Latex Allergy Stories

Tracy's Story

When I was a dental assistant back in the ‘80’s, I didn’t wear gloves very often. Then recommendations and regulations changed that required me to wear gloves all the time. I never had any problems with any type of reactions or anything while I was only wearing gloves occasionally. When I started wearing gloves consistently, I started to notice little cracks starting to appear on my hands. I just thought it was from the cold and never really gave it any thought. Soon, my hands started getting little bumps on them in addition to the cracks and also my hands were red. This progressed to

Molly's Story

My story is that two weeks ago I found out that my wonderful, expensive, healthy latex mattress is causing me a LOT of health problems. Previously I’d known that the latex in my underwear caused redness and itching, but it did not bother me a lot. However, about 3 years ago I purchased the latex mattress and my health has deteriorated severely ever since. I did not sleep more than 4 hours per night, tossed and turned, and lately felt like I was burning up inside. These were all symptoms I developed from the latex according to my doctor.

Patty's Story

I had been an ER nurse for 9 years before I began having problems with latex. The time frame from my first severe reaction to my having to leave nursing was only 6 months and I am on Social Security disability as a result. My case started out as just latex but expanded to include cross-reactive foods and other chemicals. I am about 1 step away from being home-bound; I have a full face respirator that I wear to go shopping.

Patty

Wendy's Story

I am Australian, and suffer from Bi-Phasic Inahalation Anaphylaxis to latex/rubber. I was a nurse for 30 years, and developed contact anaphylaxis to latex in 1994. I was able to manage this problem by going into unit management/education, thus did not have to wear gloves. In 2007 I developed Inhalation Anaphylaxis, and lost my career. I had 22 reactions after this, either from entering doctor’s surgeries, or going into shopping centres where there a so many balloons.

Lisa's

I started working in healthcare in 1990. I began to have topical reactions on my hands soon after. While assisting in a surgery one day, my reaction became severe and my eyes were nearly swollen shut. I stopped wearing the gloves, but continued to work around them for the next 10+years. I remember having to get cortisone injections in the middle of the work day to stop the sneezing fits and running nose and eyes.

Judy's Story

I have known I had a latex sensitivity for many years. However, after two surgeries, it has now been diagnosed as Type I Latex Allergy. I am a teacher of young children. I was standing in a doorway during an assembly one day.

Donna's Story

I had Basal Cell skin cancer and underwent the Mohs procedure to remove the cancer from the skin on my forehead. I contracted a rare staph infection which has been treated for the past 4 month with now my 5th kind of antibiotic. When the stitches were removed the incision did not heal due to the infection and i have had an open would that shows about a dime size portion of my skull. The staph infection is now a resistance MRSA and is being treated with one of the few antibiotics that it show sensitivity. I have acquired an allergy to the enzymes found in the rubber tree sap that is used

Ericka's Story

I am currently a student in an Occupational Therapy Assistant program, and it was not until 2 months into my program I found out that I had a latex allergy. I found this out the hard way, being in class with 20+ students stretching Thera Band™. Thera Band™ is an elastic stretching band that many facilities such as Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy use which varies in color and strength. It took a little under 10 minutes before my first symptom of sniffling and runny nose occurred, followed by an itchy mouth and tongue and itchy and swollen eyes.

Geof's Story

I have a long history with Latex Allergies. My mother was allergic to Latex. She was a Hematologist working for several labs in Florida and Georgia, and in 1994 or 1995 she started having a topical rash when she wore latex gloves. In 1996 I too developed a rash and was told by the university’s rent-a-doc to avoid elastic in my clothing and latex gloves as I might be “sensitive” to them.

Brandi's Story

I have worked in healthcare for 14 years. I developed contact dermatitis when I was still in school. My whole career I have requested latex free gloves. Two and a half years ago I was laid off from my job due to the bad economy. I was able to find fill in work while I looked for a more permanent job. Many of the small clinics that I worked at still had latex gloves. Although I requested latex free, occasionally they would run out and I thought it was safer to use the latex than not wear any gloves at all.