Food Allergy Support

Discussion Boards => Reactions & Stories => Topic started by: CMdeux on April 07, 2012, 05:16:23 PM

FAS has upgraded our forum security. Some members may need to log in again. If you are unable to remember your login information, please email food.allergy.supt@flash.net and we will help you get back in. Thanks for your patience!

Title: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 07, 2012, 05:16:23 PM
So.

DD made herself something that she really, really likes for lunch today-- Arancini Bites, Trader Joe's.

I know that we've read the labels for PN/TN and Egg-- and they are clear on that score.  What I had forgotten was that they have a shared lines warning for...


shellfish.


Didn't realize that until about 20 minutes ago, in fact.  But I suspected it, let's just say, as of about 70 minutes ago... (this would be about an hour after eating four bite-size pieces of these)--

A huge wave-- lower GI pain, nausea, The Big D, and more pain, but now with the bonus of feeling like...

well, like it would be a terrific idea to just slide to the floor in a big puddle and sleeeeeeeeep.

This sensation, by the way, is very much like:

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-su4Mo-mEtnE/Tisnzg83nNI/AAAAAAAAAJI/zBoq9iZjGWg/s1600/poppies.jpg)

Just to be clear.  It's the kind of "Muuuuuusssssst SLEEEEEEEEEEEEP" sensation that, um... is more soporific than two benadryl.  FWIW.

Kind of thinking that Trader Joe's box warning...

is more than just CYA.  Just so everyone knows.

 :P


And yes, feeling pretty  :dunce:  at myself right now.  But not in so much pain now that benadryl has reached... er... the site of the problem.   :misspeak:

No, I'm not alone, yes others in my household know that I'm having a reaction,
No, I'm having NO trouble with breathing,
No, I have no skin symptoms. 

Really, this is probably single symptom, technically speaking.  It's just that fluid loss can lead to some volume depletion. 
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: SilverLining on April 07, 2012, 05:28:43 PM
{{{hugs}}} CM
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 07, 2012, 05:34:55 PM
And one of those super-cool things that volume depletion seems to lead to?

VERY elevated temperature.  Around 103F- 104F-- at least at the core.  Cold extremities.  It's a compensatory thing.  Just thought I'd mention that since it's one of those things that is really really indicative of invisible signs of anaphylaxis (as opposed to something else).

Sipping water, yes. 

Oh-- my pulse rate is fine.  If it were to either jump or fall-- we'd be using Epi and heading to the ER.   :yes:  I'm thinking that my judgment is probably not very impaired, actually.  I'm just tired.  And cold.  I can feel the offending item working it's evil way through the rest of my GI tract, though the benadryl is helping enormously.

But this kind of reaction can make benadryl feel like a cup of coffee, I'll tell ya what.   ;)
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: momma2boys on April 07, 2012, 05:47:37 PM
Oh NO!  Hope it resolves quickly!  Keep us posted so we know you are ok!  :grouphug:
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 07, 2012, 06:27:01 PM
Feeling MUCH better at this point.  Which pretty much confirms 110% that this was allergic and nothing else. 

Heavens, I just hate food allergies.  :-[
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: momtoAidenDeclan on April 07, 2012, 08:45:14 PM
 :-[
glad you're feeling better - hope you're 100% tomorrow morning!
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: Janelle205 on April 08, 2012, 03:31:56 AM
Glad to hear that you're feeling better.  Boo to allergens.
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: GoingNuts on April 08, 2012, 09:03:59 AM
Ay yi yi.  Hope all is well when you wake up this morning.

 :disappointed:  :tongue:  :rant:  :paddle:  to Food Allergies!
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: ctmartin on April 08, 2012, 07:55:52 PM

hope you're feeling better by now, CM!  sorry you had to go through that.
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: MandCmama on April 08, 2012, 08:39:43 PM
 :heart: hope it has "passed" and you're feeling much better!
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: TabiCat on April 08, 2012, 08:45:32 PM
 :heart: :grouphug: :heart:
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 08, 2012, 10:56:20 PM
Thanks, everyone.

I know that this was probably just the result of a really full allergy cup combined with bad luck (this is something that I've eaten a bite or two of before on at least 2 or 3 occasions... and I think that this points out something about cross-contaminated items, too-- the amount is completely RANDOM, so every time you eat it, you're gambling, basically).

I felt pretty good by bedtime last night, but I could tell when my cetirizine wore off-- about 5 this morning.  Bleh. 

Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: nameless on April 09, 2012, 12:08:04 AM
Glad you are feeling better  :grouphug:

Please do report the reaction to Trader Joe's - they do take it seriously. I never thought their labeling was CYA, and I liked it better when they labeled everything by default and stopped "making decisions" about shared facility/equipment...now I have to call on some things.

