HELP!! Allergic reaction to the Carnation Breakfast Drink?

Hello Everyone,

So, I am on day 4 of the pre-op fast and am doing VERY WELL!! I am drinking the Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink (sugar-free) x 6 per day and I have to say, "it is tasty"!

Here's the problem...yesterday when I woke up, my elbows and knees itched..I had hives. I went on about the day, having NO OTHER symptoms and took Benadryl as needed and put cortisone cream on the itchy spots. At first, I thought maybe I was bitten, but am fairly certain I was not. I am a neat freak and just recently changed the sheets on the bed (and hubby didn't have a problem). No new detergents, perfumes, medications, etc. I only take Toprol and Prilosec daily. I did take a multi-vitamin and Vitamin B complex though....

So, today I got up early because my knees were SOOOOO ITCHY and with welts and I just couldn't help but DIG!!!! I then took a medium-tempered shower, a Benadryl and called the Bariatric Doctor (just in case). He said he had no experience with people having trouble (allergy related) to the CIB and thought I should just monitor it, take the Benadryl and Loratidine and if worse, call back.

As I nurse, I am fairly certain I am having a reaction to "something new" and all I have done "new" is drink this yummy drink. Could it be the whey protein? Could it be the inulin? Could it be too my vitamins? What to do, what to do....

So, I am looking for any and all support from you all to see if anyone else had a similar reaction. I do not want to quit the product if I don't have to and I only have one more day to do this before my surgery!! YAY!!! Should I just go on Clear liquids until the surgery?

What would you do? Does anyone have any suggestions? Recently my palms and fingers are a little itchy.....no other place besides my knees and elbows...hmmmm......and no shortness of breath or wheezing...

P.S. The good news...DOWN 9 pounds in 3 days from this liquid diet!!

Thanks all!!

Conchita109

It very well could be the whey-maybe a soy protein might be best for you.  Have you previously had problems wit milk products?

No, not at all. Never had any issues with food allergies. I LOVE milk and drink it at least 2 to 3 times a day before this. The soy protein may be correct. I will have to look at what all of the UNJURY I bought contains.....

Thanks a bunch!

Conchita109

I'm pretty sure Unjury is also Whey Protein.

My hubby suffers from hives on occasion. His Drs tell him the cause of hives is rarely discovered but always treated with antihistmines. I think it is good that you are going through the process of elimination. Good luck and stay in touch with your Dr.

I am no dr so I would continue to work with your dr. I can tell you me and my father get them out of the blue, we have never found a reason except stress, as you know the body does strange things when stressed and liquid diet and post surgery might do it. My advise is go back to basics like we did for our kids, introduce one food a day ( tough i know) and see if you get the reaction again.
Good luck

I don't think you entirely read/understood my post but thanks anyway. I have eaten NOTHING but the CIB drink for 4 days so this has nothing to do with food. My question was whether others experienced this when they went on their PRE-OP fast. I haven't had the surgery yet.

Thanks.

I have this weird hives/rash on my stomach that itches me to death. its blotchy and red ..but seems like I only have it on one side which is on my stomach and under my breast...does this sound like the same thing to you that you have? Just wondering because I myself is drinking the Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks and only have one a day....4 oz in the morning and 4 oz in the evening. I've also already been banded too so that would explain that lol

Well, I don't really have a rash...just hives. They were on my knees and my elbows....never had this happen before and have no history of skin conditions or food allergies. So, today I am better and I am still drinking the CIB...so, I don't know.

The one thing I DID do was take a multi-vitamin every day, a Vit. B complex and some calcium...so maybe I just overdid it with the vitamins/minerals? You would think I would have GI upset if that were the case. I know that sometimes with hives you never REALLY know what the culprit is...but I just wondered if my WLS buddies had this experience with their protein drinks. 

BTW, I would say if you have pain with yours and it remains localized like that, I would cosult a doctor as stress can induce Shingles (latent form of Chicken Pox) and maybe that is what is causing your issue? Is it painful?? Just a thought.....I hope you feel better soon!!

Ok, so I need to finish today and then TOMORROW is my BIG DAY!!! I am both excited and nervous at the same time!!

Wish me luck!! Talk to you all soon!!
Conchita109

You'll be just fine...Please keep us updated on how you do. Sip Sip Sip Walk Walk Walk...the best thing I was ever told. Best wishes