blackberries
April 3, 2008
I suffer, as many do, from lots of allergies. I am on weekly allergy shot therapy, mainly so I can have two things in my life that I love: my cats and gardening. Another quirky fact about me is that I have ONE food allergy. Blackberries.
Not raspberries. Not strawberries. ONLY blackberries. It usually affects me about 3 hours after I consume them. The symptoms are severe and uncontrollable itching that usually turns into hives. The first time I discovered was when my aunt maid a blackberry pie when I was a teenager. I had a piece and later was itching so bad I had to go home - burning, itching and red and blotchy all over. The second time it was proved was after having a Triple Berry Orange Julius, not realizing there were 4oz of blackberries in it. That was a fun night.
Well this morning I made my fruit/yogurt parfait breakfast with a mixed pack of frozen fruits that did contain blackberries. (Walmart was out of the straight blueberry frozen pack I usually get) I picked them all out but one, thinking, I’ll be totally fine. Well, I wasn’t. And the itching is beginning - it’s 11:40, I’m going to need to go home and LOAD up on antihistamines asap. People sometimes scoff at this allergy, but it is real. Here is the proof of the beginning of the allergic reaction on my inner elbow. I am now scratching insanely at my stomach and my face and my shoulder. AAAH!!! GOTTA GO HOME NOW!
I hope you all appreciate how committed I am to sharing with you that I would post this in the middle of my allergic reaction! Ok I really have to stop now, its getting so bad. LOL!!
UPDATE: I’m doing a bit better although still pretty itchy all over. I did some googling on blackberry allergies and it is VERY rare - so rare in fact that I can only find one documented case of allergy too it. (scroll down to the bottom of the page) I feel sort of special. Do I need to be studied?
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1.
krislynch | April 3, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Ew, dude…blackberries are tasty, but just NOT worth this!
2.
Michelle and the City | April 3, 2008 at 4:43 pm
trust me, i feel your pain. i have antihistamines in my desk drawer at work
3.
Randi | April 3, 2008 at 4:53 pm
OH NO!! I hope it goes away soon:0
4.
gracedesign | April 3, 2008 at 5:15 pm
awe rachie! the hives!
5.
Kt | April 3, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I’m new to your blog so this is my first comment. I received allergy shots for 12 years so I can certainly relate to how bad they must’ve been for you to resort to such treatment. Feel better!
6.
Susan | April 3, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I’m SO sorry! I absolutely love blackberries, so feel free to send every stinkin’ one my way
I am so blessed to not have any food allergies. I can’t imagine how hard it is to have to make sure that you’re FOOD is allergen free! AHH! BIG HUGS!!!
7.
Molly | April 3, 2008 at 8:10 pm
you’re so funny. and i am sorry that you’re allergic. i’ll try to remember to never eat them in front of you.
8.
christa | April 3, 2008 at 9:24 pm
ugh. what ick way to start the day. that stinks. hope you are feeling better now!
9.
Rachel | April 4, 2008 at 1:21 pm
ugh. i feel your pain on this one. i’m seriously allergic to EVERYTHING. i hope you’re doing better! goodness that stinks. xo
10.
Postinus Gulö | April 4, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Hallo..you’re very interesting, please do the best
11.
mrlater | April 4, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Hi I don’t get any reactions from the berries,just the plants.What is my problem you say.The plants are always trying to take over my yard and I always walk away bleeding from thorn stabs.
12.
Roxanne | April 10, 2008 at 6:07 am
I have a 2 year old son who in fact is allergic to blackberries. He likes to eat strawberries, sometimes raspberries, and blueberry pancakes. I realized it when he was a year and a half old. We went out to eat late at night at a Cafe and I ordered him blackberry pancakes. Next morning he was covered in hives. He had to take some type of steroid for 3 days to get rid of it. His doctor was surprised because it is rare. This Easter he ate a Strawberry that was next to a blackberry and he still got an allergic reaction, luckily i noticed in time to give him medicine.
13.
paperseed | April 13, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Yeah, that does sound rare. My one allergy is alcohol, the kind you drink. So I have been sober every single day of my life, but I can eat blackberries, which is good since we pick them free every year to freeze and enjoy.
14.
melissa rogers | April 21, 2008 at 8:25 pm
do you get red spots all over on your face, i’m wondering if my 3 year old son has it, he had blackberry jam and now his face is covered in spots. and on his inner elbows, how long does it take to affect you that is the only diff, food he’s had. but he’s been out side and has some bug bites.?
15.
Stephanie | May 17, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I ate blackberries all the time when I was a kid but for mother’s day my son picked some for me and was so proud of himself that he met me at the door and had them all washed up and ready to eat. I was so tired that all I wanted to do was sit down and rest my feet (I stand at my job all day) but I went ahead and popped ONE into my mouth and told him that I would eat more after dinner. About 30 min later I started itching and burning all over my face and neck and my lips started tingling. I took some Benadryl and eventually felt better. I’ve never had any kind of food allergy and of course I would be one of the few with a rare allergy. LOL
16.
kristin | June 6, 2008 at 9:51 am
I’ve been looking on the internet for people with blackberry allergies. I experience the same symptoms after eating them. It’s horrible! There are probably more people out there with it that can’t figure out what it’s from. I’ve been getting hives for over a week and have just discovered what has been causing them.
17.
Angel | June 13, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Wow! I think I just figured out WHY I have crazy itchy hives ALL OVER my arms, chest, legs, back and a few on my face …. I made a smoothie yesterday with about 15 blackberries in it! It started yesterday after that… I’m never a blackberry again! Thanks for the picture of your arm, mine strated RIGHT THERE too!!! This is terrible!