Allergies in Adults
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Questions
Developing allergies in your late 30's/early 40's
May 1998
This is an interesting phenomenon, because I've known several women, including myself, who have suddenly developed allergic reactions in their late 30's/early 40's when they've never been allergic before. I just recovered from 2 weeks of hives from a newly developed allergy to amoxycillin.
My sister-in-law, who has been eating fish her whole life, suddenly at age 37 had a frightening anaphylactic reaction to eating fish and now has to carry around an epi-pen to self-administer epinephrine in an emergency. She's a public health PhD and thinks it would be an interesting study to find out if there's any correlation to age, gender, or child-bearing. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this.
Two summers ago I suddenly developed an allergy to peanuts. One day I ate a handful before a nap and woke up with the hives, and my lungs were congested. I didn't connect the two until I was at a doctor appointment the following week. The allergist didn't want to do a skin test to see if it was the peanuts because I had already had such a severe reaction. Instead they ran blood tests. These were inconclusive. They prescribed an Epi-Pen anyway... and I have confirmed that it was the peanuts by inadvertently eating peanuts in food at another time. I was only 24 with no kids and I am female .
The same year my aunt who is in her 40's (has 1 child) had a sudden attack of anaphylactic shock along with burning sensations in and around her mouth, like when you eat something too hot. Her allergist has never been able to determine what her's was caused by. Exactly one year later, the incident repeated itself... they think it may have to do with a plant that suddenly blooms at that time of year.
According to her allergist, hives are more common with food allergies, and the burning thing is more often associated with allergies to chemicals. Anaphylactic shock can happen with any severe allergy.
I keep Benedryl as well as an Epi-Pen in my purse, in my house, and one my desk drawer at work. I have heard that continued exposure can cause more severe reactions. It is very important to keep your antidotes on hand and let others know how to use them (and where you keep them) so they can help if they find you in shock.
This is in response to Chen Yin and her inquiry into other parents' experiences with the sudden onset of allergic reactions and any possible relation between these reactions to age, gender, and child-bearing. A few years ago I was prescribed a strong antiobiotic -- sorry, I can't remember its name -- when I had pneumonia. I had a horrible reaction of hives which I had never experienced before in response to antibiotics or anything else! It was really miserable. I was about 34 at the time, and it was before I had my daughter. Maybe antibiotics just keep getting stronger and some bodies just can't take it. I know that I am extremely sensitve to medications in general and a little goes a long way... Best, Mary
When my mother was in her early fifties, she developed an allergy to tomatoes (hives, itchy hands, swollen eyes). Since then she has engaged in a vigorous vitamin regiment which seems to have cured her allergy. She can now consume tomatoes without breaking out into hives. Within the last three years, my husband (now 33, with one 3 1/2 year old son) developed a severe allergy to tomatoes, which had been a staple of his diet. Rather than child-bearing, age or gender, his three trips to the emergency room suggest that a combination of stress, sickness (i.e. a weakened immune system), and a drop of tomato juice will send him into anaphylactic shock. Other foods, such as melon, artichokes, beets and pistachios cause his hands to itch as well. (And the list keeps growing!) Because of the severity of his reactions, he must carry an epi-pen at all times. Mary Alice Murphy, who others have recommended, is his allergist and he speaks very highly of her. I only wish there were a better treatment than a daily dose of Claratin for the rest of his life. He began taking a bunch of vitamins, following the advice of my mother, but this did not ward off the last anaphylactic attack he had two years ago. Has anyone had success with alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, designed to boost the immune system, which seems to be the main problem here? Christine
I'm sorry your husband is going through this and I'm sorry you are handling this as a family member too!
I don't have similar symptoms as your husband but I have weird autoimmune deficiencies and compromises where my body attacks myself for various reasons. Most of them manifest in skin-related issues. I was able to test for various autoimmune diseases and deficiencies at Bay Area Allergy (linked). They have allergists, immunologists, dermatologists, and all sorts of other departments they can reference. They also use AI med to evaluate symptoms, which I thought was cool. I work with Dr. Karna Gendo and he's so gentle, understanding, invested and caring. Haven't worked with anyone else, so can't attest there.
They never recommended me OTC meds. They are really committed to finding the reason and then treating it (instead of subsiding the symptoms temporarily).
I hope you're able to track it down and get to the bottom of it. It can really be frustrating, for both your spouse and for you who has to be the witness of all this!
I suffered from fatigue and immune response for several years. To my surprise, it was an appointment with a new dentist that solved the problem. It turned out that I had a chronic infection and needed two root canals. Once the infected roots were removed, and after two rounds of antibiotics, the problem was solved. Although I am not a medical professional, but based on my experience, he should start with a blood test to see if he has a chronic infection somewhere that is presenting as an allergy. Maybe something like tonsillitis. Good luck.
Hello,
I'm sorry for your situation. We went though something similar, and after 5 years of getting bounced around to various allergists, we discovered there was 1 blood test. I'm not a doctor, but we felt like, why didn't someone run this before? The immune doctors said that most doctors are trained to think, if you hear hooves, think horses (common causes), but this is a zebra.
My son had low IgG. There is also a simple treatment for it. My son went from being sick every 10 days to .. almost never sick.
It's possible to get more complicated from here, but you might want to get this one test. Naturally, there can be a lot more to immune deficiencies, and immune dysregulation, but this could help. It's usually confirmed with a combination blood work and clinical - that is, you get sick all of the time.
I was very worried about it, but, it turns out knowing is better than not knowing. His father also had something similar where he was sick monthly, and it also seemed stress induced, as you mentioned, but there was a deficiency in the blood work. You may decide not to treat, but it can mean that you would be more aggressive with allergy meds (singulair etc). and taking antibiotics when sick vs. letting it play out.
A functional doctor will likely do a panel of blood work, we tried that too, but they never did run this one test. Again, I'm not a doctor, just a mom who has lived through something similar.
You can ask your doctor to order blood work
This one is just IGG level - which is the most basic antibody to fight illness
https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/543/igg?cc=MASTER
This one is the panel of 4 types
https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/7083/immunoglobulins-panel-serum?cc=MASTER
Information on background
https://info4pi.org/
https://primaryimmune.org/
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/immunoglobulins-blood-test/
I'm so sorry your husband is experiencing this. As a person with a very sensitive immune system including life threatening allergies, I can empathize!
I recommend he read "Brave New Medicine" by Cynthia Li. She's a practitioner in Berkeley. Her personal story of heaing is inspiring. I read her book and have implemented many of her strategies (gettin my stress under control was particularly impactful). I have not met her in person.
I think you might be jumping to conclusions in believing this is an allergic or autoimmune issue. It is probably a good idea to discuss this in depth with your primary care physician. If you do want to go straight to a specialist, consider seeing an ENT who will help diagnose and treat the recurring sinus symptoms.
This sounds like it could be a food intolerance, not necessarily an allergy so I’m not sure how much help Kaiser will be. Dairy intolerances can present with sinus issues too. I would try an elimination diet and see if he can pinpoint anything.
I just read an article and thought about this post. A woman had recurring fevers and hives for 20 years, after years of medical consultations, the culprit was found to be reptile-related salmonella. Had your husband ever have been around reptiles or amphibians? I know this is not a recommendation or personal experience, but hopefully this information will be helpful.