Author Topic: Antihistamine Reactions (Read 203 times)

bustr · « **on:** February 08, 2005, 03:27:37 PM »

Does anyone have any ideas on this?

Keep in mind I have no allergies.

Last evening while I was on the platform waiting for my BART train, I had a sudden reaction in the back of my throat that caused me to go into a violent coughing fit to the point of having problems breating air back in. My eyes and nose started running like faucets. As my train pulled up I started holding my breath to control the irritation in my throat and stop coughing. Each time I tried to breath, the air passing in my throat triggered a violent reaction. No other passenger on the platform or going into the train ahead of me was effected. The only event before this was a weirdly dressed bearded old man walked who within inches behind me 30 seconds previous to the coughing fit.

On the train I would hold my breath and try to swollow to clear my throat while my eyes and nose ran down my face. It was obvious to the other passengers I was having problems. They responded by avoiding me. Though one who suffered allergies finally handed me a package of cleenex. He thought I was suffering from allergies. Eventually after 15 minuets of wiping my face with cleenex and periodicly holding my breath it subsided. The back of my throat had a metalic bitter taste for some time after that.

Anyone have any ideas of compounds or commercial human control agents that generate this kind of reaction? It was not tear gas, mace or pepper spray. Been hit with those....

wombatt · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2005, 03:32:07 PM »

Just to be safe go see a doctor.
The old dude might of had someting on his person that you are allergic to.

The metallic taste in your mouth is what would bother me as it should be sending up red flags.

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2005, 03:35:32 PM »

Maybe the weirdly dressed old man was some weird farmer who was contaminated by animal skin and hair.

Maybe you're allergic to a llama, just didn't know it.

rpm · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2005, 03:39:48 PM »

Definitely see a Doctor. I bet that the bum either had some mold or mildew on him or was wearing some ultra-cheap cologne (in lieu of bathing) and that is what triggered the reaction. The metalic taste is a puzzler if it was'nt cologne.

bustr · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2005, 04:16:14 PM »

Metallic taste is often related to alkiloid salts, metallic salts, and other man made compounds. Since I didn't vomit, fall down and start twitching uncontrolably, it's not on the list of the "other" common agents that kill you between 3-15 minutes. For a moment I started looking at the other passengers on the platform for a similare reaction along with oral foaming and vomiting. Castor beans too are easy to get, and recently in the U.S. several persons have been arrested for attempted murder due to making a known nerve agent from castor beans to affect a family member.

The older gentelman was not a homeless person. He was just attired like an old bearded berkeley radical. Cologn and perfume have no effect on me other than I think too many people wear too much. I'm just wondering if anyone in their journies has run across a compound that produces these results? I still have to catch my train on the same platform tonight.

eagl · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2005, 04:46:08 PM »

Sounds like an allergy reaction to me. Guinea pigs have a similiar effect on me, minus the metallic taste. Getting within 50 ft of one of those mutant rats is enough to put me into a full allergic reaction including watering eyes, itching skin, runny nose, tight chest, shortness of breath, blurred vision and sense of anxiety, etc. Taking antihistimines helps a lot but I have to shower and wash my clothes to get back to normal.

I can tell if a pet store sells them just by standing outside the front door for a few minutes

If I feel any anxiety, that's my own "personal symptom" that usually accompanies a major systemic allergic reaction. It's the same feeling I got when I had a systemic reaction to allergy shot treatments and nearly died, so I pay attention to it and whenever it happens I move out of the area and wash my hands/face to try to avoid the reaction. Nothing but a systemic allergic reaction makes me feel that horrible so quickly. I used to carry an epi-pen around with me but I had to discontinue the immuno-therapy after the last round of shots hospitalized me for a day so now I just keep a little bottle of allegra in my car and some quicker acting over the counter stuff at home.

bustr · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2005, 04:59:31 PM »

Cool I guess I'm alergic to "Old Berkeley Radicals"......

I have a freind who cannot eat salmon. His throat constricts and he passes out. But minus the metallic taste.

The metallic taste is what bothers me. When you call in to a city or county poisoning hotline, it's one of the questions that may be asked depending on the symptoms. Oh well, I remember what that gentelman looks like. I'll avoid him if he shows up again. He was not one of 6:15 regulars on my platform. I'd never seen him before. Come to think of it he didn't board my train, stayed by himself near the end of the platform.

Heck he could be a research chemist and spilled something on himself..............