Weird reactions (allergic etc)

[iradney]

I'm allergic to stupidity and occasionally get hayfever. That's about it. I'm allergic to nothing - no metal sensitivity, no penicillin allergies, nada.

Which is why I'll never eat at MacDonalds again - here's the reason why.

A few years ago, they were promoting the Cajun Chicken burger. It looked nice, I like chicken and spicy food, so I figured "ey, why not?" and bought one. Now, earlier in the day, I had eaten oats, and the burger was my supper. Later that night, I broke out into hives. Great big red itchy patches on my arms, legs, upperbody and even my face! :cry:

It couldn't have been the oats, coz it was just oats, water and milk. Its what I eat for breakfast every day and never had a reaction. It could only have been the burger...and that's why I never eat at MacD's again...

Got any similar stories?

[NightAngel]

My Aunt always says, "I'm allergic to pain... it makes me break out in blood!"

I'm allergic to hair dye. I still occasionally dye my hair but I must be extremely careful not to let it touch my scalp. The first time I had a reaction my entire head swelled up and I looked like Frankenstein. I still have scarring behind my ears from it.

I also LOVE citrus but it causes me to have migranes.

When my oldest son was little he became severely allergic to McDonalds chicken nuggets.

I remember sitting in the ER waiting to see a doctor. He was pale, limp, and was barely breathing. He kept vomiting this strange, opaque liquid.

This is how bad he was:
A nurse walking by glanced over, did a double take, RAN over and yanked him from my arms and RAN off literally screaming for a doctor.

She thought he was dead.

He did an overnight in a tent with lots of monitors and was fine by the next day. Kids bounce back quick- thankfully.

To this day he will not eat a McD's nugget- I'm glad.

[iradney]

Wow, well done to the nurse! Wonder what triggered that reaction in your little one? Glad to hear he pulled through! :D

[AFpheonix]

I don't have allergies, but my husband has a LOT of food allergies, so it really limits what I can make at home.
I adore fish, he is deathly allergic, so I can only have it when we go out. He also can't have some forms of soy and some vegetables, and he has GI issues with milk and some things like strawberries.

[iradney]

A friend of mine claimed that her chest closes up when ever she drinks fruit juice that was made from mixadrink. That happens to me only when I drink really cheap, nasty guava juice (the type that is so thick a spoon can stand up in it, and so sweet you could get sugar shock...ICK)

[Zombi]

I'm allergic to aspirin - it makes my throat swell up. I discovered this when I had a sore throat, and the guy at the chemist reccommended that I gargle with an aspirin dissolved in water. Didn't go down for 3 days.
I'm also allergic to Estee Lauder foundation, for some reason.

[sportsmom]

I'm allergic to codeine. That just takes all the fun out of being in pain. ;)

Apparently when I was little the doctor gave me some cough syrup with codeine in it and I started breaking out in hives, so as a child I had to take this absolutely horrible stuff called "Quebrin" whenever I had a cold and cough. I have yet to find anything that tastes quite as horrible as that stuff.

[CaroPhoenix]

I'm allergic to Suave body lotion. I got a case of cellulitis (inflamation of the soft tissue just under the skin). I got this inflamation 'cos my skin is extremely dry during the winter months and I scratched my skin until it bled and the infection got there. Well, the doctor told me that if my skin gets itchy, put lotion on it immediately. I was following the doctor's orders! Honest! So, I'm on antibiotics (large penicillan pills), and my skin gets itchy. I get up (half asleep as this was like 4 AM) and I slather the lotion on my leg. I wake up a couple of hours later, leg is itchy but in a different way, hubby, daughter & I go out, and I'm still itchy, however, now I notice that there are bumps all over my leg! :eek: Turns out they were hives. Turns out I cannot use Suave body lotion and I have to use those laundry detergents that are free of everything. *le sigh*

I've developed an allergy to cigarrette smoke. Which is odd, because i used to smoke. (I think this is why I'm now in therapy. See, when I used to be incredibly stressed, I'd smoke until the stress went away). However, now I can't be around smoke as my eyes turn red, grow puffy, water up, my nose gets stuffy and all of a sudden I sound like I have laringytis(sp?).

I don't think I have any other allergies.

[Misanthropical]

I'm allergic to codeine. That just takes all the fun out of being in pain. ;)

Apparently when I was little the doctor gave me some cough syrup with codeine in it and I started breaking out in hives, so as a child I had to take this absolutely horrible stuff called "Quebrin" whenever I had a cold and cough. I have yet to find anything that tastes quite as horrible as that stuff.

I'm also allergic to codeine, which sometimes makes it a pain in the ass to get pain medications. It was really hard when I was pregnant, because codeine seems to be the only safe pain medication to take during pregnancy other than the over the counter stuff.

[sportsmom]

Mis, I have found out recently that I can take Vicodin which is synthetic, I guess, so I am able to take that. I don't know if everyone who is allergic to Codeine is able to take it, but you may want to ask your doc about it.

