 ft away - and I almost didn't make it.

Tires.... that one I discovered by complete accident. One day I was sent to work in the tire sales department (at a SAMS, when the tires were in the main store). Went on brake like an hour or so later (only like 2 sales, handled like 6 tires total). Other employees asked "oh my god are you all right!!!" I asked "why?" They said "your arm!" I looked -- I had a rash from my hand all the way up, and on my side ---- the same one used to handle the tires.
Let me tell you.... being sent to a tire manufacturing plant later on in life to work (even not with the tires), I discovered my allergies were based on carbon black, and rubber (both tire components) -- and guess what happens when I breathed in the carbon black (it got everywhere)? Signs of internal bleeding. I was glad the place was closed a year later -- I was going to have to quit if it hadn't, it was slowly killing me.


* sometimes I have a reaction, sometimes not. Normally it's just a minor rash, sometimes it's rash + itching. What's really bad? Latex is in almost all bandages and many bandage-like-cotton covering things.

[BlaqueKatt]

What's really bad? Latex is in almost all bandages and many bandage-like-cotton covering things.


they have to be labeled as containing latex, I found that some store brand bandages are latex free-notably Walgreen's brand-it's what I use.

[JLRodgers]

they have to be labeled as containing latex, I found that some store brand bandages are latex free-notably Walgreen's brand-it's what I use.

Really? Huh. Yeah I read the packages, and many of them have latex that I've seen. I've run into a company that only had latex in certain types or sizes. You never know where it pops up.

[wagegoth]

Sizing and preservatives on clothes (like the OP)
Coffee
Gluten intolerant
Penicillin
Motrin
Cipro
Darvon (I miss Darvon)
Some kind of filler in tablet meds, so I try to get capsules whenever possible
Certain bandages, apparently not the latex but the adhesive, as it varies from brand to brand
Aspartame
Neosporin
Flea bites

[ArcticChicken]

Everything airborne, except when I get used to a specific animal, some kind of antibiotic (I know what the effects are, just can't remember what it's called), and an industrial cleaner that they use at CCP and the hospital my Grandma was at last year. I have to wear long sleeves to school, even in the summer, because other wise my armed break out in the most irritating rash where they touch the desk.

[Sliceanddice]

antibiotic soap, Latex sensitivity, purfume and pineapple. as well as codene.
The latex one sucked, swollen hands, it one reason why i switching form nursing to somehting else.
but i touch and handel condoms... weird

[JLRodgers]

antibiotic soap, Latex sensitivity, purfume and pineapple. as well as codene.
The latex one sucked, swollen hands, it one reason why i switching form nursing to somehting else.
but i touch and handel condoms... weird

My local hospital doesn't even have latex gloves in the emergency department -- one of their nurses is severely allergic to it. In all honesty... I don't think any hospital should be using latex gloves just as a precaution (and non-latex ones do exist).

[crazylegs]

In all honesty... I don't think any hospital should be using latex gloves just as a precaution (and non-latex ones do exist).

In addition to the patients having allergies to Latex prolonged exposure to latex can also lead to allergies, all UK hospitals are switching (or have done so) to Purple Nitrile gloves, as are the rest of the emergency services.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I have developed an allergy to the adhesive in Bandaids (both name brand and generic) as well as any type of adhesive tape I have tried. So if I get any type of wound that would require a bandage, I have to decide whether or not it is bleeding bad enough to put up with the allergic skin reaction that will result in bandaging it.:(

Do what I do: paper towel + Ace fabric bandage.

I'm allergic to Tide (detergent) and it seems I have an allergy to sunlight.

Don't ask about the last one. I'm still trying to figure that out.

Your body's not creating vitamin D anymore and so your skin is flipping out? Or your meds are doing it to you again. Better ask the doctor when you come back.

[JLRodgers]

Oh my mother has a weird allergy: the red dye used in pills.

What's really bad? The dye does nothing but add color -- there's apparently a fairly good percentage of people allergic to it, yet pill companies don't stop using it.

[draftermatt]

Another latex allergy here. I found out when I was getting my braces put on. Everyone thought I was scared cause I was sucking on my lip when I was actually trying to hide how stupid it looked. It was freaking huge!

And most bandage companies now offer "latex free" you just have to look for them.

[Geek King]

Cold.


Both my father and I are allergic to cold. Generally not cold air, but he can't hold an iced drink too long before his hand starts swelling, and I get really phlegmy--like hacking-up-a-lung phlegm--if I drink cold drinks too fast. I generally drink warm soda, and have to drink very slowly if I want a milkshake.

[wagegoth]

Cold.


