Trying to make sense of this

[JOE22913]

Hi,

I am trying to make sense of some symptoms I had, and I think that they either relate to food I ate or a drug I took. A couple of weeks ago, I took some Theraflu, hot, lemon flavored in a packet form. About 20 minutes later, I had a beer, and shortly thereafter I ate some Chinese Food.

Shortly after eating my dinner, I came home and laid down. Suddenly, I started feeling a shortness of breath, and some difficulty breathing.  This was followed by a numb or swollen sensation in my tongue, and my face felt weird, particularly around my jaw (not on my neck). The wierdness could be best described as a numb sensation, the same feeling you get when a dentist injects your jaw a freezing mechanism. My eyes also started to water and I mucous came from my nose. Perhaps a slight sore throat, did not feel feverish.

After a few hours, the breathing became normalized and feeling came back to my face, and tongue. The next day my eyes were very red and people at work said my eyes looked "puffed" out.  Total symptoms subsided after a day or two.

Anyways, I have take Theraflu in the past and don't recall this reaction, nor have I ever had this reaction to CHinese food, particularly the dish I ate, which I had eaten in the past without a reaction.

This scares me, so your help is appreciated.

[JOE22913]

they do tell you to avoid drinking alcohol. My best understanding is that Theraflu is a depressant, and like all depressants (sleeping pills) you are told to avoid using with alcohol. Stupid, I know, but I did it.

[JOE22913]

I don't think they actually add MSG to there food. Although, perhaps some of there foods have MSG in them already. No, no seafood. I read on the back of the label of Theraflu that it can cause similar reactions. I went back to the restaurant again, had the same food, but no reaction.

What does an allergy test entail? Is it expensive? I have insurance, but I don't know if it is covered. Anyways thanks for your help.  

[remar]

This does sound like some kind of allergy. Some Chinese restaurants put MSG in their food. A lot of people are allergic to this. The next time you get Chinese food ask them if they put MSG in the food. Did it have any seafood in it?
It could have been the beer along with having the Chinese food and Theraflu. Look on the box to see if it says there could be interactions with alcohol.
You might want to see an Allergist to have some test ran.
Sorry I could'nt be of more help. If this ever happens again you need to get to a hospital so they can treat you. Take care. Remar