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Allergic to banana?

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Posted 9/9/2008 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
How do you know if you're allergic to bananas?

Whenever I eat a banana, I get a tingling sensation in my mouth and on my lips afterwards that lasts anywhere from 1/2 hour to a couple of hours. Sometimes the tingling feels more like burning. It's kinda hard to describe, but I never get that type of feeling when eating anything else.

Thanks.

Posted 9/9/2008 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds to me like an allergy. Allergy symptoms come in all shapes and sizes. But if you are in doubt you can always go see an allergist. Best to be on the safe side then have an even worse reaction occur in the future.
Posted 9/10/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I've had these symptoms for quite a few years, but it has never aggravated my UC or anything else. I told my parents about this, and they laughed...so as long as I'm under their roof, they'll force me to eat bananas. *sigh*
Posted 9/10/2008 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Worsening of allergic reactions can occur at any time. If bananas are the only thing that is affecting you this way then all things are pointing to an an allergy to bananas. It can be months, years before a severe reaction to an allergen can occur. For instance, when I was little, I would eat strawberries but I never felt right when I ate them. I couldn't pinpoint the exact cause - just off. But as the years went by, they didn't seem to bother me anymore. Until one day I had strawberries again and broke out into a major rash. I felt like I fell into a bed of fire ants. If you are concerned, just ask your parents if you can go in for testing - are you still under their insurance or do you have some on your own? If on your own, then go in to the docs yourself. Maybe if you were to have testing done and it shows an allergy to bananas then your parents can't possibly make you eat them right? :)
Posted 9/10/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
The odd thing is if I eat like half of a banana or less, I don't get the weird sensations. I'm still under my parent's insurance but I'm not sure if they'll like the idea of "wasting money" on another doctor. I suppose I can beg and maybe have my GI recommend someone.
Thanks, Sherry.
Posted 9/11/2008 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Everybody is different in terms of how much exposure it takes before allergy symptoms show up. So in your case, if half a banana is ok but a whole banana is not, then your tolerance threshold is somewhere in between one half and 1 whole banana. This tolerance threshold can be thought of as the top of a barrel. Exposure to one or two allergens (or a few bites of banana) only fills the barrel part-way so no symptoms appear. But exposure to many allergens (or a whole banana) causes the barrel to become so full that it over-flows, and then you get symptoms. Allergies can get worse with continued exposure, meaning the tolerance threshold decreases and thus symptoms appear with smaller and smaller amounts of the allergen. Perhaps seeing an Allergist would give your parents a chance to ask questions and understand more about allergies, thus taking the pressure to eat bananas off of you.

Good luck,
Posted 9/12/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely wouldn't mess with this. My daughter used to love cantaloupes and one Sunday she had a slice before church. Less than half way thru the service she was covered in hives from head to toe and her lips were swelling. Since then her food tolerances have been trial and error. She can eat potatoes in any form but gets hives if she peels them. (Go figure!) She had skin reactions to several foods that she still could eat, and hives and vomiting from foods that were ok on the scratch test. I'd just say "no thanks" to the bananas and send mom to these sites:

Banana allergies
What you need to know about allergies to bananas
banana allergy ?

By the way, if you ARE allergic to bananas there is a good chance you may be allergic to latex as well. This could be life threatening if you get braces or have to go to the hospital and are surrounded by latex dust. Please explain to mom that this might me serious.
Posted 9/19/2008 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input. If I am allergic to bananas, do I HAVE to be allergic to latex? I had braces for 3 years, and I had no problems at all; and I can't remember if the tingling sensations started before, after or during the time I had braces. And I've been to the hospital many many times and have never had a problem.
Posted 9/20/2008 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
No, being allergic to bananas does not mean you are automatically allergic to latex. But it is good to be aware of the possibility of developing a latex allergy at some point. Bananas were one of my early problem foods (before 1983), and I am only mildly contact reactive to latex (first known latex-related rash was in 1996). Take care,
Posted 9/20/2008 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

You might want to look into 'Oral Allergy Syndrome' ... that usually deals with fruits and veggies... banana is a common one for that. Also this condition usually only involves the mouth, such as the itchy or burning feels... or blisters. I believe I have some OAS to bananas, apples, tomatoes ... however if I eat them at the right time (usually Just before they turn yellow) I am good. Also some people have said eating stuff from cans or heated or frozen will sometimes take away those symptoms.

Posted 9/20/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I read the links Jeannie provided, and it seemes like I have the Oral Allergy Syndrome; my symptoms definitely aren't bad enough to be a latex allergy. I showed my parents the link and they are finally okay with it. And I looked up foods that have potassium, and it seems I'm getting a decent amount even w/o bananas.

Thanks again.

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