Experience with Anaphylaxis

[SBDJ]

Back story:

So I had an unusual experience last night. Finished work very late, meaning dinner was late. An hour or so later I was watching TV and suddenly felt like I was having a sudden and strong hayfever reaction. My hayfever season is over though (thankfully). I noticed I was wheezing and breathing/swallowing require more effort and was uncomfortable which is unusual. My face felt strange too, a quick peek in the mirror confirmed that my face was hugely swollen - mostly on one side.

I took a Fexofenadine but an hour later there wasn't any improvement so I called 111 for advice who told me to go to A&E.

At A&E the triage nurse immediately called a doctor. She looked in my mouth and I was shipped off to resus right away. After some blood tests, medication and monitoring the condition improved slightly so they sent me home with an EpiPen and instructions to call an ambulance in the future.

So to the actual point:

What's the best way of trying to pinpoint what might have caused this in a safer manner than repeating everything? I'm guessing food allergy is a likely possibility, although I've eaten everything I had in the past without issue. Do food allergies tend to be instant or delayed?

Any advice from anyone?

[Guv10]

I had something similar a few years back. Went for a meal at a seafood restaurant ( i'm not a huge fan anyway) I thought i'd try crab as a starter. Anyway, on the way home which was about an hour later. My hands start to itch, get home covered in hives, tongue starts swelling, 999 is it and soent night in hospital.

Had tests a few weeks later, turns out im not allergic to seafood!? My thoughts were that maybe it was badly cooked or had some toxins in, which I know can happen with seafood. Either way I stay clear now, to be honest I always did anyway! just the off chance I tried it!

I think it would be worth writing down everything you ate on that day. Then if you are brave enough try some of it.

Also contact your doctor to get an allergy test.

[Perseverant]

I had a bad scare about 15 years ago. We were at my in-laws and had some pre prepared prawn stuff as I recollect. I eat pretty much everything and as far as I knew was not allergic to anything. Anyhow, woke up around 4am all itchy and aware that breathing was not as it should be. I teetered to the bathroom and was shocked to not recognise my reflection, all blotchy and swollen. Back to the bedroom and told my wife not to be alarmed at my appearance, but get me to A&E asap. So we did, by which time I was finding it difficult to speak. The staff were pretty quick at hitching up a drip once I'd managed to explain that no, I had not taken any drugs legal or not, and by mid morning I was feeling normal. They also contacted my own GP, who took it all very seriously and I carried an emergency EpiPen for years. I never had to use it, never found out what the cause was, and guess what, I still eat everything! It was a scare though, as to how fast things were deteriorating.