about

I am 48 years old (yes that's old compared to some of you).


I have worked in nursing and/or healthcare management positions for 24 years. Primarily OB, Neonatal, Mental Health, Occupational Health and Geriatrics. In Jan 2008 I started my own business to board horses and do equine/human education. I am also a certified dog trainer.


I've been around the block so to speak and seem to be always helping others. I've been told that the reason people seek me out for advice is that I am approachable and caring. But on the same token even though I consider the person's feelings. I tell it like I see it. I've dealt with people in trouble with the law, dysfunctional families such as those with abuse & marriage problems. Not to mention problems with employees and employers.


I don't ever claim to know it all, and always keep an open mind.

advice

In the past month and a half, sometimes when my fiance eats pizza, his lips swell up to about 3 times their normal size a few hours afterwards. It starts in one corner on one lip and slowly travels all the way around until everything is completely swollen. He says that it feels kind of numb. We get Benadryl and he takes 2, but it doesn't seem to help at all. It's just his lips. He's never had any problems like this in the past and we're not getting pizza from new places or anything. I know he needs to see a doctor about it, that's not what I'm asking. I'm just really interested in how this could have happened. Does anybody have any ideas about what could be causing this? Are they putting some kind of new ingredient or spice in pizza now? Could he have developed an allergy to something at age 21? Has anything like this happened to anyone before? Thanks.

Since foods with tomatoes are common, I would assume this would happen at other times if that ingredient was the cause. With most allergic reactions it takes a few times of exposure to the allergen to have noticiable symptoms. Allergies are funny things, they show up and go away in some people at random ages. More than likely each exposure will create a greater reaction. Since it is his "lips" that swell this is a potentially dangerous situation because it could lead to air way swelling with other exposures.(Which is life threatening)

OTC doses of benadryl will only work to a degree, and at some point will not help anymore. He would need a stronger medicine like epinephrine to reverse the reaction. I know of some people that are allergic to MSG which is a flavor enhancer, that is commonly used in chinese food, but I am not sure if it is added to pizza ingredients.

It is a law that all additives and ingredients must be listed on food labels. If you can, go to the place where you purchased a pizza that he reacted to and ask for copies of the product lables. Then make an appointment with an allergist.

The allergist will be able to test for common allergies. Often they use a device that has several small needles on it that are infiltrated with common allergens. These needles are then pricked into the skin, and if the person is allergic to the substance the skin will react.

I believe since your bf has a potentially life threatening allergy it would be in his best interest to investigate so he can avoid the potenital for future complications.

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(Rating: 5) thank you so much
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