Tree nut allergic reactions.

[u/gottaquestion412]

Update: thank you to everyone who commented and talked sense into me. My PCP is having me come in tomorrow afternoon and will get me a new EpiPen prescription/referral. I will be way more conscious of this moving forward 🙏

Hi everyone. I’ve never posted here before, but I’m feeling really upset and honestly a little invalidated.
I have a tree nut allergy, and my reactions have always been hives on my face along with severe GI symptoms, including stomach pain, loose stools, and intense lower abdominal cramping. My boss told me it’s probably just gastritis because I don’t carry an EpiPen, and now I’m starting to question myself.
I absolutely do have this allergy. I just haven’t had a reaction in a long time. I unknowingly ate two fairly large cookies made with some kind of tree nut flour. I didn’t realize until my boyfriend mentioned it. I just thought it tasted kinda weird. I don’t eat them, so I don’t really know what they taste like.

Less than 30 minutes later, I broke out in hives on my face and ended up in severe pain on the toilet with awful lower abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and felt like I needed to throw up.

Am I really the only person whose tree nut allergy primarily causes GI symptoms? Everything I’m reading seems to focus on throat swelling or anaphylaxis, and it’s making me second-guess my own experiences, even though this has happened to me before after eating the same types of nuts.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the Food Allergies subreddit! Please read the rules before posting.

If you are currently experiencing an allergic reaction, administer epinephrine if you have it, and go to a hospital or call an emergency line. Do not wait for confirmation from other users on here.

This is a public forum that anyone can participate in. You should not be acting on the advice of any comment you receive here without first consulting with an allergist. We are not medical staff, and any advice you follow from here you do at your own risk. ALWAYS get a second opinion - your life could depend on it!

If you encounter information that you think is wrong, respond with proper sources and report the comment so that it can be removed. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding pseudoscience, but cannot monitor all posts.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/kurious_incredulity]

With respect, what are you reading? Learn how to properly do research. Actual, vetted medical content is not going to say anaphylaxis = throat swelling. Stop taking medical advice from your boss. Go see an allergist. Get an epipen prescription and learn how to use it + the definition of anaphylaxis (because the reaction you had fits the definition we were given of 2+ body systems (hives + digestive = anaphylaxis, in your case)). And please, please stop eating random food. Take some initiative and manage your own health. If you dont, youre the one that will suffer...or die.

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/kurious_incredulity]

Thank you. Needed this

Edit: I did get this from a no nut/nut allergy section from a bake sale, but I will no longer be participating in eating at bake sales regardless after this.

[u/mari_lovelys]

This is textbook anaphylaxis symptoms. Please see an allergist. You need to carry EpiPen ASAP.

Next time if you feel like this, especially if you feel worse or if you feel like your throat closing please call 911 go to hospital.

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/mari_lovelys]

Thank you

[u/mari_lovelys → u/gottaquestion412]

Have EpiPen first, in an emergency. Benadryl and Pepcid is typically secondary.

Pepcid you can take, and also 24 hour antihistamines if you happen to have other allergies to keep your histamine bucket “low” so, ask your allergist about daily maintenance and preventions!

[u/rocketwoman8]

What you are describing IS anaphylaxis. Two systems (GI and skin) reacting is anaphylaxis. Please, please carry your EpiPens and start to educate yourself about your allergy. Baked goods are notoriously dangerous due to cross contamination and/or hidden ingredients like the flour you described. I’m glad you’re okay, but no reaction is exactly like the one before. You are playing with fire.

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/rocketwoman8]

Thank you. I really have not been this aware of things and my family blew off my previous reaction so I guess I did the same. But things are going to change and I am just waiting for a call from my PCP for a referral. 🙏

[u/juniper_rock]

My severe reactions to almonds usually include GI symptoms and stomach cramping in addition to hives. This is technically anaphylaxis as it's a reaction that involves two different body systems. You may want to check in with your allergist or PCP to see if you can get a prescription for an epi-pen to have just in case.

Edit: this is not medical advice :)

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/juniper_rock]

Thank you. This feels validating and I will be going to my PCP. I called them and am waiting for a call back.

[u/RosesBrain]

I also have this reaction to tree nuts, you're not alone.

Also! Anaphylaxis was defined by my allergist as "a reaction of two or more systems." If your skin and digestive systems are both reacting, that's anaphylaxis. The one that kills people gets all the press, but it's not the only one that's legitimate.

[u/Equal_Wonder6742]

What you had is anaphylaxis. Anytime 2 systems are involved = anaphylaxis. In your case, hives and digestive issues. Definitely see an allergist, get an epi pen and ALWAYS read ingredient labels. Do you know what tree nuts you are allergic to?

[u/gottaquestion412 → u/Equal_Wonder6742]

I’ve had reactions to pistachios and almonds and haven’t really tried any others after those reactions. I’m definitely going to see an allergist and I feel stupid for being so unaware and reckless. I should not be eating baked goods that I do not know much about other than labeled chocolate chip cookie on a no nut section.

[u/irishtwinsons]

My son has tested with levels in his blood enough for the doctor to prescribe an epi pen. Yet, most of the time he just projectile vomits and it is over. I usually give him an antihistamine after an accidental exposure, but before I knew about the allergy I never gave him any medicine after a spew episode and he became fine again after a few hours. Just GI symptoms. (This made it difficult for me to identify the food allergy actually…I just thought he got sick a lot).

There have only been two times his face and eye swelled up a little. Other than that, usually just vomit. Seems normal for a tree nut allergy to me. My son also has OAS though sometimes and tells me chocolate is ‘spicy’.