Ok. Maybe I am just not seeing it, but why do most people think it weird that I am allergic to oranges? I go to the doctor to for a visit and they ask what I am allergic to, I say oranges, the MA's or nurses look at me like I am nuts or like they have never heard of that before.
People have allergies to weird things but whats so weird about oranges.
Also, can anyone answer this for me because I keep getting 2 different answers:
1 pediatrician has told me that my allergy to oranges will be passed to my son, the next pediatrician says that there is no chance.
Who should I believe?
I am believing my motherly instinct and not letting him have oranges until he can tell me that he does not feel well after eating an orange. If I ingest any type of orange, I break out in severe hives, get an excruciating migraine, vomit, pass out, the works. So of course I am going to be protective of my son. Sorry, I had to vent about that, I am just frustrated because nobody seems to believe me about the allergy to oranges.
Before your son can develop an allergy he has to have an initial exposure during which the immune system builds a "memory" of the experience. He won't have any allergic reaction during first exposure but afterwards all bets are off. Most allergies get worse with increased exposure.
That's what I had always understood too, but my daughter had an anaphylactic reaction to strawberries on her first exposure. I am 100% sure that there was not a prior "sensitizing" exposure.
And to the OP, my mother has the exact same rxn to oranges that you describe. It is sort of a funny thing to be allergic to, especially when all other citrus fruits are fine for her.
People always think allergies are strange, and they love to think you're making it up for some strange reason.
As for me, I'm allergic to Kiwi fruit - but no other foods.
That is difficult to explain to people. "She cannot eat sugar" "oh, is she diabetic?" "No, she has an enzyme deficiency that makes her unable to digest fructose" "Oh, so if I make peas and onions for TG dinner as a side dish, she can eat that, right?" "Um, no..."
Of course, she has an even harder time trying to eat at a restaurant than I do trying to run interference with the cooks at family gatherings. She has an excellent talent for detecting the smallest amount of sugar in a food just by a small taste, although sometimes she gets tricked and ends up really sick for a couple of days.
And, being the chocoholic I am, I have to say I am VERY glad I do not have HFI and am thankful my kids do not either.
Edited to add: two of my three children get (well at age 5 the older one stopped) contact dermatitis or some sort of local reaction - their face gets red around the mouth but splotchy in areas that the food did not touch - from eating shelf stable dairy products like kraft ranch dressing or cheese in a can or those cheese 'n crackers snack packs. That's a weird one to try to explain. The allergy doc did a full out scratch test on my oldest and nothing but feathers and dust came up reactive. He told me it was a local reaction and to give an antihistamine if I felt it was needed.
Thanks to everyone. Now I dont feel so odd about my allergy. Its just so weird because when I tell the MA's or Doctors they just look at me like I am making it up.
I know my son needs to be exposed to the oranges first but I dont think that I am really ready to go there yet. I have had so many bad experiences with oranges that I am afraid to let him try them right now.
I am believing my motherly instinct and not letting him have oranges until he can tell me that he does not feel well after eating an orange. If I ingest any type of orange, I break out in severe hives, get an excruciating migraine, vomit, pass out, the works. So of course I am going to be protective of my son. Sorry, I had to vent about that, I am just frustrated because nobody seems to believe me about the allergy to oranges.
I think you should believe your instinct and not give him oranges until he is old enough to clearly state how he feels when he eats one. I would also have liquid benedryl near by when I gave it to him :).
I can empathize with you because I am soooooo allergic to dairy...all forms, and not lactose, I'm allergic to casein (the protein). And, no one really understands. I get such severe diarrhea and pain....and then doctors, and others, say that diarrhea is not a real allergy....however, I believe differently because of how severe I get sick, and always within 1 hour of eating it (usually 15-20 minutes) later.
For instance, I have eaten the same wheat bread for years because it was completely dairy free, then about a month ago, I had a sandwich and I got sooooooooo sick and I was trying to figure out what I ate....I could not figure it out....next day, the same thing. Then I went through everything I ate that day, checked the ingredients in everything, and the bread recipe was different and now had milk in it. Argh. There is no way someone can tell me I do not have an allergy lol
I'm also severely allergic to shell fish (stop breathing from that one) and I get sick (like I do with dairy) from pork, eggplant, and pecans.
All that to say, I'm sorry, I would believe you, and I think people can be very narrow minded that if something doesn't happen to them, then it can not possibly happen to someone else
Sheri--You do whatever you need to do to protect your son, I respect you for that! I have seen several people over the years have allergies to citrus fruits and yes, specifically oranges.
I think sometimes when nurses, doctors etc inquire about allergies and at the mention of certain foods look like they are doing this action...:icon_roll that they have also asked that of other pts that have told them the same thing and really there was not an allergy just a dislike of the food mentioned or they ate that particular food before they were sick with some other illness yet attribute the entire problem to the food.
I get the brush off when I go in with my allergy list...had one nurse tell me..."You can't possibly be allergic to all of that!" I said, give me the paperwork and you may obtain my ER records from when I have taken these things, had anaphylaxis and needed emergency intervention...that made her quiet...
If anything, stories like yours remind me not to assume, not to place judgement, watch my facial expressions in front of patients, and ask for elaboration about the allergy. Thank you for sharing! Have a great day!
I am allergic to corn as well as corn syrup and corn starch. There are so many things with corn syrup and/or corn starch in that it is hard to eat anything packaged. There is usually some form of corn in it. My allergies are manifested by severe itching of the mouth, including the roof of the mouth and the very back of my throat. After telling my younger brother about this, he determined that he is allergic to corn as well. I have 4 children and so far 2 are definitely showing some form of corn allergy. One of my daughters was allergic to oranges only as a small child. Whenever she drank O.J. she was incontinent of urine even after potty training. Her pediatrician likened it to her bladder "sneezing". I believe allergies to foods has a definite genetic link.
I am allergic to the herb Basil! I always get the " How can you possibly be allergic to that" It really sucks though b/c I really have to watch what I eat now as basil seems to be popping up in everything!
I am allergic to corn as well as corn syrup and corn starch. There are so many things with corn syrup and/or corn starch in that it is hard to eat anything packaged. There is usually some form of corn in it. My allergies are manifested by severe itching of the mouth, including the roof of the mouth and the very back of my throat. After telling my younger brother about this, he determined that he is allergic to corn as well. I have 4 children and so far 2 are definitely showing some form of corn allergy. One of my daughters was small child. Whenever she drank O.J. she was incontinent of urine even after potty training.allergic to oranges only as a Her pediatrician likened it to her bladder "sneezing". I believe allergies to foods has a definite genetic link.
oh my gosh we used to tease my brother because he would pee the bed if he had oranges or oj past 6 pm. it was the strangest thing!
mandana
347 Posts
That's what I had always understood too, but my daughter had an anaphylactic reaction to strawberries on her first exposure. I am 100% sure that there was not a prior "sensitizing" exposure.
Amanda