- Nicole went to a pickle-themed festival in Pittsburgh earlier in the year
- Later in the day, her face started swelling up
- Nicole went to the hospital, where doctors weren’t able to determine exactly why she was having a reaction
For one woman, eating too many pickles turned out to be a big “dill.”
In July, Nicole, who goes by NicoleSkirts on social media, attended Picklesburgh, the annual pickle-themed festival in Pittsburgh, Pa. There, she indulged in a variety of pickle-inspired dishes, including pickle pizza, pickle cannoli, pickle egg rolls, a giant jumbo pickle and pickle lemonade.
But after the festival, things took a turn when Nicole noticed her eye starting to swell. At first, she thought she was developing a stye, something she often experiences, so she didn’t think much of it. She continued with her day, even going on a two-mile walk with her boyfriend.
However, a few hours later, the 28-year-old noticed her entire face was swelling up, especially around her eyes. That’s when it dawned on her: she might be having an allergic reaction to all of the pickles.
Eventually, Nicole decided to go to the hospital, where she tells PEOPLE doctors couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause of her allergy but said it was likely a one-time reaction. While at the hospital, Nicole decided to share her experience on TikTok.
“I’m a huge pickle lover, and I’ve been looking forward to Picklesburgh for years because I couldn’t attend in the past,” she tells PEOPLE. “I was planning to make a video about the event because I love pickles, but the whole situation took a turn when I ended up in the hospital.”
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Since posting the video on TikTok, it has gone viral, amassing 24 million views and more than 9,000 comments from people offering their theories on what caused her reaction. Some suggested it was a sodium overload, while others speculated that an ingredient used in the pickles might have triggered it.
“You got yourself in a pickle 😂😂😂,” one comment reads.
“No way I’m eating a pickle rn,” another person writes.
Someone else says, “I would cry if I was allergic to pickles.”
“Reading the comments from viewers made me realize everyone on TikTok thinks they’re a doctor,” Nicole says. “The funniest responses are actually from an Instagram post I made! A lot of people came up with pickle jokes, especially using the word ‘dill.’ ”
Since the incident, Nicole has continued to consume pickles, and everything seemed fine until around Halloween when she had another reaction. “Now I have an appointment with an allergist in January,” she says.
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