[Broomjockey]

Well, I'm allergic to copper (I believe, it's one of the trace metals in white gold, I remember, as I share this one with my mother), it gives me a bumpy rash.

I'm also allergic to pepper of any kind. Green, red, ground black pepper. I've never taken a large dose, but considering a couple dashes of black pepper makes my throat clog with mucus for a couple hours, I think I'll forego the curiosity.

I might be allergic to codine as well. My grandmother would hallucinate when given it, and when I was given tylenol 3 last summer, I got what I like to describe as "a steel bar of pain" running through my back basically between my kidneys.

Also, most perfumed objects (things including body sprays and poppurri) will give me a low-grade migraine.

I just remembered: I'm also slightly sun intolerant, in addition to being light-sensitive. As soon as I step outside, or am in strong sunlight, my skin flushes bright red, and looks like I got a sunburn.

[NightAngel]

Oh, yeah... certain perfumes/colognes/scented oils.

The list includes: Patchouli, Old Spice, Fendi and generally stuff of that nature.
Patchouli is the WORST as the people who use it bathe in it, dump gallons of it on their clothes, etc. Most Patchouli wearers have a good 30 foot radius and the stuff smells disgusting to start with.

*GAGS- falls on floor gasping for air- eyes watering*

[BusBus]

There was this brand of toothpaste called Aim a while back (I haven't seen it in years). Anyways, that one particular toothpaste would give me a rash around my mouth. No other kind would cause this. Kinda odd.

Over the last few years, I have also developed extremely sensitive skin. Fragrance-free EVERYTHING for me now: soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, deodorant etc...It's much more sensitive in the morning than the evening (weird, eh?). Even sweat will make me incredibly itchy first thing in the morning (so, no morning jogs for me).

-BB, who will be allergic to oxygen in 10 yrs :lol:

[Jpurple]

I'm allergic to idiots.

I also react badly to a steroid that I was prescribed for a nasty sinus infection once. I think it was called ceftin, but it's been a long time. I'm not specifically allergic to it, but I had a really odd reaction- cold sores all over my lips, which then turned purple. It was most unpleasant.

I also have an intolerance for cigarette smoke, but only in enclosed spaces. I get asthma-like symptoms when exposed to too much smoke.

[Cia]

Cigarette and pipe smoke make me cough up a lung. When I was young and stupid I tried cigarettes but everytime I tried one I got a bad cold, so I decided smoking wasn't for me.

Aspertame makes me ill so I don't eat/drink anything with that ingredient.

Can one be allergic to traveling? Because everytime I go somewhere I get sick. Might be from new and exotic dusts and molds because antihistamines help.

My DH is allergic to triple antibiotic ointment. We aren't sure which antibiotic or combo of the three but he swells up, turns red and starts to itch.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I'm not exactly sure how, since it should be biologically impossible, but I am allergic to both gold AND stainless steel. Trust me, we've done tests. Pure gold and clean, brand-new stainless steel will make my skin break out. So the only jewelry I can wear is the cheap fake stuff and straight silver.

However, I can just about eat poison ivy, oak, and sumac and not feel a thing. I was 14 before I realized why the other kids never followed me into some fields. Never bothered me a bit in my life.

What can I say, I'm a mutant...

[reformedwaitress]

I'm very allergic to seafood -- throat closes up and I pretty much stop breathing. All kinds of not fun.

I'm allergic to nicotine which is why I have never smoked a cigarette in my life and never will. It would very likely kill me. Cigarette smoke gets to me, but doesn't make me stop breathing or anything. But once we found out I was allergic to nicotine (I was like 5) Momma made Daddy start smoking outside and he was never allowed to smoke inside again.

I'm allergic to bees and wasps.

I was allergic to dogs when I was little, but I grew out of it (then again, I could eat fish and seafood when I was little and grew INTO that allergy).

Can't think of anything else right now. I could be allergic to medicines but I don't know because I never take medicine. Not even over the counter stuff.

[stormtreader]

Im allergic to most penicillin variants ive tried so far, and an alternative (metroxinale? metrox-something) made me very very ill :(

[Barefootgirl]

My skin reacts with base metals, which is a tad annoying. All my earrings have to be 9ct gold or better (oh, the hardship !) - I can wear silver without a reaction but it doesn't suit my skin tone.

Apart from that, I have no other allergies or intolerances, except for a very low tolerance for stupidity and cutesyness :D

[Geek King]

Here's a wierd one: Cold.

Both my father and I are allergic to cold. My father found out when he was driving home one day long ago, when drink cups first outgrew the cupholders in the car. He was holding his Coke and ice ine one hand and driving with the other. Well, the hand with the Coke swelled to about twice normal size, so of course my mother dragged him to the doctor. It seems extended exposure to cold will cause this in him, not sure of the exact reaction going on, as I wasn't there when the doctor was explaining.

