Shrimp allergy all of a sudden but I am really addicted to it lol. :(
Hello everyone,
I am a 22-year-old 4th-year medical student. I am 160 cm tall and weigh 57 kg. I have been eating seafood/shrimp since I was a child.
About four months ago, I was under significant stress due to exams and other personal issues. After eating shrimp, I developed a severe episode of urticaria all over my body, along with swelling of my fingers. The urticaria started on my neck, then spread to my back, abdomen, and the rest of my body. It was usually preceded by abdominal cramps. After the episode resolved, I experienced very mild chest pain but no difficulty breathing. Thankfully, my airways were never affected.
When this happened, I took cetirizine 10 mg, and the urticaria disappeared.
After that, I ate shrimp again (I know this is not advisable, but I really love seafood a lot), and nothing happened. I repeated this several times, and still nothing occurred. Then, after one meal, I developed a very mild urticaria and took cetirizine early, and it resolved.
Yesterday, I had another meal, and I experienced an episode similar to the first one I ever had. I took cetirizine again, and the rash disappeared.
So my question is: whenever I really crave shrimp, would it be a good idea to take cetirizine one hour beforehand and keep an epinephrine injection nearby (an EpiPen is not available in my country)? I would also have pheniramine maleate injection available in case it is needed. I have never developed anaphylaxis to anything before, but I am trying to take precautions.
Please don’t tell me to stop eating shrimp—it’s a very long and complicated love story, haha. Also, would it be a good idea to stop eating it for about a month and then gradually reintroduce it?
I really need a solution. :((
Thank you so much :)