Yesterday, I purchased sushi for my lunch. It was eel,
salmon and veggie. Around noon, I ate six pieces and drank some
hot tea. Less than fifteen minutes later, I had the sensation that
I was going to swallow my tongue. I could not breathe easily.
My heart raced, almost to the point of exploding. I breathed through
my nostrils, since breathing through my mouth felt impossible. I
was convinced that I would swallow my tongue. I tried lying down,
but the effect became even worse. I walked through my home, room
by room, talking out loud to myself to ‘remain calm, breathe, try
to swallow’.
Repeatedly I had to spit out my saliva. I could not swallow.
I forced myself to put water in my mouth, which I then spit
out. Eventually, I was able to get small amounts of water down
my throat.
This lasted over two hours. I convinced myself that I was having
an anxiety attack.
Today, I decided to eat the rest of the sushi for lunch. The same
thing happened, only more profoundly. It was all I could do to
keep from phoning 911. I could not sit. All I could do was walk
through the house talking out loud to myself again, trying to
stay as calm as possible. It is 5pm now, and I still am not completely
recovered.
I believe that I had an allergic reaction to the eel, and that I was
going into Anaphlylactic shock, or even perhaps had acquired
Scombroid poisoning. Outside of my near death due to penicillin,
this was the most frightening. About an hour ago, I developed
a migraine with really spectacular lights, which has now subsided,
for which I am so grateful.
Saturday 5/31/08
Ravenor, 2 months ago
Bloody hell Susan, frightening!!!..
S.I. Sheehan in reply to Ravenor’s comment, 2 months ago
Ray, it has been a very strange two days. I had to eat this evening, and it took me over half an hour to eat a small bowl of soup. The toast had to be dipped into the broth to soften it enough to swallow.
eXposure, 2 months ago
Susan you are definately allergic! glad your feeling better
you should see about carrying some sort of antihistamine and not eat sushi again,
as it may be worse again the next time ...
i have a swollen tongue most days and its preservatives and chemicals
in our foods … natural is the only way
S.I. Sheehan in reply to eXposure’s comment, 2 months ago
Wendy, I so agree. After reading about the potential for extreme shock, I know that I will never eat eel again, and most likely not sushi.
My middle child said, ‘Mom, you know that we were meant to only eat oats, root vegetables and lamb’, LOL! Irish all the way.
1960Fairlane, 2 months ago
Yow,Susan! :O
S.I. Sheehan in reply to 1960Fairlane’s comment, 2 months ago
Hi Sean.
It is now Sunday morning, 6/1/08. The residual of the occurrence still lingers. I’m sure that I will be fine, but WOW, what a horrid experience it was.
TrEaSuReDiMaGeS, 2 months ago
Sooooooooo SCARY!!
S.I. Sheehan in reply to TrEaSuReDiMaGeS’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you again, Deb, for listening to my woes….. ~S
cloudsdreams, 2 months ago
susan keep benadryl on you, counter acts this allergic reaction. many do not get till later, this reaction. so i say stop sushi and just keep writing to let people know. i love your style of getting the words out so very succinct. had no clue. been with people who ate sushi and eel, i one who love also, yet with all that i am toxic to and working on getting immune system running by getting sick in small doses. you sure have convinced me. go to doc, get a skin test, remember if nothing else keep benadryl with you always, for it counteracts this dystonic reaction of tongue. works with much of this including anxiety with my sis. why did you do a second time. ahhhhh…love ya and woes turn messages into goes in grande’ style.
S.I. Sheehan in reply to cloudsdreams’s comment, 2 months ago
I am done, Janet…..
Done….. ~S
coppertrees, 2 months ago
Now I know what it was. Blessings to you Susan
S.I. Sheehan in reply to coppertrees’s comment, 2 months ago
Yes, dear, this finished it for me…..
Vickie, kind heart, I am done…..
coppertrees, 2 months ago
Done/ The mother is strong in time all will nurish you no?
S.I. Sheehan in reply to coppertrees’s comment, 2 months ago
Will be fine…. Will take a bit of time to heal from this…. Kind soul, Vickie, I plan to be fine….. It was horrid, death, beyond, way beyond….. No breath….. Nothing I had ever experienced….. It was Anaphlylactic shock, I know this now, and have been beaten by all of my friends for not seeking help….. One of my closest friends asked me today, ‘Do you have a death wish?’. And then he said, ‘Live, Susan’..... I am so undone…..
Gregory John O..., 2 months ago
Sounds very much like an Anaphlylactric reaction to me too. My mother could not eat fish of any sort after she was about 40 for some reason. Can be quiet dangerous..Nice to see you seem to be getting over it. Become a vegetarian, far safer.
Enivea, 2 months ago
A tip that was given to me, and which I have found works when I am “toxic” from a food reaction, is to dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in glass of water, and sip at regular intervals. It assists the body to detox, and no, does not create nausea. Great for those pounding headaches. Glad you are still with us.
Ruth Palmer, about 1 month ago
Susan! I can’t believe you didn’t go to ER or call 911 immediately. You could have died woman. No more eel for you! Glad you are okay.