In late Sept I picked a giant Gunnera leaf from a plant in Deep Cove. The next day I came out in a severe rash on 80% of my body, along with heart pounding, swelling of hands and feet and eventually I experience breathing arrest. I was hospitalized for a week, I was treated for allergic reaction to an antibiotic which I had been taking for 10 days and put on a high dose of prednisone and antihistamine. 8 weeks later, I am still suffering, as my body has become highly sensitive to most foods, plus physical stress/exercise and cold outside air. I was extremely healthy and physically active and I am now a shell of my former self. At the time when these health problems started, I never considered the culprit could be the large leaf I picked (it was very tough to break off). Lots of watery sap came from its stem. I don't think it was a Giant Hogweed, I think it was a Gunnera. Can anyone help me? I am desperate to try and get my life back together.
My sympathies, this does not sound pleasant. Unfortunately, I can't find much of anything to give you any hints. There is a little bit of anecdotal discussion online about mild skin irritation to Gunnera, but nothing that sounds like what you are experiencing. I've also looked at two references we have for poisonous plants (International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference and Poisonous Plants: A Handbook for Doctors, Pharmacists, Toxicologists, Biologists and Veterinarians), and came up with nothing. Do you recall where the plant was in Deep Cove? Were you picking other plants that day?
Oplopanax horridus, devils club, comes to mind, as the plant and leaves are really large and could be confused with Gunnera. It is an irritant, but I don't find information indicating this level of reaction. Here is a link with photo. I chose this photo because it indicates the size of the plant so well. http://www.laurieconstantino.com/how-to-harvest-and-use-devils-club/
I picked the leaf from a clump growing in the middle of a grassy stretch leading down to the water. It was a cultivated area. I have a photo of the leaf I picked but not sure how to attach it to forum. Thanks so much for your help. I am still on prednisone and I see GP weekly, Allergist monthly and Internal Medicine Dr. (no success thus far)
Consulted with a colleague, and we both agree that it is most likely a Gunnera. Were you handling other plants that day? I can't think of too many plants that would cause such internal issues via skin contact where the symptoms would persist (or rather, I can think of none). I don't have the medical expertise to comment in any way that may be particularly helpful, I'm afraid.
