Boletus edulis allergy?

[Billabong Karen]

I'm wondering if anyone can shed a little light for me... I seem to have developed an extreme allergic reaction to penny bun boletus edulis. This has got worse over time, so that if ever I now eat some by accident (for instance if it is in a stew or - the last time it happened - finely chopped and included in the filling of tortellini) I get terrible stomach pains, vomiting, headache, tunnel vision and general inability to do anything other than lie down for several hours and wait for it to pass. I have never heard of anyone getting such a reaction before, and am very keen not to experience it myself again, since I would certainly end up in hospital next time. What could it be that is causing this reaction? I dont get it from champignons, chantrelles, or any other kind of normal edible fungi.

Any ideas? Thank you, Karen

[sammybee]

I doubt it helps but my wife used to reguarly eat edulis(penny bun) and bays with no ill effect; however we found that after giving birth she had developed an intolerance or allergy; she got the runs and painfull tummy ache , even if she had a dish that was just tainted ( eg a stew with whole shrooms which i took out of her portion). This saturday just gone we had a delicous chicken with some edulis on the side- My wife only had a few(maybe 4 whole buttons)but no ill effects shown. So basically she was allergic/intolerant for about 20 months following childbirth but may now've returned to normal.
I would continue to steer clear for a year then consider re introduction and see but be extra cautious as your symtoms are far worse than my wifes.
At least you are allergic to only one species albeit the best!

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I'm wondering if anyone can shed a little light for me... I seem to have developed an extreme allergic reaction to penny bun boletus edulis. This has got worse over time, so that if ever I now eat some by accident (for instance if it is in a stew or - the last time it happened - finely chopped and included in the filling of tortellini) I get terrible stomach pains, vomiting, headache, tunnel vision and general inability to do anything other than lie down for several hours and wait for it to pass. I have never heard of anyone getting such a reaction before, and am very keen not to experience it myself again, since I would certainly end up in hospital next time. What could it be that is causing this reaction? I dont get it from champignons, chantrelles, or any other kind of normal edible fungi.

Any ideas? Thank you, Karen

Sorry to hear that Karen - it sounds like you really do need to avoid ceps from now on. Normally there is not a lot of discussion on here as regards eating mushrooms - its something the wab members shy away from just because of reactions like you are experiencing and or outright poisoning from eating something deadly without realising.

So I shall be brief - one of my fungi books does document that people who have eaten perfectly edible mushrooms for years can suddenly develop a problem and it can be severe as you are describing. The thoughts behind this is that mushroom protein is thought to have an accumulated action in the body and just as you describe foks can eat something for years and be fine and then sudenly the same thing will make them very ill. I think its quite important now that your body has decided its had enough of ceps that you don't continue to try and eat - but leave alone and be careful with others - even bought ones - just a precaution - mushrooms are good but they arnt so good that they are worth being ill for

Pauline

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I'm wondering if anyone can shed a little light for me... I seem to have developed an extreme allergic reaction to penny bun boletus edulis. This has got worse over time, so that if ever I now eat some by accident (for instance if it is in a stew or - the last time it happened - finely chopped and included in the filling of tortellini) I get terrible stomach pains, vomiting, headache, tunnel vision and general inability to do anything other than lie down for several hours and wait for it to pass. I have never heard of anyone getting such a reaction before, and am very keen not to experience it myself again, since I would certainly end up in hospital next time. What could it be that is causing this reaction? I dont get it from champignons, chantrelles, or any other kind of normal edible fungi. Any ideas? Thank you, Karen

WAB has faced a number of difficulties in dealing with culinary aspects of fungi and there is a general block on discussing the issue - see Is my fungus edible or psychotic requests

As a general comment, I think it is fair to say that many types of fungi that are said to be edible, present digestive challnges to individuals, while in addition individuals may develop inexplicable intollerances to all sorts of foods and in that sense there maybe nothing exceptional about fungi in general, or specific species of fungi. But all this is rather outside WAB's purpose.

