OT: allergy to sesame?

You've had a classic severe allergic reaction.

Sesame allergy is common enough that in the UK sesame has to be declared as an ingredient on food packaging if it's present.

Nothing you can do about it except avoid sesame in future. The allergy won't go away, so you can't reintroduce the stuff. You should get an EpiPen or equivalent, know how to use it, and make sure everyone around you knows how to use it too. Each shot with one of those buys you about half an hour. You will also need antihistamine tablets for when it wears off.

The ibuprofen and paracetamol were pretty irrelevant. Don't bother next time. They might even have made things worse.

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Sesame allergy is certainly not unknown, but if you have eaten sesame in other things with no problem it might not be the culprit. Look at your bottle of sesame oil and see if it is pure sesame oil, or if it contains other things as well. Do the same for other ingredients in your recipes. While it could be that the concentration of sesame in the oil is what set off a reaction, it is usually used in such small quantities that I would be doubtful.

I would bet on an adulterated ingredient somewhere in your recipe.

NightMist

The same thing happens to me with onions and garlic. I went through a whole lot of allergy testing and nothing showed conclusively (including a sensitivity to onion and garlic). Except that if I eat the tiniest skerrick of onion, I'll be violently ill within five minutes. My doctor said that our immune systems alter as we get older and 'all sorts of funny things can happen'. That didn't feel very comforting, since my sad death from onion poisoning would be such a shame!

The thing is, though, that once you have a severe reaction such as you describe, the next one could be the last one! You need to see an allergy specialist, who will teach you how to handle such a reaction and probably test to define exactly what's going on. It may not even be sesame at all that's causing the problem, but some rogue ingredient in the oil. At the very least, you should keep strong antihistamine (polaramine?) handy. Perhaps an epipen would be a good idea as well, but your doctor would be the best source of info.

I hope you'll report back to us when you find out if you are allergic or sensitive to what? As often as not, when we eat out, I feel sort of boinged. Dull. Swollen. Something. Nothing violent but it does make me think I'd be happier with a pb&j and bottled water. For no particular reason, I've always suspected the MSG that restaurants use with a heavy hand. Polly

Feeling a lot better now. re: paracetamol & ibuprofen that was instructed by the night Dr. Then have had 3 days of paracetamol only, as prescribed by my family Dr.

My Dr said to keep a food diary. But I must admit after this incident, we started to realise that I've been suffering with indigestion, just after eating sesame seeds in other foodstuffs, bread etc. As for my recipe, it is one that I use all the time, boiled rice, fried onion, cooked chicken, frozen peas, a spice mix (no MSG, as I avoid that anyway, all spices no other enhancers) and the only new ingredient was the Sesame oil, which states that it is pure and product of China. It is quite dark in colour, so makes me wonder on the purity. DH also pointed out that over the last year, that whenever we've been to the restaurant for a chinese/asian meal then I have suffered with indigestion afterwards, I thought I had just been greedy - my Dr said that this could be an indicator of an allergy. Apart from burger buns, some cereals, halva, there isn't that much used in the local diet, most of the diet consists of goose or duck fat here!!!

I have to go for a medical with my Dr in a couple of weeks for my Archery insurance, so I'll ask him then, if allergy testing is available. Initially I was feeling rather shocked by the whole incident. I am also wondering what other allergies that I may have, as my DM said that apparently I was an allergic baby and reacted to milk, cheese, eggs, soya (in some forms, not all) and had eczma, now she tells me!

Having read the allergy sites, allergies may be why I have suffered with rhinitis, mouth ulcers and a morning cough for longer than I can remember. I blamed plants in the garden setting me off, working on the house with the diy. I seem to have more questions than answers now. Oh well, should be interesting to find out!

Thanks again,

Janner France