Both my father and I are allergic to cold. Generally not cold air, but he can't hold an iced drink too long before his hand starts swelling, and I get really phlegmy--like hacking-up-a-lung phlegm--if I drink cold drinks too fast. I generally drink warm soda, and have to drink very slowly if I want a milkshake.

My husband's uncle has the same allergy. He just developed it a couple of years ago. He can't get in cold water or low temperatures as he gets a rash and swelling.

[iradney]

I'm allergic to Tide (detergent) and it seems I have an allergy to sunlight.

Don't ask about the last one. I'm still trying to figure that out.

Whee! All you need now is an allergy to garlic, pointed canines and an interesting accent to be a vampire :love:

I'm allergic to pollen mostly. Quite lucky in that I'm not allergic to anything else (That I know of!)

Oh wait!
I'm deathly allergic to stupidity - if only there was such an allergy!

[Elspeth]

synathic down. Yes fake down. I swelled up something bad with that one. Husband said you could watch my lip and face getting bigger. Helpfully one that is.

I also have lovely small veins that hide, so I had to have a shot of bendrayl. Again husband being the supporting fellow he is, said I went from normal to drunk looking instantly. I then was in a bendrayl induced sleep for 4 days. Everytime it wore off I would start itching.

[Tikaysha]

medical adhesive and a specific kind of mold that likes damp earth. The mold one drives other people nuts because I don't know what it actually smells like to them, it just smells like sinus pain to me.

re: medical adhesive- I use gauze pads and scotch tape (or duct tape, which sticks to skin surprisingly well) with no problems.

[1756GR2]

Penicillin (deathly allergic), MSG (migraine), cortisone/prednisone, bleu cheese. Fortunately, nothing I can't avoid most of the time.

Found out about the cortisone/prednisone thing whilst fighting off an alarming attack of poison ivy. Between the extreme ivy reaction and the cortisone/prednisone treatment for it, I swelled up everywhere enough to miss the entire week of senior exams and went to my graduation looking like a squirrel stocking up for winter, though by that time my eyes had finally opened again.

[JLRodgers]

Oh they do make a paper tape for anyone that's interested... it doesn't stick as well, but considering it works quite well -- and it's supposed to be for sensitive people.

[Evil Queen]

Whee! All you need now is an allergy to garlic, pointed canines and an interesting accent to be a vampire :love:

I'm allergic to pollen mostly. Quite lucky in that I'm not allergic to anything else (That I know of!)

Oh wait!
I'm deathly allergic to stupidity - if only there was such an allergy!

I have pretty sharp (but not noticeably pointy) canines, am terribly pale and have a thick southern accent.

But I adore garlic. :love:

[BlaqueKatt]

Do what I do: paper towel + Ace fabric bandage.



Ace bandages contain latex

[Chanlin]

I'm allergic to quite a few things. Typical things like pet dander, pollen, grass, etc.

But by far the best, and oddest one that weirds out doctors is the fact that I'm allergic to Diphenhydramine (aka Benadryl). Yes I am allergic to a fairly widely used OTC antihistamine :)

[unclejampuff]

I used to make fun of my siblings because they're allergic to almost everything: dogs, milk, grass, cats, pollen, dust mites, tomatoes, orange juice, etc.
Then when I was 12, I got my ears pierced. My ears puffed up to about three times their size, and oozed pink pus. Turns out I'm allergic to nickel. Okay, let's try steel. Oops, allergic. Copper, gold, tin, sterling silver; I still haven't found a metal that doesn't make my skin blister. I have matching scars on my lower abdomen/hips from those studs they put near jean pockets. There's also one right below my belly button from the metal snap on my work pants. And of course, I have to wear a special deodorant so that my armpits don't swell from the aluminum.
Then when I was around 16, I found out cow milk makes me clogged with mucus. And of course my favouritest food ever is ice cream. Second favourite? Cheese sticks. :cry:
About three years ago or so, I found out if I wash my sheets in most detergents and then sweat, my skin breaks out in a rash.
I am immune to most plants, like poison ivy or sumack(sp?). I'm the only one in my family that is, so whenever my stepfather wanted it removed from the property, guess who had to do it?

[patiokitty]

Hmmm, allergies...let me see.

- morphine
- MSG
- all artificial sweeteners
- Splenda
- Pine Sol, and anything pine scented (including air freshners)...no live tree at Christmas for me if I don't want to have an asthma attack
- cat dander, although I have two of the little critters
- most citrus fruits
- cottonwood pollen
- broom (as in the stuff they make straw brooms with)
- plastic against my skin
- raw chicken on my skin...I get a really nasty rash that requires me to take an antihistamine to get rid of
- fresh cut grass touching my skin
- chlorine bleach...yes, it makes swimming in a pool as less than enjoyable experience. Especially a public pool.

That's all that's coming to my sleep-starved brain at the moment...bleh