How could a tuna noodle casserole make my wife this sick?

I had no idea this could happen.. I’m never eating tuna again!!!! That’s just crazy!!!!

I have the same reaction to iodine. Not good.

I’m glad she’s feeling better. I would make this phone call to the restaurant when you’re up to it. It will make you both feel much better about the experience

@john65pennington

I eat a lot of tuna – mostly fresh though, little to none from a can, and have never had this happen to me nor have I ever heard of it happening.

Your story doesn’t make sense. Was it an allergic reaction to the fish itself or was it due to something in the fish?

If you’re carrying antihistamine around now, I’m guessing it was an allergic reaction and that fish contamination wasn’t really the issue?

Tuna ARE NOT bottom feeders – they eat other fish. Shellfish are bottom feeders as is catfish, for example.

@kheredia It is ridiculous to swear off a food due to someone else’s allergic reaction.

Oh my goodness! I did not know about this. I hope she is ok. I have not had that situation with tuna fish but have with peanuts and several other nuts like pistachios, and papaya. Usually I get a lot of facial swelling (fat lips and eyes), hives, and really bad asthma kicks in. Usually I down a lot of benadryl and suck on my inhaler, and just look like a blob face for a while.

I’ve never been doubled over in pain or had to lay in the floor or call an ambulance though. That sounds serious. Did they warn you about other things she should avoid? Or just tuna?

I hope she gets better quickly. The problem i have is when I go to places like chinese buffets where I am not sure what is in the dishes, I find myself staring in a buffet bucket of soupy stuff and hoping nothing I am allergic to is in it. I have trouble getting any straight answers. I ask things like “Is there any peanut oil in this?” Usually they don’t know or can’t give me straight answers. Even buying prepackaged food at the grocery store is a pain. I have to read the ingredients lists and do detective work. Some things I just pass on. The plate of mystery cookies in the break room isn’t worth the risk. Becoming severely allergic to something usually means you also have to become a nonstop detective.

@lilikoi

Iodine is supposedly a common dye for fish coloring. This is what my surgeon told me. I was due for kidney surgery, and they did one of those dye traces in my digestive tract. I immediately went into sneezing and convulsions (like the OP) and was administered some form of antihistamine. Three minutes later I was fine. From then on, I always ask if the fish has iodine.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies I didn’t mean your post, I was referring to the OP. Sorry for confusion. Your post made perfect sense.

Yeah that’s what I’d like them to check out. The dirty tuna fish doesn’t sound quite right. I’d have her checked for iodine allergic reaction and see if the tuna was dyed with it.

I’ve heard of mercury poisoning from eating too much canned tuna, but I have never encountered a situation with dirty tuna. The fact that your wife ate nothing all day then splurged on the meal only heightened her sensitivity to the contaminated tuna. It is never a good idea to overeat on a hungry, empty stomach. I’ve done that, and it almost always gives me a bad tummy-ache afterwards. But with contaminated food, that can worsen the effect or cause more serious problems.

Never had such a reaction but it doesn’t surprise me