I know that had to be frightening, I'm glad that she recovered without having to go to the hospital.

It's not uncommon for new allergies to pop up as we age or for existing allergies to get more intense. IIRC, it has to do with the cumulation(?) of exposure.

It sounds like she needs a new allergist. Has she been tested lately? Has she tried shots for some of her existing allergies? Sometimes when my immune system was going haywire, my allergist would prescribe a short course of steroids to reset it. Obviously, you can't do that too often.

I developed the pollen allergy as I got older, or maybe I just moved to an area with more pollen and/or climate change. DH has always been super senstive to things. In the past few years he cannot handle scallops, so that is fairly recent.

My sister seems to have developed rashes to antibiotics lately.

I have another colleague who developed extreme allergies to a lot of things, to the point she had to stop dyeing her hair. But it was a lot of other things similar to your sister.

I am so sorry your sister is experiencing this. It sounds terribly frightening.

I have had the opposite happen, no more dog, cat, dust or pollen allergies once I reached my late 30s. My pollen/ragweed/whatever allergy was so severe I would be incapacitated some days. My reaction to dust could generate an amazing sinus infection, with eyes just about popping out of my face. Now, nothing bothers me.

I developped an allergy to sulfa drugs in my late 20s. Had taken tetracycline as a teen with no trouble.

Yep! I had a hysterectomy at 50 and they sent me home with penicillin. I'm familiar with those types of allergies because I grew up with bad food allergies where the throat swells. My throat swelled after I took my first pill. When it was time to take the next one I went ahead and did it just to make sure. It swelled again. So I can't take penicillin.

The earbuds and the avocado would all point to a latex allergy. Does she have issues with bananas or latex balloons?

With that history, she needs to keep an EPIpen with her at all times. My husband has an anaphylactic nut allergy, so we always have one on hand.

Glad to hear it is not so unusual. She has always had bad allergies.. she had the shots series etc as a kid. Dr said she was allergic to the world she lived in.. but those were all airborne allergens causing asthma. These new ones have a wide range of crazy reactions.. scary. I was shaking and crying as she described the reaction even though it was all over and she was fine. It was just so scary!

I haven't talked to her much about her allergist. I knew she did take corticosteroids for one of her very bad foot reactions.. OTC and prescription I believe. Tonight wasn't the time to try to get more info about what he is/isn't doing but I will talk to her more in the coming days. She was just wiped out from the ordeal and went to bed very early.

I have developed more severe sinus/allergy reactions but i somewhat blame that on my moves. New environment/new allergens and irritants... but those are "normal" allergies. I have never had anything approaching her reactions. She uses all vegan products now-- she also has reactions to nail polishes, lotions etc. so she doesn't use any *new* products. She sticks to what she knows she can wear.

I appreciate all the kind words and i wish you all the best with your allergies too!

DH developed mild asthma in his 40s and a variety of mild allergies that seem seasonal. I always wonder if he's now also allergic to cats. He did have a more serious reaction to Levaquin.

@RNmomof2 zone 5 she definitely has a latex allergy (as do I) but hers is more extreme. I thought the headphones may be from latex. She currently has one very old pair of Beats headphones she can wear.. it seems like anything new causes the very bad reaction. She's tried airpods, bose, sony.. and she's not really willing to keep trying them and getting reactions.

I am not aware of any issues with bananas-- I don't eat bananas other that in banana bread (a texture thing not an allergy thing)-- but I think she eats them. What is the link between latex, avocados and bananas?

ETA we all carry epipens.. my dad had a very severe reaction after he was attacked by wasps. Since then we all keep them on hand. OK, I lie. I don't "carry" mine but i keep them in the house. I will start carrying.

My DH has been to the ER twice after eating nuts….but all of my allergies went away when I gave up carbs; even the lifelong horse allergy, and eczema.

In adulthood, my sister in law had a mango allergy suddenly manifest. She ate some mango and ended up with swelling of her mouth and esophagus. And I think hives too. She may have had mild tingling in her mouth previous times she consumed mango, but she had no idea she was allergic.

I don't know if it's the same thing, but both my brother and I developed a gluten intolerance in adulthood. Never had issues as children. Mine was diagonsed with measurable immune response through tests. Since its an immune response, I think that's similar to an allergy.

As of a couple of years ago, I am allergic to mosquito bites, of all things. I don't know if I am affected by the bites of any other insect since mosquitoes are the only pests that have taken a blood meal from me.

She might want to ask about Mast cell activation syndrome.

I also believe our gut flora has much to do with allergies. We had an allergist recommend a high fiber diet(prebiotics) with probiotic supplements when my daughter was born with multiple food allergies. She subsequently passed her last allergy challange by the age of seven. So I am now an adamant believer in the power of a high fiber diet.

Prickly, that is how the avocado allergy developed. It took a few episodes to link the reaction to avocados. I absolutely include anything causing an immune response as an allergy.

