Jalapenos: Had a really bad reaction

[in_newengland]

I don't know much about peppers except that I will not eat them. Just the smell, but worse, the pain. I don't even want to get used to that; I have nothing to prove. Hot peppers are in lots of foods now and I have to pick them out or I just can't eat it.

Are these things healthy for people? Some woman in a restaurant saw me picking the hot peppers out of the food and said that I was taking out the best part--the vitamin C. I'd rather eat an orange, LOL.

[cat1116]

I don't do spicy foods like jalapeño. However; there is a mild jalapeño cheese that I can eat. My other half, Mr C, loves spices and hot peppers a l o t. So, this past summer, I bought a reaper plant and put it in a container on the deck. It took forever to grow. It wasn't until very late summer that I was actually able to pick a couple off from the plant. I remembered to use gloves. I cut one up and along with some other peppers and veggies, I roasted them in a small cast iron pan. I've designated that small pan, just for him. I don't think I'd want to even attempt mixing anything in it to put on my food plate. After hearing about these breathing problems, I'm rethinking that reaper plant - not such a good idea. Mr C might convince me otherwise but if it doesn't grow, and if Mr C forgets about that, ....

[elyn02]

This is the OP: I suspect post nasal drip irritation to be the cause of my reaction to jalapenos. I don't eat them but I am working on getting to the source of my post nasal drip because this has caused other respiratory problems that had to be dealt with.

One, I started using a toothpaste that treats my allergies. This is prescribed by my ENT and has been helpful but I wish it could be better. What has really helped was removing carpet from my house and decluttering. Well, I did have to rehome my cat as well so that probably played a big role. Removing as much dust from the house is key as well as staying hydrated.

[andycatschmidt]

I found this post because I was curious if my allergy to jalepenos was common. They never bothered me and I grew peppers for years. I think I developed this concern after crossing two extremely hot peppers. I recall when I went to cut the result of my gardening experiment, the pepper burned my fingers. Not long after, I walked into a resturaunt and my throat started to close up. I determined that it was from the jalepenos they were just cutting. Now this happens if I eat anything with these or other hot peppers as well. It causes me to weese and feel like I can't breath, but it also goes away.

[kyurman]

elyn02, I had this exact same thing happen to me this afternoon as I was cooking. I've had hot peppers cause me to cough in the past, but have never experienced anything like this. It was terrifying.

Since you posted this several years ago, I'm wondering if you've had a similar experience again?

Thanks for any info!

[elyn02]

Originally Posted by kyurman

elyn02, I had this exact same thing happen to me this afternoon as I was cooking. I've had hot peppers cause me to cough in the past, but have never experienced anything like this. It was terrifying.

Since you posted this several years ago, I'm wondering if you've had a similar experience again?

Thanks for any info!

No. I actively stay away from jalapeños being cut. However, since then I have done many things to lessen the severity of my body's reaction. That took many doctors' visits to discover why my throat had become sensitive to things like hot peppers, perfumes, household cleaners, etc. I started allergy treatments and ended up having sinus surgery to reduce postnasal drip. Also, I had to change my daily routines to reduce stress and worry. The symptom my doctor focused on was the feeling of having a dry throat. They ruled out heartburn after placing me on medications that dealt with that. Finally, I drink mostly warm water and avoid iced drinks.