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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Broke Out Into Severe Hives All Over The Body, Trouble Breathing And Swallowing. Took Allegra For Relief. Advice ?

Hi, I am a 42 year old female with asthma, GERD, and severe food allergies. Three years ago, I broke out in severe hives all over my body. The chronic hives continued and would progress with areas of edema and trouble breathing and swallowing. Since then, I have eliminated all foods but 8. I have lost 28 pounds, have low iron and vitamin D. I weight 115lbs. Further testing cannot be done because I cannot go off of the antihistamines? Because of the food elimination, I now only take one to two 60mg Allegra per day and have only a small few hives a day. Hardly noticeable, but still itchy. One allergist suggested I have Eosinophilic Esophagitis and gave me a QVAR sample. A different allergist said I may have Mastocytosis and only ordered that ONE test. I was given baby formula by one clinic and other elemental diet "drinks", but still get hives from those. I don't get the hives if I don't eat/drink the foods. The OBSTACLE is getting the EE diagnosis thru endoscopy. I am allergic to something in the IV! I had an anaphylactic reaction right after the IV was started! I also need my gall bladder taken out, but the surgeon said I am at such high risk of anesthesia complications that he is afraid of ME? Is there any hope or help for ME? I am raising young children and I cannot work due to low energy. i have NO insurance. Your best advice?
Tue, 30 Jul 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi, Thanks for using HCM.
You are severely allergic and all the condition you mentoined like asthma, food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis and all other symptom is due to allergy. You can consult your doctor, get done skin prick test to know the allergen and get immunotherapy. After discussing with your doctor start steroids and tab montelukast. This may help you. Have adequate regular sleep, plenty of fluids, nutritious diet with required calorie and regular outdoor exercises. Reduce your weight. Hope I answered your question. Consult your doctor for further management.
Feel free to ask me if you have any further queries or doubts and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wish you good health. Take care.

Regards
Dr. Lohit K
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Allergist and Immunologist Dr. Sujoy Khan's  Response
Hello,

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a possibility although the typical (classical) symptom is getting food stuck in the throat. If the swallowing problem is when you get hives, then it is unlikely to be EE.

Did the QVAR help? Alternatively, you can try a slow release formulation of budesonide and see the response.

Was the ONE test ordered by your other Allergist normal? I presume this was mast cell tryptase levels!
If urticaria was the problem when the IV was started and not anaphylaxis, then you can go through the procedure after getting a steroid infusion pre-procedure. If anaphylaxis was what happened, then your anaesthetist should let you know the 'possible' trigger(s).

Testing for food allergies can be done via blood tests, and you do not need to come off antihistamines.

Best Wishes.
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Broke Out Into Severe Hives All Over The Body, Trouble Breathing And Swallowing. Took Allegra For Relief. Advice ?

Hi, Thanks for using HCM. You are severely allergic and all the condition you mentoined like asthma, food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis and all other symptom is due to allergy. You can consult your doctor, get done skin prick test to know the allergen and get immunotherapy. After discussing with your doctor start steroids and tab montelukast. This may help you. Have adequate regular sleep, plenty of fluids, nutritious diet with required calorie and regular outdoor exercises. Reduce your weight. Hope I answered your question. Consult your doctor for further management. Feel free to ask me if you have any further queries or doubts and I shall be glad to help you out. Wish you good health. Take care. Regards Dr. Lohit K