Hope it worked itself through and won't bother you tomorrow.

Adrienne
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: Janelle205 on April 09, 2012, 01:29:32 AM
So glad to hear that you are feeling better, CM.

It's a good reminder to many of us to be especially careful with foods now, especially since the pollen counts are really getting up there.  I know that I'm completely at 'full cup' status, since the pressure of my boot for the broken foot is giving me hives.
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 09, 2012, 11:10:37 AM
Yes, it is, Janelle.

Oh-- and two more factors to make it COMPLETELY clear that this was an allergic reaction:

a) when I had that recurrence of cramping in the early morning after my antihistamines wore off-- this wasn't GI, it was uterine.  ding-ding-ding.

b) When I showered yesterday, I popped hives up and down one arm and also on my back.  Just a few.  But I was being a lot more careful than usual about water temperature, so it shouldn't have happened at all.

Thanks, nameless-- and you are correct, it is a good idea to let them know that if I had been paying attention, I would have known to avoid the product.  Because it is labeled for XC.
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: nameless on April 09, 2012, 02:13:05 PM
clipped



Thanks, nameless-- and you are correct, it is a good idea to let them know that if I had been paying attention, I would have known to avoid the product.  Because it is labeled for XC.

No, that's not what I meant by it.  I meant...that if it's labeled as "shared equipment" and not "Contains traces of..." or "Contains..." then they should know to check the product/log it, etc. Their new premise is "good manufacturing procedures" so if it says "shared equipment" they are just letting the consumer know, but don't expect any of the allergens actually in the product.

That's what I meant, not that they'd point out to you they told you with a 'shared equipment' label....but that you could tell them, "Yes, you have cross-x and should label it contains" type of thing.

Adrienne
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: Macabre on April 11, 2012, 06:52:52 PM
Wow.

You and I.  Twins separated at birth.  So much.  Down to the uterine contractions.  Oy.  And the poppies analogy--spot on.

(((hugs)))

Sorry I've not been around for this.  Hope you're past the PTSD by now.  So glad you're okay.  That sounds very scary. 


I gotta say--an epi really does feel great. 

Not chiding.  Not at all--just wanted to say how good it feels.  Like the liquid benadryl makes things feel good down there?  Yeah, like that but all over.

:heart:
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: LinksEtc on April 11, 2012, 08:26:14 PM
Just reading this ... so sorry to hear about your reaction CM.  Glad you are feeling better.

 :grouphug:
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 12, 2012, 10:24:09 AM
Thanks, guys.   :heart:
  I seriously thought about Epi, and so did DH.  We talked about it, but opted not to as long as things seemed to be getting better.


The diarrhea was non-repeating.  Definitely not like illness.




Poor DD got "egged" just a few days later, too.    Twice, no less, since I was 'kind' enough to reheat the leftovers for her the next morning...  (since she didn't tell me that there was any major problem the night before).  I definitely deserve a badmommy award for that stunt.  Though to be fair; she really should know better than to not tell us about vomiting/diarrheal illness.

 :hiding:  But I swear that I read the bag.  Twice.  Turkey Meatballs, Foster Farms, and the label looked clear.  But her response (with, um... an N of two) didn't lie.  DH and I both have eaten from the same container about four times at this point. 
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: Linden on April 12, 2012, 12:10:38 PM
Okay - just to be clear - for the sake of allergy naive people such as myself and any others who may be browsing this board in the future.

Each of us has different instructions from our doctor.  We should understand that CMDeux, you were following the instructions given to you by your doctor for you.  The rest of us have to follow the directions given to us by our doctors (and our Epi Pen plan if we have one) for us.  So if our doctor said use the Epi Pen for diarrhea then we *must* do so.  Similarly, if our doctor/Epi Pen plan says use it for feeling faint - we *must* do so *right away*.  If we are not sure what one of the symptoms is that our doctor told us to look out for, we should ask the doctor what he or she means.

I know the experienced folks on the board know all this.  I'm just reiterating in case someone who doesn't normally frequent these boards comes across this post.  I want to make sure that folks don't misinterpret this post to mean they don't need to use their Epi Pen when their instructions/plan call for it.
Title: Re: Ugh... dumb, dumb, dumb!! (me, at least, not DD)
Post by: CMdeux on April 12, 2012, 03:05:50 PM
 :yes:  And "faintness" =/= "sleepy" in the context of a reaction, either.  Those are separate symptoms.

Just to be clear, "faintness" = IMMEDIATE EPINEPHRINE because that one is a clear indicator that BP is falling (or might be).