Fortunately, I have much less reaction, I only get the "allergy sniffles" and a phlemy throat all winter. The thoat is wierd, because it distends my vocal chords somehow, and my voice gets really deep. I get some great looks because (so I've been told) I sound like Barry White when I really get going. :lol:

<wanders off to sing his winter-only version of Blue Moon>

[Zombi]

I just remembered: I'm also slightly sun intolerant, in addition to being light-sensitive. As soon as I step outside, or am in strong sunlight, my skin flushes bright red, and looks like I got a sunburn.

Light sensitivity sucks monkey butt, and Australian sunlight is evil.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I have a pshychological aversion to nuts (insert dirty joke here). Does that count?

I get hives on my arms when they are exposed to cold air. This gets worse when I am stressed out. If I am calm it usually doesn't happen at all. If I put on a sweater it goes away.. Ironically, if I put ice on the itchy spot, that also helps. :confused:

My dad couldn't eat chocolate for years cuz it gave him migraines (the horror!!). Now he can eat it again. Go figure.

My friend's husband is allergic to berries, and he once got a reaction from something that had been in the refrigerater near a (covered) bowl of berries.

[Misanthropical]

I am also highly allergic to cat dander. The whole throat swelling shut, eyes watering and itching, etc. So, of course, if there is a cat around he/she will want to be my best friend. :rolleyes:

Friends and relatives that have cats have to make sure there is no cat hair on them to come in the house or I get the same reaction as if their cat was here.

[BookstoreEscapee]

That sounds like my brother. We have 2 cats and he always plays with them when he comes over but within half an hour he's totally stuffed up and eyes watering and everything. Of course he won't take allergy medicine before he comes over when it might do him some good. idiot. :D

[BookstoreEscapee]

Do you live in a bubble? You made me think of Niles on Frasier...:lol:

[Banrion]

I am allergic to bandaids and adhesive tape. After my shoulder surgery, my nurse could not find one adhesive tape in that hospital that I was not allergic to.

I can't help with everything else, but have you tried Dermablend™ made by 3M? Most hospitals don't carry it, because it is rather pricy, but my mom has the same issue. 99.9% of medical adhesives cause rather large water blisters under the contact area. She has a special non-metallic necklace that she puts her roll of tape on before she goes into surgery with a giant note that she tapes to her chest about not using anything other than the dermablend. For her neck surgery she took 2 rolls just in case things got messy, and wouldn't ya know they stole both rolls even though they only used about 3 inches of the stuff!

[rvdammit]

Airbourne Particulate Matter, or in ordinary terms smoke, dust, perfume etc.

Fortunately no longer a serious problem (eyes tear up, bit of a cough/closed throat)

The worst reaction was cured by an emergency tonsilectomy. It's nice being able to breathe.

[AirHostess]

Dustmites.
Cat fur
Something in Lemsip gives me hives.

[officegirl]

I am allergic to the cold. It's SO strange. After it's rained or if I've been outside for too long in the cold, I get these hives- I mean full-on-puffed-up-nasty-skin-disease-looking hives. It's hideous! My doctor told me once that it might be some rare disease (I forget the name) and the test involved holding an ice cube against my thigh for 10 minutes and then seeing if that area puffed out like the hives do. Well, there was no reaction that I could see. So I still don't know what's wrong with me... I am just strange.

[BlaqueKatt]

any antibiotic ending in 'cillin or 'myacin, sulfa, mold, topical vitamin d, lanolin(except lansinoh-yay) Latex* and oddly enough my own immune system(minor auto immune disorder)

*which causes cross allergies to neoprene(synthetic rubber) bananas, kiwi fruit, strawberries, cherries, and pineapple, as if there wasn't enough out there with latex in it.


BlaqueKatt-do not ask the question I get every time someone sees my silicone bracelet that says WARNING LATEX ALLERGY--

[XCashier]

I'm allergic to bananas; they make me break out around the mouth. Which is a shame, because I like bananas. And it's only fresh bananas that do this; I can eat banana bread, banana pudding or other things made with bananas. :shrug:

I'm allergic to sulfa; it also makes me break out. I had a bad reaction to a medicine called cyclobenzaprene, which had been prescribed to treat my tenosynovitis. It made me feel suicidal. The second time I had tenosynovitis and had the same prescription, same results. As there was nothing wrong with my life other than my hand hurting (and certainly not badly enough to want to end it all!), I asked the doctor about it, and he said some people do get that reaction to the drug. Scary!

I can't stand cigarette smoke or too much dust in the air. So naturally, I'm living in Arizona. :rolleyes: And in an apartment above a pack-a-minute smoker! :puke:

[wagegoth]

I have a lot of allergies, but the one that freaks most people out is that I'm allergic to coffee. Coffee, not the caffeine, something else in the coffee. Major nausea, vomiting, grossness. Which means nothing with coffee in it, e.g., tiramisu, mocha, and some chocolate cakes.