Roarah, I will mention mass cell activation syndrom to her.. that is pretty amazing how your daughters allergies were eliminated with a high fiber diet.. and Springroz' by eliminating carbs!

I realize i made a typo, it is mast cell activation syndrome. 😊

I grew up always knowing I had no allergies, but as I grew older, I seemed to be more and more sensitive to dairy (ok, ice cream if I'm being honest), and I was forever feeling like there was gunk in my throat. I went to an allergist this past May and he did a million skin pricks up and down each forearm. Nope to dairy and nope to everything else except dust. Turns out the dust collects in the back of my throat. Nasal spray (prescription) taken every so often solved the problem completely and I sleep better now than ever.

So, yeah, now I have allergies.

I have a mold allergy. I have had it for years and still take allergy shots to keep it under control. I will never be desensitized to mold. : ( However, as a teenager, I was allergic to dust mites, certain grasses, pollens, etc., etc. etc. I did shots for several years and am desensitized to all but mold.

The only thing I have become allergic to as an adult is certain antibiotics.

Yeah, i have normal dust, mold, pollen allergies.. and they have gotten worse as I age. She has all those too. It's the odd ones that are curious and interesting..

I guess I also have a friend who has more recently realized she probably has a dairy allergy, but likely had it as a young child too. (Her mother recalls she broke out in hives eating ice cream the first time.) She has had digestive issues for a long time, but more recently realized that it would often happen shortly after drinking milk (such as in a latte) or eating ice cream. I worry about her because she hasn't seen a doctor and continues to eat dairy "only sometimes" (mostly fun stuff like desserts). I'm not an expert but I do worry about the horror stories I've heard of people dying of anaphylaxis from an allergic reaction that was previously mild and just once it wasn't. I hope I'm just being a worry wort about it.

I'm more sensitive to dairy and I have developed a sinus problem and pretty bad allergies to molds. It's a real problem since I love to work in the dirt. Ironically the pollens don't bother me, it's the molds. My worst seasons are fall and winter (for the indoor stuff). But none of this is life threatening, just very annoying and it does drag me down energy-wise. The whole dairy thing is sad but it's even sadder how little dairy I can eat because of saturated fat and calories, so it is what it is . . .

I have seasonal and dust allergies, but I can keep them under control with a strict cleaning routine and occasional medication.

What I have noticed is that stress amplifies all of my reactions. So in times of stress I will go down with all kinds of allergy-related illnesses.

Changing my lifestyle to cut down on stress and managing allergen exposure really helped me. I have another family member with the same group of allergies who has refused to make lifestyle modifications (such as hiring a cleaner or reducing the amount of paper clutter in his home) to manage his allergen exposure. Over time he has developed more and more reactions to different substances.

Your sister might want to take a look at her lifestyle and see if changes to reduce stress/exposure could help her.

Pink, do you see an allergist? Mine has been wonderful. A mold allergy is almost never overcome (desensitized). Mine got worse a few years back. I'm allergic to two molds that are commonly found in dirt, mulch, decaying leaves. Fall is the worst, although my symptoms are well managed now and I usually don't have alot of issues. I get an allergy shot every 2 weeks during that season and my shot dose was just increased this past year (never had been) which has greatly helped. I was diagnosed a few years ago with cough variant asthma and so I use an inhaler during the fall season also. But, my dr. is beginning to think that I do not have asthma, that I had a very bad allergic reaction to mold a few years back, but never again. If all goes well this season, next year I will drop the inhaler. If you don't already have one, find a good allergist, it has been so worth it for me!

@Funkyart, they all share a similar protein structure so often people will be allergic or have reactions to all of them. Its called a latex food allergy.

In the big picture, all of those items are related to the rubber tree. (as i hear the rubber tree song in my head!!)

I recently discovered I have an allergy to Robax -- a back pain medication you can buy OTC in canada (methocarbamol). My throat swelled slightly and I broke out in hives everywhere.

It wasn't a severe reaction so I wasn't too worried. I chewed up a benadryl and held it under my tongue, and I started to feel better in about 10 minutes. I later told a nurse friend what I did and she said it was smart. I now always carry benadryl in my purse. It's bitter and gross, but if there's an emergency and nobody has an epipen, it could help.

Oh also, a doctor told me that the next time could be much worse. If you think something gave you an anaphylactic (throat closing) reaction, don't try that thing again until you check with your doctor!

Thank you, @RNmomof2 zone 5 -- i did go and research myself (i was being lazy) and it makes sense once you think about it. On first pass, i was like, "huh?".

@Renovator Girl - that also makes a lot of sense. DS has a high stress job and she's been primary caretaker of my mom as she's dealt with health issues, her family/ours are still adjusting to losing two fathers (our dad and her FIL) and we are planning a special birthday party this weekend. She IS stressed.

