Road Rash - Non Valkyrie Related

[carolinarider09]

This week, the wife and I have to go to VA to help my daughter out.  She had to take a business trip and my Son-in-Law has major health issues.  So, while she has someone there during the day (8 to 5), she does not anyone there during the evening and night time to make sure he takes his meds and has no ‘health” issues.

So we drive up there on back roads unit we get to I-40 and then I-85.  Same way back.

On the way back home on our Thanksgiving trip, we found a Sheetz filling station that we could stop at (just as we left I-40) to gas up and walk the dog. 

As on our bike trips, we carry along snack bars and fruit (bananas and oranges, maybe grapes).  We have those for lunch. 

So, we stopped for a fill up at the Sheetz Gas Station, got our snacks stuff out.  Wife went in and I asked her to buy some bottled water and something chocolate. 

She came back with two nice bottles of water and some large chocolate chip cookies (one for each of us). 

We had lunch as we left, around 1330 and I waited until 1500 to eat my chocolate chip cookie.  I ate it in pieces, so it took about 15 or so minutes to eat abut 3/4’s of the cookie. I saved the last part and finished the cookie about 15 minutes later. 

Within about 20 to 30 minutes I began to get sleepy.  Never happened on the road in the last 10 - 15 years of riding/driving.  Next my left arm near the wrist began to get itchy and some small bumps appeared.  The area was about four inches long and maybe and 1 1/2 “ wide.

This continued for about 30 minutes and we were discussing if my wife should take over and drive as I was struggling to keep my eyes open.

Then, all of sudden, the sleepiness went away and, over the next hour or two the bumps (rash?) went away.

Never, ever happened to me before. NEVER!   

So, has anyone else experienced a similar “event” while traveling.  I firmly believe the Chocolate Chip cookie was laced with something and I was just lucky to get through it without crashing the car. 

Wife only ate 1/2 of her cookie because of what I experienced.  She had no issues. But we do take different medications.

[Jess from VA]

I have a mild allergy to chocolate, but it only shows up once in a while, and I eat very little of it anyway.

It's so rare, I completely forget about it, but I sneezed my ass off a few days ago because of it.  Every time it happens (rarely), it's a big surprise... Oh yeah, I forgot again.

My only symptom is I will sneeze 10 or 20 times over and over, and my nose runs and eyes water.  Never any skin rash to my knowledge.  And it never happened in my life until my mid/late 60s.  

I don't really like bitter dark chocolate, but I think it's more likely to set me off than milk chocolate, and I'm pretty sure chocolate chip cookies use dark chocolate chips.  I brought home a small package of dark chocolate mints two months ago, and one small piece set me off sneezing, twice, so I pitched them. Chocolate ice cream has never had any bad effect on me at all.

A sugar high makes you more awake than sleepy, but I think an allergic reaction would trump a sugar high every time.  

Rash or hives is a common symptom of allergy.

But see:  A true chocolate allergy is rare, affecting less than 1% of the population, but it can cause anaphylaxis in certain people.  By contrast, chocolate intolerance can cause food allergy-like symptoms but without the risk of anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction.  Signs include breathing difficulties, swelling, hives and a drop in blood pressure (sleepy).

I'm pretty sure I have chocolate intolerance only.  

I'd go on line are do some reading on chocolate allergy Jim.

Those cookies you had don't sound like commercial package, but local bakery.  It's always possible something got in them (or less likely, only yours).  Most dopers aren't going to waste their dope on purpose in baking cookies for public consumption, but anything can happen by accident.  

[carolinarider09]

Those cookies you had don't sound like commercial package, but local bakery.  It's always possible something got in them (or less likely, only yours).  Most dopers aren't going to waste their dope on purpose in baking cookies for public consumption, but anything can happen by accident.  

Had not considered that directly and don't have the wrappers.  I did think about someone "doing something to them for a result" but ...... 

And yes, an accident is possible.  Just a first time for everything today I suspect.

[Jess from VA]

Those cookies you had don't sound like commercial package, but local bakery.  It's always possible something got in them (or less likely, only yours).  Most dopers aren't going to waste their dope on purpose in baking cookies for public consumption, but anything can happen by accident.  

Had not considered that directly and don't have the wrappers.  I did think about someone "doing something to them for a result" but ......  

And yes, an accident is possible.  Just a first time for everything today I suspect.

Jim, my post tried to point you at chocolate allergy or intolerance, not a tainted-with-something cookie (though that's possible).  Your wife ate half of hers with no reaction at all (hers wasn't tainted).

Also, I think your description of a sudden onset of symptoms, but only of short duration and a quick return to normal, points at allergy more than dope/taint/foreign substance, which would be expected to result in a longer duration of symptoms (and maybe a hangover).

My chocolate intolerance is rare, only started in my old(er) age, and is just sneezing.  Since your episode included hives and sudden onset sleepy (low blood sugar?), it could be worse, if that's what it is.  There may be testing, or you could just buy a big box of dark chocolate and eat it (at home, not driving) and see what happens if anything.  For me, it might only happen once in 15-20 times though.  

