My father has recently started having some facial swelling. Doctors have told him that it is a food allergy although they cannot confirm the specific food. He has recorded everything he eats and has found no pattern. It always begins with his wrists itching, then a few hours later a portion of his face will swell to about a quarter of the actual size. Anybody else with these unusual reactions? Could this be something else besides a food allergy?

Hello there,
I have recently been diagnosed with Angiodema. An allergic reaction that makes my face swell--lips & eyes, and feet & hands. Tested positive to all major allergens---it is also akin to hives & regular upper respritory allergies. See if anithisetemies help.
Best

I have had this problem for years. My face will swell around my lips and eyes and often
looks like my head is enlarged. I have been tested for food allergies among other things.

It is some type of allergic reaction, most likely to something in the air. I notice when I am in warm dry places my symptoms get worse and I get hives.

Have you tried clariton, zyrtec, or other prescription medications??? these work but one person may respond to one and the other not. The benefits of these is that they do not make you tired, as over the counter medicances do.

I would suggest talking to your doctor a trying one of these. I knoe claroton build up in your system after a while creating long term effects.

If you have any more questions, please let me know because I am looking for the ultimate cure!

Eleni, I have the same exact problem. Please tell me what you have tried and if anything has helped. Have you been on clariton D??
I just started today.

My Doctor also said it could be something in the air - allergens

David


Hello there,
I have recently been diagnosed with Angiodema. An allergic reaction that makes my face swell--lips & eyes, and feet & hands. Tested positive to all major allergens---it is also akin to hives & regular upper respritory allergies. See if anithisetemies help.
Best[/QUOTE]

hello there,
yes, i too have been told it is an extreme allergic reaction. i am into a 6 day trial of allegria---which is helping if only slightly. i am so glad to find that i am not the only person in the world with this. i also suffer from cold uticaria, and had a severe bout of it which has led to the angiodema. i have had bad allergies all my life, but never like this. i am now doing as much as i can to clean up the allergins in my home---air cleaner, dustmite proof mattress covers etc. but it really only lightens the effect. benedryl has worked the very best, but is too difficult to work/drive or live on. an allergy test is the best way to go i guess. it really helps knowing i am not alone in this mess.

Originally posted by eleni:
i also suffer from cold uticaria, and had a severe bout of it which has led to the angiodema.

Bingo! I've had Uticaria (or Urticaria?...I've seen it spelled both ways) since August 2000. It sucks...but is rarely life threatening. I'm currently on Zyrtec and Zantac (H1 and H2 blockers). I still have no clue what I'm allergic to...although I suspect its dairy.

Anyway...QQ...I suggest starting you father on an elimination diet. This is basically a diet of "safe" foods. After about a month, start adding new foods and see what causes the allergic reaction. If you need more info, search the net or talk with your doctor.

There's also a lot of info on Uticaria out there (here, too...search the boards for "Uticaria"!), so do your homework.


[This message has been edited by malaka (edited 03-19-2001).]

I have a 15 year old daughter that is suffering from these same symptoms except she tests negative for everything and does not appear to be allergic to any thing. Her body just naturally produces too much histamine and she has to take extra strength Reactine twice a day. Her lips are swollen every morning until the medication cuts in.With out the meds she developes a rash over her entire body. She has been on daily antihisamines for aprox. 3.5 years. We have seen two specialists and are on our way to see a third. She has tried a combo of reactine in the morning and alegra at night. This was effective until just recently when it would not stop the facial swelling. She was put on steroids for a week to decrease the swelling. She was then put on singuair and reatine but this was not any more effective than the 2 reactines..... If any one has any other suggestions I would also be interested. Hopefully the next allergist will be able to suggest something new to radicate this. My email address is pam_m@accesscomm.ca

Hi Question Queen, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. The best thing I can think of is, if it is a food allergy, to stop looking for which food it is and just boost the digestive system. Addelle Davis, a Nutritionist, has written a few books and she states that the only reason for being allergic to foods is because we are not digesting them properly. I have found Vitamin C has helped me with my digestive system and Lactose Intolerance. I used to get a sore stomach but now I feel great. It is easy and cheap. I take around 8,000 mg per day in sodium ascorbate powder. But the mineral ascorbate sustained release tablets are great too, taken with or after a meal. I hope this helps. Maybe you would like to check out www.vitamincfoundation.org (http://www.vitamincfoundation.org)
Topsy

I went on a High Protein diet once and
when I reintroduced bread and pasta to my
diet, my wrists and palms would itch. It was
so unlike me to be fidgeting with the itchiness. I think I am allergic to some
carbohydrates. Really strange... I ended
up taking benadryl for about 2 weeks to
take the itch away. I'm still eating my
breads and pastas though...Some mornings I
wake up with swelling on my face and allergy
throat that clears up by mid morning. Maybe
a diet change is imminent.