Hospital Trip and Unaware
- I was unaware of this allergy until today when I returned home with a poinsettia plant given to me as a present. This was the first time I've ever touched one. I have a latex allergy, and within 2 hours my body was covered in a rash, eyes watering, but worse my face started to swell,and breathing became really, really difficult. The swelling continued and my lips and face went black. My husband gave me salbutamol inhalers and piriton tablets whilst summoning an emergency ambulance, which arrived and took me post haste to A&E. After adrenaline and more piriton I was allowed home. No more poinsettias from now on!
- —JannyJay57
Poinsettias Make Me Itch All Over
- I am also very glad I found this site. I couldn't believe it the first time I reacted to the poinsettia at my parents' house. I'd never shown any sign of a reaction to poinsettia plants before. That was 9 years ago. 1 year ago I started reacting to latex as well. My reaction is certainly not deadly, but it is uncomfortable. My sinuses fill up, my eyes get puffy, my throat constricts, and I itch all over.
- —Guest Christine
Sick of People Thinking I'm Crazy
- I’m glad I came across this site. I am so happy to hear from other people who understand. I feel like I am dying right now and want to cry. My building had tons of poinsettia plants in the hallway. I tried to hold my breath as I got to the elevator and the doors closed but I haven’t been able to catch my breath and it's been 45 minutes. It's complete torture and because its so rare people think I am crazy. I used to have asthma as a premie and was deathly allergic to poinsettias. But as I grew older the asthma and the allergy went away. Then 3 years ago I went to my aunt’s house and she had them in every corner of her multi-story house. Then it hit me and I couldn’t breath and since then it's just gotten worse. I really wish I could do something.
- —Guest Alicia
Can't Shop During Poinsettia Season
- My world just got smaller again today. It has been happening for the last 4 years. Poinsettias are now in my church. I left and will return after service to pick up my husband and daughter. At work we have a “poinsettia plan” where when they appear on my unit in a resident’s room, they get another nurse to take over and I report to occupational health and go on the rtw plan. Then I go back to work to a ventilated room without poinsettias and work there for the next 6 weeks until they convince the resident to let them get rid of it as the holiday season is now over. As for shopping, I usually stock up on foods before the season starts and then my husband picks up the milk, eggs and breads. Gift giving is restricted to gift cards. For all those who have to deal with this, you have my empathy. Thankfully, it only lasts 6-8 weeks of the year.
- —Guest Julie
Stores: Put Up Poinsettia Warning Signs
- I've only had difficulty with Poinsettias for 5 years. My throat gets itchy and swells. Every time I go in a store my sinuses start running, I constantly clear my throat and my throat itches. This year was the worst. I made sure that I took Allergy meds 1/2 hour before I left home. I would still get the itchy feeling in my throat, a metalic taste in my mouth, sometimes it would feel like something was stabbing my throat and I would almost lose my voice. People don't believe me most of the time. I even had a person bring 1 into the school I work in this year and she said I would be fine as long as I do not touch it. That is so far from the truth. I started losing my voice instantly, my throat started feeling like it was closing. People will not listen and do not care if it does not affect them. People need to be more aware of this and my hope is that some day stores will have to put up warning signs if they have poinsettias in them.
- —Guest Tatem
Poinsettia Plants Make Me Light-Headed
- I have been experiencing a strange light-headness for about 3 weeks. This has been happening only when I’m in church. I get clammy and feel like I’m going to pass out. My roommate and I have been wracking our brains trying to figure out what’s different… the only thing we came up with is that the church is filled with poinsettias for the holiday season. After reading everyone’s stories, I’m pretty sure that must be it! We’ll see for sure next week when they take all of them away:)
- —Guest Chris Coyle
Latex Allergic, Sick From Gift
- Thank you so much for your article. I was getting sick from a poinsettia plant delivered just before christmas. I suspected the plant when my throat got a tickle around my kitchen area. My Blood Pressure spiked and I knew it was from something chemical, I am latex allergic. I never suspected a plant could cause chemical-like symptoms. I am a chemical sensitive victim recovering from a diesel fuel leak. I thought I was doing very well until the this plant incident. Thank you so much.
- —Guest jeannine
Allergic to Poinsettias, Not Work!
- Wow, sure glad I googled this. I loved the ‘poison-etta’ post. I work at a lobby desk that is currently surrounded by large white Poinsettia plants – dozens of them. I’m so sick by the time my shift is over I spend my whole night recuperating enough to go back in again. This has been going on for several weeks and I finally made the connection. I experience horrible headaches during my shift and for hours afterward. My sinuses, eyes, teeth and glands are all very sensitive during this and I’m fine except for cold symptoms for the 4-5 hours before my next shift starts. So thanks, now I know I’m NOT allergic to work – just to Christmas!
- —Guest Ed
Not Alone in Poinsettia Plant Sickness
- It’s good to know that I’m not alone in this! I sweat like crazy, get light headed, have breathing problems, and my hands swell up painfully and turn bright red. I can usually last about an hour in the stores at this time of year. Poinsettia plants also affect my mum and one brother to varying degrees.