I am no doctor, but I did spend almost every day of my 18 years with VA reading volumes of medical treatment/hospitalization records, exams, conflicting medical opinions, diagnostic studies, and service medical records in deciding disability appeals.  Some of it rubs off.  

[carolinarider09]

Jess, the main reason I did to respond directly to the notion of a "chocolate" allergy is that I eat chocolate daily.  Just a few pieces of dark chocolate but, its been part of by diet for many years now.

So, I did not consider it a possibility.  But it could be a specific "type" of chocolate.  And it could have been a sudden change in my "body". 

But I did eat a small piece of Dove Dark Chocolate a couple of hours ago with no issues. 

But, I appreciate the informant and will read it again to make sure I understand the information you provided. 

[h13man]

I can't offer anything about rash but way to high of blood sugar will make you sleepy. Type ll for 25 yrs. Low blood sugar is way more dangerous especially operating a vehicle. Cold sweats and dizziness is the first warning thus I always kept Hershey bars in my toolbox at work. It happens pretty quickly when you feel the cold sweats. And I can't live w/o chocalate.   Wanting nap a lot and tired frequently is warning sign of too high of blood sugar.

[carolinarider09]

I can't offer anything about rash but way to high of blood sugar will make you sleepy. Type ll for 25 yrs. Low blood sugar is way more dangerous especially operating a vehicle. Cold sweats and dizziness is the first warning thus I always kept Hershey bars in my toolbox at work. It happens pretty quickly when you feel the cold sweats. And I can't live w/o chocalate.   Wanting nap a lot and tired frequently is warning sign of too high of blood sugar.

I never considered the "blood sugar" issue.  While I do have one to three pieces of "Dove Dark Chocolate" candy every day, I did not have any chocolate or "sugary" stuff on that day.  It is possible the "bar" I had does have "excess" sugar, and I will check to see.  Generally these bars are listed at about 175 to 200 calories each.

It's just that in my life time, I cannot remember a similar event.  I guess the real answer is "stay away from unknown stuff".   

[Jess from VA]

Jim how long since your last physical?

We don't stay bulletproof forever in our advancing years you know.

H13 showed I was wrong on low vs high blood sugar;  it's high (not low) that makes you sleepy.

Even though sugar highs and caffeine make me hyper, not sleepy.

I still don't think that cookie was tainted. 

You might take that story of what happened to you to your doctor.  And go from there. 

Of course it's none of my business, and every man should do what he wants. 

[da prez]

  Life changes and so do meds. It is possible an ingredient in the cookie reacted with one of your meds.
  Y E S , talk to your Dr. if he is the kind that listens. My med changes have caused food allergies.
  Some of my favorite foods are not tolerated.
  Good chocolate is high in iron.
                                                      da prez

[cookiedough]

yah, life and body sure does change as we get older.  I got a rash on my legs and arms and tad bit back/neck 6 months or so ago and NO explanation even from dermatologist , nothing eating and showering/soaps, etc. wise was changed ever.  skin graph said some form of eczema dry skin etc. but it all started in HOT summer when my skin was not dry am sure.  I still take a vaseline type cream the dermatologist gave me to rub on mostly my lower legs that really itched to the point of bleeding itching a lot past 6 months.  bumps and redness are still there but tolerable vs. was not prior. 

still battling with it but dr. giving me high doses of steroids helped a lot but it came back after steroids stopped.  NO idea how to get rid of it and drs. / dermatologist helpful but not solved yet

[carolinarider09]

Jim how long since your last physical?

I have three a year.  One ever six months with my Cardiologist.  One every year with my general physician.   

So, saw my cardiologist in December.  Will talk to be general physician when I see her again this year, probably spring. 

No changes in drugs over the last three or four years.  But, sometimes generics can change, or at least I have be told that.

[scooperhsd]

Yes , you get older and things change. I've been a Type 2 diabetic for the last 8 years. For the first 6, my A1C was rock solid at 6.0, no matter what I ate  . Last year - it went up to 7, eating better and doubling my metformin brought it down to 6.4 in december.

Sometime ago, I did something unknown that resulted in a Herniated disc at L5 (that doesn't hurt so much), but it is a killer on my muscles at L1-L3 - I live on Tylenol / aleve (max reccomended doses). Chiropractic care (once  / week) about keeping my muscles stretched helps quite a bit.

I also have degenerative arthrits in my left hand, and probably my right as well. No pain mostly, and I play in a local orchestra (string bass) and piano lessons to keep my hands moving.

On my last birthday, I got diagnosed with osteoperosis - genetics from my Mom. No pain with that yet, but I've started being more careful to not fall.

[h13man]

I was discovered to be Type II when I was 47 and then only because tests in preparation of gallbladder removal thus how long I would've went w/o undiagnosed if it wasn't for two the very painful gall bladder attacks. The dumb arse Indian doctor kept treating me for heart issues. Putting nitro in me whole time which not a favorable solution for somebody that didn't need. Finally that "outfits" surgeon stepped in diagnosed me. The look he gave the doctor when explaining what my situation was priceless. I asked if would be my family Dr. but he said he's so busy as surgeon its tough have too many patients outside surgery council.