Posted by
Stuart on February 25, 2000 at 19:58:25:
I've suffered from facial swelling for almost a decade. I've been to top-notch doctors but none have been able to nail it, aside from diagnosing it as angioedema or chronic urticaria. Typically I will get a tingling in one area on a lip and then the swelling begins, working it's way around my mouth and finally subsiding after 12-24 hours. It takes a long time for the fluid to dissipate and the skin to shrink back. I also occasionally get tongue swelling (once extending into my windpipe - talk about scary), and then sometimes my eyes, hands, instep, etc. with much lower frequency. At various times I've suspected MSG, sulfates/sulfites/nitrates/nitrites, onions, aspartame, gasoline, and even stress but given the long half-life of most food additives in the body it's been impossible to pinpoint. Sometimes I get attacks as often as two weeks apart but lately it's been 2-3 months. I currently avoid all suspected foods and take Zyrtec each day. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated ...
