Back in 2012 I wrote a blog post about my allergy to raw shrimp but not cooked shrimp. Click the link to read it if you want. That post has over 44K views and over 100 comments from people who have the same allergic reaction to raw shrimp. That's a lot of people especially since I thought it would be a weird reaction that would be rare, obviously it's not. If I touched raw shrimp with my bare hands, I would get redness, itching and blisters.
In the past year I have noticed that my allergy has slowly gotten worse. Whenever I ate cooked shrimp, my mouth would itch and sometimes burn or sting. My throat started hurting but the reaction only lasted about 30 minutes so like with the other foods that cause this reaction (banana, avocado, cantaloupe, honey dew melon) I just dealt with it and ate it anyway.
That is until about a month ago when I ate some shrimp that I cooked and within a few minutes the palms of my hands started burning and itching like crazy. The first time it happened the itching lasted for about 40 minutes and my back started itching too.
I wanted to make sure that it was because of the shrimp so I ate some more a few weeks later and sure enough within a few minutes the palms of my hands started itching really bad and then so did my back. There were no hives, no visible marks, just incredible crazy itching. But this time the reaction lasted for an hour. So as of now, I don't eat shrimp anymore. I hope the other allergies for foods that I have don't get any worst.
I wanted to make sure that it was because of the shrimp so I ate some more a few weeks later and sure enough within a few minutes the palms of my hands started itching really bad and then so did my back. There were no hives, no visible marks, just incredible crazy itching. But this time the reaction lasted for an hour. So as of now, I don't eat shrimp anymore. I hope the other allergies for foods that I have don't get any worst.
How weird is that, right? Do you have any food allergies?
Ewww, why would one even want to eat raw shrimps LOL I am allergic to milk, but as you know I do not eat dairy, meat, gluten, sugar nor anything store bought and processed.
ReplyDeleteOh I didn't want to eat them raw, but if I touched raw shrimp while peeling them, I would break out in blisters on my hands.
DeleteI really hope your food sensitivities don't get any worse.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both.
DeleteA lot of people are allergic to seafood, especially shrimp, oysters, clams, etc. Must be the shells. Now you know, just avoid them.
ReplyDeleteYep, can't eat that anymore.
DeleteWow! It is interesting that your became more sensitive though you were still exposing yourself to shrimp.
ReplyDeleteI know. So weird.
DeleteSorry to hear that. A pity you have to give up a food you enjoy. Personally I'm vegetarian so I don't eat shrimp. Luckily I'm not allergic to any fruit or vegetables!
ReplyDeleteOh that's good. Hopefully my allergic reaction to avocado doesn't get any worse. I love those.
DeleteI'm allergic to melon. Which is sad. I really loved eating cantaloupe as a kid, but I can't any more.
ReplyDeleteI have a slight allergic reaction to it.
DeleteSo sorry about the shrimp allergy, I think I have a gluten intolerance, bread makes me sneeze sometimes but of course I eat it anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell hopefully the allergy doesn't get worse.
DeleteAw, sorry to hear this!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteGood that you learned that about shrimp. Your reaction sounds horrible with the itching.
ReplyDeleteIt was so bad.
DeleteMy doctor told me when I was in my thirties and starting to have allergic symptoms to unknown things that everyone is capable of developing allergies or intolerances at any age and any time and the reverse is also true (losing an allergy). That struck me as scary, but I know its true because my dad got a mid-life allergy to beestings and its deadly. Glad yours came on gradually and you could catch it.
ReplyDeleteOh that is scary. My brother is allergic to bee stings too.
DeleteThose are weird symptoms. I'm not allergic to seafood (thank goodness) or anything really, but I have a small reflux problem and there are things I won't digest without bicarbonate...
ReplyDeleteWell at least you aren't allergic.
DeleteAllergies do change over time, although I thought they mainly waned. Clearly not. I'm glad you caught it, though, so you won't accidentally eat cooked shrimp and then have your throat close up. (I know people with that allergic reaction.)
ReplyDeleteYeah that would be really scary,
DeleteI don't have food allergies, but my husband has itching if he eats avocados. This is scary! I definitely wouldn't eat shrimp anymore because you could have a worse reaction like your throat closing up. Do you have an epi-pen? Might be something to look into just in case.
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask my doctor about an epi-pen.
DeleteThat sure is a bad reaction, too bad since you like shrimp. I have an allergy to dairy, not lactose, the dairy protein so nothing even related to dairy for me.
ReplyDeleteOh dang, sorry to hear that.
DeleteOh no. I don't have any food allergies so far. But I did have some allergies with some meds recently.
ReplyDeleteI have some sensitivities to medications that I can't take.
DeleteSad progression. Hoping the other allergies don't do the same.
ReplyDeleteThat's me hope as well.
DeleteIt’s surprising how our bodies can change like that! It's good that you stopped eating shrimp before it got worse. Your story is a great reminder to pay attention to our bodies. I don’t have any food allergies, but your experience definitely makes me more aware of how unpredictable they can be. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI have a friend who loves to go to a seafood place in Galveston, but who is highly allergic to shrimp. I get scared every time we go there.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I would get scared too.
DeleteI am so sorry, Mary. I love seafood, especially broiled and that is hard.
ReplyDeleteI do too.
DeleteThankfully no Food Allergies, tho' my Granddaughter has some. I've got a Stomach like a Goat.
ReplyDeleteIt's no fun.
DeleteThat's quite lot worse your reaction got, I wonder why it worsened like that. I am not sure if I have any food allergies, the only thing I can remember reacting strangely like is kiwi fruit, they always felt tingly and uncomfortable in my mouth. Luckily I don't like eating them, so I just avoid them altogether.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like an allergic reaction.
DeleteThat is scary! My nephew is a pharmacist and told me that about every 10 years, your body can change what it's allergic to. As I get older, I've noticed I'm getting rashes from things that never caused me issues before.
ReplyDeleteOh I didn't know that. That is scary.
Delete