Has anyone ever hear or experienced this?
Usually after eating watermelon (or sometimes even grapes), my ear canals will feel somewhat blocked and very itchy. This usually starts occurring within 5-10 minutes after eating and lasts for about 10-15.
Would there be anything specific that is causing this?
Let me guess-- you have a WICKED ragweed allergy, right?
The timing suggests that it's likely to be IgE-mediated somehow. (Meaning it's allergy related somehow.)
It's sounds like classic oral allergy syndrome. This is where your immune system mistakes a food for a pollen, basically. It's usually not dangerous, but can be really aggravating to live with, as you know doubt are all too aware.
Melons are a relatively common OAS offender, and a quite rare primary allergy. This would be even more highly indicated if this is more severe (or maybe only a problem) at some times of the year-- for ragweed that would be late summer into fall in most places.
My first spouse, though, had a true anaphylactic allergy to watermelon, so it can happen. Good idea to talk to your doc about it to be on the safe side. :)
I have this problem with melons too (though in the past few years I can eat watermelon and honeydew as long as I'm on Claritin), as well as several other fruits and veggies (especially carrots, apples, stone fruits, bananas and kiwi). I can eat them cooked though. But I'm guessing cooked watermelon isn't too tempting to you, is it? ;)
However, like CM's DH, I've had severe reactions to cantaloupe. I've never been tested, but the severity of my symptoms led my allergist to determine that cantaloupe is a true allergen for me, not OAS.
While OAS rarely causes symptoms that are more than a nuisance, a small % of people can end up having serious reactions, so check with your allergist.
And feel better!
DD had what I thought was OAS, but skin tests to watermelon came back positive. Last time she had it she kept clearing her throat. Benadryl fixed that.