- —Guest Dee
Poinsettia Misery at Nursery
- Last Christmas season my work was filled with poinsettias for sale and I broke out in hives. I suspected the newly placed poinsettias, but the nursery manager asked if I was allergic to latex and when I said no, not that I am aware of, he told me then it was not the poinsettia plants that were causing my hives, I must have gotten into one of the chemicals or something. I still removed all of the poinsettias from the registers. All was okay after that. So here we are another Christmas season and once again the whole front of the store is filled with poinsettia plants and once again, my throat is itchy, my nose it stuffy, I am sneezing……it has to be those poinsettias! I have kept my arms covered and not handled the plants. I guess here we go again, for another month of misery. I just wanted to make a mention that it is possible to be allergic to poinsettias without the allergy to latex, I am proof.
- —Guest Amy
Feel Like I Could Die From Poinsettias
- It’s the most horrible feeling when you have a reaction to poinsettias, you actually feel like you might die from it. And although I have known for at least 6-7 years that I react to them I have not been successful in avoiding them altogether, with the result that I now can not go anywhere near them at all as I feel every time my reaction gets slightly scarier… I was diagnosed with asthma this year and have known for a long time that I’m very allergic to latex but didn’t know the connection to that dreadful weed. I now make sure anybody I know doesn’t have them in their house (If I don’t know them well enough to ask I just don’t go!) and the local market has given me vouchers for home delivery as there is no way I can go there this time of year. Also, did you know that most sanitary pads have latex in them? I struggled with that 1 for years until I found out the connection between painful rashes and unbearable itching and changed to organic cotton ones -- problem gone there and then.
- —Guest Ida
Love Christmas But Always Get Sick
- I had my first reaction to latex in a nursery at Christmas time. My girlfriend and I walked in and within minutes my eyes were swollen shut and I was having trouble breathing. I love Christmas, but just going to a church service can make me sick for days. By the new year, I am always ill. I also can not wear band-aids. They leave my skin raw and itchy. What I do not understand is why most of the allergy meds out there can't help me long term? I sympathize with everyone who has an allergic reaction to poinsettia plants. Did you know dandelion stems have the protein in them? Good luck!
- —Guest emily
Throat Swells Around Poinsettias
- I have allergies and asthma, am lactose intolerant, and am allergic to latex. I cannot be around a poinsettia plant either as I cannot breathe, throat swells up and my chest hurts. I cannot tolerate them even in the hall outside of my apartment. Poinsettia is related to the rubber tree plants so makes sense for me that its part of the latex allergy.
- —Guest Bernice Langille
Poinsettia Plants Make Me Tired
- I was born with Spina Bifida and I understand many people suffer from Latex allergies. I have never really noticed anything to the extent of some of your allergic reactions. But the past few months when I go to my office I have felt terrible – headaches, foggy feeling, extremely tired and just cannot function properly. I have had a poinsettia plant in my office since December. A co-worker today suggested this poinsettia plant could be the problem. I just removed it from my office and then googled poinsettias and came up with this site. This may have been the problem and I’m anxious to see if I feel better. I should probably remove it from the building. Thanks for the input!
- —Guest Vicki Chandler
Problematic Poinsettias at Work
- I only learned of my sensitivity to poinsettias after a friend gave me 1 as a gift 5 years ago. I was so ill and so convinced that the home I’d moved to had a toxin. Our landlady commented that a relative had similar symptoms: itchy, blood red eyes, hoarseness, throat closing, breathing distress, heart flutters, dizziness – and discovered poinsettia allergy. I removed the plant and improved within 24 hours. I’ve had some difficulty with disbelieving coworkers and a boss who insists on giving a poinsettia to every person in the office. The plants arrive, and I have horrible symptoms, lose my voice, and usually have to retreat to work from home. This year our workgroup moved upstairs, ostensibly away from the plants, but alas, our passive air circulation system meant that I was still ‘enjoying’ all the effects of the allergy. I thought for 2 weeks that I had flu, until I happened to notice a plant as I passed by a window. Even so, no action to remove plants happened until after xmas...
- —Guest Linda
Throat Closes Up Near Poinsettias
- I, too, have never had any trouble with latex that I am aware of, but am deathly allergic to poinsettias. I just got back from lunch at a restaurant where they were everywhere. My system almost shuts down when I am around them. My lips start tingling, my throat feels like it’s closing up, my insides start crawling, and I feel terrible for days afterward. It’s awful. I have the same problem when I tell people I am allergic. I end up being embarrassed to say anything and then suffer for it.
- —Guest Debbie
Passed Out Near Poinsettia Plants
- Thank you so much for starting this dialoque. I first learned I was allergic to poinsettia plants when I was 12 years old. Whenever I tell someone I am allergic, they look at me like I am nuts! I develop breathing problems, from which I once passed out……right next to the poinsettia. Fortunately, someone was there with me. This can be a very dangerous, life-threatening allergy. Please continue to spread the word. Thanks.
- —Guest Karen
Previous31-47 of 47