CM

[Billabong Karen]

Thank you for that; I certainly have no intention of trying to eat ceps ever again! I appreciate that WAB is keen to avoid discussions of whether particular types of fungi are edible or poisonous - I just wondered whether this is a documented occurence, and whether there is anything particular in boletes that could cause such a severe reaction, after years of no reaction at all. Pauline's response has given me a clear answer - and I had not found any reference to this before, despite googling. So thank you!

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by sammybee

I doubt it helps but my wife used to reguarly eat edulis(penny bun) and bays with no ill effect; however we found that after giving birth she had developed an intolerance or allergy; she got the runs and painfull tummy ache , even if she had a dish that was just tainted ( eg a stew with whole shrooms which i took out of her portion). This saturday just gone we had a delicous chicken with some edulis on the side- My wife only had a few(maybe 4 whole buttons)but no ill effects shown. So basically she was allergic/intolerant for about 20 months following childbirth but may now've returned to normal.
I would continue to steer clear for a year then consider re introduction and see but be extra cautious as your symtoms are far worse than my wifes.
At least you are allergic to only one species albeit the best!

Interesting about fungi intolerance and pregnancy. I came across a few women beekeepers who were used to being stung by bees without any particularly adverse effect, but who, out of the blue, had serious allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock when stung when they were pregnant or shortly after childbirth. Also a beekeeper friend who had a serious allergic reaction to bees when she was going through the menopause, but hadn't had before when she'd been stung. So there seems to be some connection between hormone upheaval and allergic reactions.

[operanut1972]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Interesting about fungi intolerance and pregnancy. I came across a few women beekeepers who were used to being stung by bees without any particularly adverse effect, but who, out of the blue, had serious allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock when stung when they were pregnant or shortly after childbirth. Also a beekeeper friend who had a serious allergic reaction to bees when she was going through the menopause, but hadn't had before when she'd been stung. So there seems to be some connection between hormone upheaval and allergic reactions.

As the hormone histamine is involved in the allergic reaction, then your supposition is spot on. allergies or intolerences are seldom found on the first exposure, however, will more likely get worse with each progressive challenge or in this case, each time it is eaten. The advice about avoidance and reintroduction is a good one, however, a trip to your GP should be on the cards to have a full tolerance test done, it is not unusual for an allergy to start on one variety and spring to another, although you would have to be having a pretty bad run.

All the best

[Billabong Karen]

[quote=operanut1972;820270]As the hormone histamine is involved in the allergic reaction, then your supposition is spot on. allergies or intolerences are seldom found on the first exposure, however, will more likely get worse with each progressive challenge or in this case, each time it is eaten. The advice about avoidance and reintroduction is a good one, however, a trip to your GP should be on the cards to have a full tolerance test done, it is not unusual for an allergy to start on one variety and spring to another, although you would have to be having a pretty bad run.

Yes - that's exactly what I was afraid of - since this allergic reaction appeared out of nowhere, could mushrooms, chantrelles etc suddenly cause the same sort of reaction... Basically that's why I was wondering whether boletes have any particular chemical that other fungi dont. The GP wasnt very helpful, I'm afraid - just told me to avoid ceps in future (duh!!) . Anyway, there is no way I am going to try to reintroduce ceps into my diet.

I am still fascinated by fungi (though just from an informative point of view, no longer a collector), and am enjoying this early autumn, which seems to be bringing out a bumper crop. Saw a whole batch of beautiful orange colored boletes the other day with lighter colored stems - any ideas? didnt have a camera with me unfortunately, but will try to remember to take one next time I walk that way...

[Billabong Karen]

Orange birch bolete, I think (though not under birch).

[JAJ]

It is ALWAYS advised to consume any variety of mushrooms / fungi sparingly! Even with familiar species, since mushroom overdose (belly ache) is common and documented in even the most widely available gastronomic species from the super market.

Otherwise in the case of allergic or negative reaction to a species,, then it is much healthier and wiser to avoid the whole Genus in future... regardless of there being no symptoms in the past. If the body says 'no' then say "no" to the eyes also.

Hope this helps