Very strange problem. HELP!

[Modem Butterfly]

Okay, so every time I eat fruit with any sort of skin on it, my throat closes up and I vomit several times. It happens with apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums, and nectarines. If I peel off the skin, I usually don't have this problem. It happens whether or not the fruit is organic and no matter how well I wash the fruit. Does anyone else have this problem?

[tsakshaug]

1. brother and sister do

with peaches only.

[mhr]

2. Sounds Like You Might Be Allergic To Something In Or On The Skin

eom

[Beware the Beast Man]

3. See a doctor.

Get tested for allergies.

[Modem Butterfly]

5. Aw man, too easy

See, I hate doctors. I have a chronic illness and the doctors are always poking and prodding me. Anyway, the last time I saw my doctor I mentioned this to her and she said, "Well, don't eat those fruits,"

HELLO! Help me out her, Dr. Watson. I really like those fruits. It was like the old joke, "It hurts when I do this," "Then don't do that,".

[American Tragedy]

8. That's what I hate MOST about going to doctors.

In my experience, if a physician can't think of the cause of something off the top of their head, they'll just say that it's not anything to worry about. I researched my symptoms and basically diagnosed my own chronic illness, but I had to wait till my condition got bad enough to be hospitalized before my doctor would finally take me seriously.

[1monster]

17. You need a new doctor...

[Modem Butterfly]

18. Unfortunately...

...there's a lot of chronic illnesses that are difficult to diagnose because they are a grouping of symptoms or because they go through periods of dormancy. For instance, Fibromyalgia is often dismissed as allergies, aging, even hysteria. In my case, I realize now I had symptoms of lupus for a few years but never really put them together, and when they were put together, I was told I had scleroderma, which makes lupus look like a walk in the park (not that lupus is fun, but scleroderma is that bad). NOTE: I have no idea what chroinc illness American Tragedy has, I'm just saying.

[Beware the Beast Man]

10. Perhaps science will create a choke-proof fruit.

Then you should have little problem :)

[Modem Butterfly]

13. You're a smart ass

I like that in a person.

:P

[Beware the Beast Man]

14. Better than being a dumbass.

:hi: heheheheh...

[Modem Butterfly]

19. ( ? )

Dumbass. Get it?

Hehehehehehehehehehehehe!

[LiberalEsto]

4. It is food allergy.

If your throat is closing, it is because the tissues are swelling in an allergic response called anaphylaxis. This can be fatal.

Get yourself to a doctor. You may need a prescription for an Epi-Pen, a do-it-yourself injector that can halt severe allergic reactions.

My older daughter has had severe allergies to nuts and peanuts since she was 5.

The Food Allergy Network is also helpful -- check it out on Google.

[Modem Butterfly]

6. Thanks!

As I mentioned earlier, I am frustrated with doctors and see plenty of them. But in all fairness to them, the doctors I see are GPs and Rheumys. Maybe an allergist would be able to help.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Can you eat jelly and stuff? Wonder if the issue is pectin?

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[Modem Butterfly]

11. Yeah, no problem with that or juice or skinned fruit

As long as I peel deeply enough, I have no problem eating the fruits, but just try skinning a cherry or a peach. Very upsetting. I did not have this problem when I was younger either.

[BikeWriter]

9. Your throat closing up is very serious.

That's where you get your air. See a doctor whether you like to or not.

[Modem Butterfly]

12. It's not enough to keep me from breathing...

...but it does prevent me from swallowing, until I vomit up the fruit. Then, it stings and tickles for about 15 or 20 minutes unless I drink a lot of water. It hurts to swallow for about an hour after that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. No more fruit peels for you! It's only a short step from there to

total close-up. Play it safe! :hug:

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[BikeWriter]

20. Don't make us come up there and drag you to a doctor.

It may be next time. See a doctor, please.

[Modem Butterfly]

23. Thanks!

I've got to go get some blood work done next week. I'll see if I can get an appointment with the derm while I'm there.

[BikeWriter]

24. Okay, I've done my Jewish Mother worrying for the day.

:)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. One time it can prevernt you from swallowing..the next time it could

prevent you from breathing...anaphylaxis is unpredictable.

[American Tragedy]

16. Sounds like oral allergy syndrome to me

Allergic reaction to raw fruits and vegetables, particularly the skin. Itchy, tingly mouth, lips, throat and palate. Swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, watery itchy eyes, runny nose, vomiting, anaphylaxis - sound familiar?

You need to see an allergist and get tested. Most likely, if you're having problems with apples, cherries, peaches, etc., you're also highly allergic to seasonal birch pollen.

[Modem Butterfly]

21. Thanks!

I'm going to do some reading on this and get set-up with a dermatologist. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to avoid fruit skins.

[American Tragedy]

27. My mom and my brother have always had a menagerie of severe allergies

and associated asthma attacks, so I've become educated in the subject. In fact, my mother nearly died of anaphylactic shock resulting from eating softshell crab. Her face and extremities swelled to the point of being virtually unrecognizable; she was shaking and wheezing and covered in burning red hives. Since then she has had to be extremely careful about devouring any crustacea proteins.

There's a fairly strong genetic link for allergies, but somehow I got lucky: I'm the only one in my immediate family who has never had to have allergy shots or prescriptions. But as you probably realize now, allergies can develop over time, well into adulthood, so I may get them yet!

[Dastard Stepchild]

22. The skin is the most "allergic" part of the fruit...

I know I am saying that wrong. Let me try again. The skin is the part of the fruit most likely to cause a reaction.

Some information for you:
http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/aaia/AAIAarticles/AAIApdf/ORAL%20ALLERGY%20SYNDROME.pdf

[Modem Butterfly]

26. That sounds exactly like me!

Wow. Except for the nut allergies, I have no problems there (so far). I just thought I wasn't washing the fruit right or that I was sick to begin with. This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!