Here's another interesting story for you...

Yesterday I held a birthday party for half a dozen 4-7 year olds (it was my daughter's sixth birth on Friday).  Around noon we went to the party store to purchase a bunch of balloons... whoa!  As soon as I got in the car with all those balloons I started feeling tingly/itchy all over.  I felt better once we got home, but then I made the mistake of blowing up a bunch of latex balloons.  I felt fine the rest of the day... I thought the threat had passed.  But... this morning when I woke up I was SO DIZZY!  And nauseated  I laid down on the couch (I couldn't even take my regular medications because I was so dizzy/nauseated) and took a dose of liquid Benadryl.

I've never been "allergic" to latex before... but I'm kind of thinking the balloons were behind this episode.  What do you think?

I swear that apart from the recurring abdominal pain, peeing, and the occasional dizziness I'm feeling fine!  Just comparing notes.

Heather

Heather, a question....Have you ever shown a reaction to Latex before?



If not, then I'm thinking it's not the balloons themselves, but it could be some other chemical they use in the process.  There are other things involved in balloons other than the obvious latex and I'm thinking that it was one of those things that you reacted to instead, especially if you've not shown any other issues with latex.   Some even have perfumes added!!


Yet, here's another trigger I'll bet you didn't think of - blowing up the balloons!   Youve mentioned to me before that you've had your breathing abilities change, much like I have and that this has triggered you.    Well, this is POTs related and the kind of pressure your diaphram exerts upon the vagal nerve, this is very likely one of the triggers.  

So I think you've got two marks against you!!!

My husband saw me blowing up balloons one day and begin flushing - he stopped me right away cause he knew what was coming next!!!   I'm thinking it may have been the same for you!!

Lisa

From what I googled, that white power is Talc!   It could very well have been the problem especially since when you held it to your lips they tingled!!  Get that into your lungs and see what trouble it may cause!!!   I think that's your culprit Heather!!!   Not the baloons themselves.  I know I gagged pretty good the last time I messed with balloons and it seemed like the talc was the guy who gagged me!!!


Who said normal mothers don't use the pumps????   Heather, finding short cuts to our duties doesn't mean we're shortcutting on our kids and our motherhood.  We're only allowing our brains to help us find ways around tedious jobs!!   That kind of reasoning will have you go back to beating rugs and sweeping floors with a broom and getting down on all 4s scrubbing floors!!   Have you ever tried to wash your clothing by hand over a scrub sink?   Well here in Brazil, when I arrived here 20 years ago, a washing machine was an incredibly expensive item and a large quantity of women couldn't afford it so they either washed their clothes by hand or sent it to a washer woman!!!  You talk about HARD WORK!!!   Sheesh!!   Nope, some short cuts are really IMPROVEMENTS.   Making a cake by scratch is the best way to bake - it's healthier and tastier and that's real motherhood!!  But blowing up balloons are for the birds!!   GET A PUMP KIDDO!!!   and NO GUILT TRIPS!!!    

No reaction this morning

So... I'd say this means... "Don't blow up any more latex balloons using your mouth, silly head!!"  Thank God I'm not reacting just from touching them or having them in my house.

Yesterday was just as fun/stressful as the day before, so I don't think stress was the main trigger in this particular episode.  We went to a birthday party at the roller rink and then a potluck dinner with the families from my son's daycare... I was on the go for eight hours straight.  Two years ago I could not have done that!

Heather

Hmmmm!  It's the talc then!   Try some kind of talcum powder Heather to see if you can pinpoint it.  It's never good to be with an unknown trigger for you never know when you may come in contact with it.  But once you know, then you can avoid it better.

See if you can get a pair of surgical rubber gloves and see how that goes.  It's like a balloon in that the material is latex but there's talc inside.  You may also want to see about a pair of non-latex surgical gloves.  Why?  Cause that too uses talc!!  this way you can see whether or not it's the latex or the talc cause if it's the talc, you'll react with both gloves!!!   This may be important for future surgical procedures!!!   Worth investigating anyway!!

Lisa


ps -  I'm REALLY glad you had a good day too!!   It's a victory that you could do so much and not get sick!!   A TREMENDOUS victory!!!

Hi Heather ,

On cornstarch , it is a trigger for me . I am not IGE allergic , but its a major avoid for me . It is used as a packer in many medictaions . I don't know if you have had problems with fillers ?

Just thought I would say

Jose

I am pleased sulphites are my problem with corn flour Jose