Question by MaluLanix0x: HELP! Multiple food allergies that seem to be getting worse!?
I am extremely worried and feel helpless in this situation. I am a celiac, and have to strictly avoid gluten. No excetpions. I first thought I was lactose intollerant, but then started reacting VIOLENTLY to cow’s milk (even if somebody was pouring it, I started breaking out and becoming congested). I recently tried goat’s milk, and it seemed to agree with me quite well. As of now, it makes my nose run. When spring season hit, I had the WOST seasonal allergies that I have ever had, and when summer hit, I wanted to eat delicious summer fruits. Get this, my lips itch terribly when I eat cantelope (and now I itch and break out when cutting it), raw carrots sorta bother me, WHITE potatoes, and sometimes apples and blueberries (which I realized could have been the pestisides). Last February, I went to an allergist and he skin tested me. Corn and rice came back positive, and he said that is very unlikely that I am actually allergic to them. Sure enough, I became VIOLENTLY allergic to corn (even xylotol and citric acid make me soo sick) and I became very allergic to rice (even delicious organic brown rice). I cannot eat shellfish (and even become terribly tired, itchy, and nasseaus when my mother cooks it in the house). I used to drink unsweetened soymilk, and LOVED it. It used to keep me full for HOURS, but now my throat becomes all funny and my face swells up if I eat soybeans. I am SEVERELY allergic to sesame seeds/oil, but can do okay with most nuts. I am a girl who loves food, but my mother thinks this is some kind of eating disorder and does not believe that I have food allergies. She says my dietary requests are annoying. She makes salmon and promises to use OLIVE OIL and my GLUTEN FREE tamari sauce. Often, after the fact, I see that she has used SESAME OIL and some wierd soy sauce (that contains gluten, and corn syrup). That happened last night, and I am still terribly itchy and bloated. My father, is very supportive (at least with the gluten/dairy issue), but still offers me foods that I am TERRIBLY allergic to. However, my mother refuses to take me back to an allergist, because she thinks these allergies are fake, and my father keeps saying, “you have already been tested.” I feel like I am not gonna get support for this (this includes financailly, mostly), even though the college that I am going to has a special dietary company that can make customized meals to avoid cross contamination and such (which my dad has been very supportive with). I have a sinus infection, which showed up in an MRI and am taking antibiotics. However, I have done MANY hollistic things for my allergies (thanks to Gary Null), which have helped dramatically (Vitamin C, Stinging Nettle, Essential fatty acids, Probiotics, Neti Pot). I hate comming across as a pain or a hypochondriac, and am going off to college! I am a hungry girl, and I feel like my diet is becoming more and more restricted (nonetheless at this point I am not sure exactly what I am allergic to). For a while, the allergies were getting much better, now they are getting worse! I did have autoimmune hypothyoidism (which is being treated, and responding beautifully) and I do have a mild lupus (which somewhat provides an expaination to my overacctive immune system). Does anybody have this problems with multiple food allergies and sensitivities to chemicals/perfumes? How do you deal with it (medically, socially w/o making a hugee deal about it)? How should I get help as a college student, who needs to save her money for a social life, clothes, etc?
Best answer:
Answer by beenthere
So sorry you are dealing with this! With the positive celiac, you know it is imperative you stick to the gluten free diet or risk serious damage to your health. I’m sorry your mom doesn’t seem to understand the serious repercussions of consuming gluten on your health. And she may be irritated with your problems with food, but I can totally understand what you are going through and it is 100x harder to be the one who is having all the unexplained reactions than it is to be the one who can still eat whatever they want! If your face is swelling when you eat certain foods, that is serious business. Any swelling near you airways is potentially dangerous. It is not uncommon to have cross reactions to other foods with celiac disease. And previously being tested for allergies doesn’t mean anything. New symptoms=new problems. New allergies can develop at ANY time.
Goats milk is still dairy. Most people with dairy issues have problems with any kind of animal milk.
Have you looked at celiac.com? They have a great support forum with lots of information and supportive, knowledgeable people that can answer questions, and there are many useful articles. It is a useful site to be a member of. I refer to it frequently. I have multiple food sensitivities in addition to the gluten as well, and it certainly does make it more complicated. Not being able to eat chicken, dairy or gluten eliminates a huge amount of most restaurant menus for me as well! I used to be shy about speaking up and telling people that I can’t eat certain things, but not any more. And anyone who can’t understand, I simply don’t socialize with them for meals.
Food sensitivities won’t show up on allergy tests, but will produce symptoms such as congestion, breakouts, and the digestive issues. But sensitivities don’t make your face swell up. I’d suggest keeping benadryl on hand – carry it in your purse too, and if you start to have the tingling, swelling feeling in your lips again, take some immediately. The problem is that if you are really having allergic reactions, which those sound like, they get worse, not better. Good luck, and I hope you find some supportive friends! And next time you have a doctors appointment for any reason, make sure you tell them about your face swelling up with those foods! I guarantee your doctor will be concerned, even if your parents aren’t. And keep a detailed food diary so you can show them exactly what you are eating and when you have the reactions.
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