@pricklypearcactus - i can't say this applies to your friend but my sisters and I are lactose intolerant also. In this allergy, I am the worst-- and my brother has only mild issues. For me it is always stomach/intestinal issues that do affect my whole feeling of well being but has never been anything close to an anaphylactic reaction. of my 3 siblings, 2 still eat dairy. Well, *I* eat dairy too but only hard or water based cheeses because they don't affect me.. and half and half in small amounts which also doesn't affect me unless I have a LOT of it. I hope this is the same for your friend.. lactose intolerance as I understand it is a digestive issue vs an actual immune response but i will say that I did not confirm it via dr (or google).. that's only from my personal experience (over a lifetime). My BFF has the same now in her 50s but never had an issue when young.

Many folks do confuse intolerances with allergies. So many mechanisms for things to make us feel bad. :)

The thought of chewing a regular Benadryl. Yow! That's why they make kids' chewables! Lots of allergies in my family so we always have Benadryl on hand. As soon as my kids were old enough for the pills, they rejected the chewables so I finished them off. And then I bought more for me. (I like that I can take a small dose for minor grass allergies instead of being knocked out cold like with a full adult dose.)

@Funkyart that's helpful to know. My friend told me she's tried lactaid pills but doesn't think they really help and she also gets a funky throat phlegm and cough after consuming dairy. The latter is the one that makes me worry for her. I consulted with Dr. Google and it seemed like her additional symptoms might suggest a dairy allergy vs lactose intolerance since she has symptoms beyond digestive system.

@User this is exactly why I always bring some benedryl with me when I'm in the backcountry (hiking, camping, backpacking). Smart to have some on hand just in case.

I have developed an allergy to chlorhexidine. It is an ingredient in antiseptics (among many other things), and I developed a wildly itchy rash after a surgery. It cleared up after a few weeks. Then I was exposed to it because my daughter, a veterinarian, had treated her dog with a medicated shampoo that contained the chemical. I romped with the dog right after her bath, and subsequently had a terrible outbreak (blisters all over my body, extremely itchy) that lasted for months. I was treated with steroids (to little effect) and finally the rash faded after more than a year while I took allergy medication. Then I went into a hot tub— this chemical is used in many different applications—and had another outbreak. I am now extremely cautious and must eschew any spa visits. My daughter visited our house last weekend with her dog in tow—my husband and I were out of town—and I have had a minor outbreak yet again, likely due to the dog shampoo, even though I was not present. Ugh. Growing up I had many allergies—dairy (milk, cheeses, chocolate, eggs, wheat, pollen, dust, mold, grasses, rabbits, horses, cats, etc. etc.) and had several years of weekly shots that cured me of those allergies. So I guess this one allergy is a small cross to bear...

Funky, so scary for your sister (and you!) So worrying. I hope she does not become reactive to more things, that is very worrying!!!

Many hard cheeses have had the lactose digested out of them -- cheddar, parmesan. Cabot clearly labels its cheeses regarding lactose and may of the Finlandia cheeses are also lactose free. Even kraft has some bagged pre-shredded cheeses and it's labeled in a funny location (not with ingredients) but somehow many of those are also "contains 0 grams of lactose." One of the cool whips doesn't have lactose. And as an intolerance, some people can tolerate more than others. Lactaid brand has cottage cheese, sour cream and milks without lactose and there's a couple of yogurt brands too.

For the person with mango allergy, keep an eye out for cashews, sometimes bodies 'see' those as similar (and react similarly).

A lot of the stuff in our environment can pose allergic challenges. I worked for a woman who could not handle thermally printed register tape as she was allergic to it.

And highly encourage anyone who needs it, to carry an epipen. Because...how long can you hold your breath?

That's why they make kids' chewables!

If there's an emergency and regular benadryl is all you have, it's worth the gross taste in order to help the problem. I don't think I feel the need to stock a separate kid's version for the low likeliness that this happens again.

(I know I know. I've just found that I prefer them as I rarely need a full dose. We do buy the regular stuff in the big bottles though. Even the dog gets Benadryl sometimes...and you canNOT sneak a chewable into him.)

That's a great idea @Fori!

Funky, I also just developed seasonal allergies, although I've always been a nose blower on a good day. Mom told me I was allergic to grass and I didn't believe her. It must have gone away but this summer I suffered tremendously from grass and cedar tree pollen which we also have.

Now I'm experiencing mild ragweed allergies. DS has ragweed allergies bad. He used to get shots as a kid but they did nothing, so the doctor found the right med for him. He also swears by Flonase.

When you have an allergy attack, the sneezing kind, look up the pollen count in your state. If it's high you know you're allergic to that type of pollen or mold.

I developed peanut and aspirin allergies as an adult. I discovered the aspirin was a problem after taking an allergy medication that contained aspirin. Resulting in a very scary ambulance ride in Hoboken while I was supposed to be at my brother's college graduation. That level of reaction is scary and exhausting. I'm glad your sister is feeling better for the birthday celebration!