Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/14/2009

Question
i had an upper g.i.....well 2 hours after i got home my tounge started to swell...mostly to the right side..i had nothing to eat or drink since 12 the nite before..and nothing after the upper g.i...there are alot of foods that give me hives...but i had not eaten anything......did i have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia? i was also sweating alot and very tired...my whole body was weak..i keep benadrill around in case i eat something that gives me hives with out knowing...so i took one benadrill and the swelling went away....

Answer
Why did you have anesthesia for an upper GI? Do you mean an upper endoscopy? Without knowing what meds they gave you, it is hard to say. I doubt an alergic reaction because they usually happen immediately. It is certainly worth finding out what you were given, just in case you need another study. If what you had was an upper endoscopy (they stick a scope into your stomach) then perhaps the endoscope caused the swelling by pressing against the tongue.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston