Oral Allergy Syndrome

lwagnitz

So, to some this may sound crazy, but I hope someone else who has this can help me out.

I have Oral Allergy Syndrome because of my severe seasonal allergies. It started to develop within the past couple years and this past year it seems to be getting worse and worse. It started out with just tomatoes, now it is almost any raw fruit and some raw vegetables, and now even sunflower seeds that are getting really bad. My reactions to kiwi and sunflower seem to be the worst right now. The roof of my mouth will get all crack, my tongue swollen and feel like it has tiny blisters on it and my lips swell somewhat (not really noticeable to others, but to me). Even sometimes chamomile tea.

But my question is, is there something I can do to help this while still being able to eat these foods? Fruits and vegetables (specifically raw...not a fan of cooked or canned) and nuts are all my favorite foods, believe it or not. It's also making it very hard to eat healthy.

Has anyone taken any sort of medication that still allows them to eat these foods. Does benadryl help (although a different option would be preferable). Do allergy shots help? If so what is the process of getting them?

ANY ADVICE WOULD HELP AND WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

Thanks in advance.

pwicke

I have this (Year round:().

I find that when I take the normal environmental allergy seriously (clean house, A/C on in summer, allergy medicine daily) it is ok. Like when the spring tree's bloom, not to eat the fruits that cross react to the trees that time of year. Same for Fall.

Also, have you been allergy tested (scratch/blood)? Some things that I thought I was OAS too, I was actually IgE to! (bananas!)

mdcoug

My allergist said that all of the allergy medicine out there doesn't really help with OAS. You can take benadryl, but then you're trading the sleepiness for the fruit/veggies! She said the best thing you can do is just avoid the triggers.

Also, did you know that cooking breaks down the protein that causes the reaction? So canned and dried fruit/veggies work (freeze dried does not, trust me), you can blanch or nuke fruit and veggies for a little bit too. It's just finding the right amount of cooking that works.

I feel your pain. All I want to do in the summer is bite in to a nice, soft, juicy peach, but the hives and asthma attack are not worth it. Every now and then I think "This is ridiculous. It's all in my head. Whoever heard of a fresh-fruit only allergy? Suck it up and eat one." Uh yeah, no, that approach isn't so successful.

lwagnitz

I'm lucky enough it doesn't trigger any other allergy or asthma symptoms. I haven't been scratch tested yet, but I have a feeling I'd react to a lot. I heard that you can tie back what fruit you react to and figure out what pollen you are allergic to. I'm wondering if getting allergy shots (which I'm still not sure is worth it) would treat the OAS...because if it did then I know it would be worth it.

mdcoug

It's worth asking. However, my sister, who also has it, has gotten shots and they didn't really help her. You should definitely go through the allergy testing. It's good to at least know what you need to watch out for. I've had the scratch test, but it was negative for actual food allergies, thank goodness!

Hrl1993

OAS sucks

My allergist told me if you avoid the allergen completely for a few years, you may become "un-allergic" to it. Though I suppose that doesn't help you right now..

I'll be following this to see if anyone knows any helpful tips! Good luck

Lauramh31

that sucks - I have this too, but it seems not as bad as you Mine is worst with cherries (throat itches!), peaches and apples. I just eat them anyway and then drink a lot of water and maybe "chase it" with something else that doesn't cause symptoms. It seems to help a little if I quickly wash out my mouth w/ the water or other food. Maybe that could help you? Otherwise I just deal with it and make sure to wash my hands too (once after eating a peach I rubbed my eye and it got all swollen, red and itchy for a few hours - oops).
I did read somewhere that peeling the fruit can help too - for example before you eat an apple peel the skin as that is where most of the protein you're reacting to is (though that wouldn't explain your reaction to kiwi, so maybe this isn't true...)

Good luck!

rebelo3

I have OAS too! I can't eat melon or iceberg or romaine lettuce. Have not tried spinach leaves yet as I am just afraid. I can't offer any advice but I feel your pain.. I wish I was able to eat salads this would make weight loss SO much easier. Will be following this thread for advice

Justjamie0418

I have it horrbily. My lips swell up and my throat starts scrathing and itching. Its crazy!

I just avoid those foods, and most of the time I am good with it. I have it bad with bananas though and I will still eat a banana from time to time. I had a mild reaction to the almond milk, but I kept drinking it and it has gotten better, I have no reaction to it now. My list of foods I cant eat are:
raw carrots
watermelon
bananas
kiwis
avacados
cucumbers
raw tomatos
theres probably more too. Sometimes when I cut up lettuce my hands get all blotchy and stuff, allergies just suck.

FearAndTrembling

Don't eat things you're allergic to. Period. There's a chance a reaction could be life threatening.

PrimalSiren

I was put on an allergy medicine that blocks all histamine production, but I had to take it religiously for months before it would work. I was actually able to get rid of my OAS when I started eating Paleo/primal, but it took 2 to 3 months before I could. I had gone 15 years without eating a banana and I can still remember how excited I was the day I was able to eat one and not have to spend the rest of the day in bed, sleeping off a huge dose of benadryl. Mine was to the point where if it was raw and a fruit or veggie I couldn't eat it. If I eat any wheat, corn, or anything containing gluten my OAS will act up again, but I'm able to eat so many healthy things that I wasn't able to before. I still have a hard time with melons, but I'll take that over not being able to eat ANYTHING.

vonnyliz

I have this - only recently diagnosed. I love fresh fruit and veg too. The doctor told me it may be just during this pollen season that I react to certain things.

JulieSchilling

I just wanted to check in and say hi- since I have very few fruits and veggies I can eat raw and not getting enough of them in (I mean, how many apples and strawberries can one person eat, because thats it and I worry apples of certain varieties are the causes of some recent reactions)! I should say I CAN eat blueberries, raspberries and blackberries but they aren't always in season or looking edible when they are ha! So we got a ninja master prep today and I'm gonna blend those with some trop50 and frozen yogurt to get my fruits in more.... I did allergy testing then shots and they said they couldn't guarantee the OAS would get better...and it didn't and they said histamine blockers still aren't truly safe- especially in those with asthma- even if you take the meds regularly and eat the foods you could still suffer anaphylaxis if you're at the stage where you have OAS year round and not just during high pollen seasons...so make sure you follow closely with your doctor!

Current OAS enemies: RAW- Bananas, Tomatoes, Pineapple, Watermelon, Canteloupe,Cucumber, Avocado, Kiwi, Red/Yellow/Orange and especially green peppers (thought that one was gonna send mme to the hospital even after being cooked into a pasta sauce)!

I think sometimes I miss bananas the most- why do so many smoothies call for them? LOL Hope everyone is doing well!

ETA: Washing raw potatoes gives me itchy hands and spots and has for years and never realized it was a link to this along with having the problem with bananas causing instant "heartburn" and the edges of my mouth to burn for 10 years before I had issues with other fruits and veggies!

steviewonder128

I have OAS of the birch pollen variety, so I definitely feel your pain! I've been taking Loratadine, which is an over-the-counter, non-drowsy antihistamine. When I took Loratadine, I have much less severe reactions to foods I'm allergic to, and when it's not allergy season, the Loratadine completely eliminates my symptoms. I buy it in bulk at Sam's club and it comes out to be about $13 for 500 pills, and I take 2 pills on days when I know I want to eat something I'm allergic to or just if the pollen count is high, because this stuff really works without making me tired. Definitely talk to your allergist about it!

ericotta

I've had OAS for years and unfortunately nothing works for me. I've been wondering how to keep myself healthy with so many food limitations. If it is raw it is pretty much right out for me, including lettuce, spinach, most fruit... Mine has gotten so bad that if something is even closely related, I have a reaction. For example, unprocessed soy, cumin, and any gum (Xanthan, guar, etc). I guess XG can be grown on soy agar, and the others are vaguely related to some legume I react to. Anyway, peeling worked for me for a while, because there is more protein in the peel, but that doesn't do it for me anymore. Cooking the food denatures the protein, so I just have to make sure I cook everything well. It's a drag. I hope yours stays relatively mild!! Be aware that IBS symptoms can also be a manifestation of OAS apparently.

barbz2119

My niece was diagnosed with it a couple years ago. Watermelon was the worse for her it made her throat close up. She can eat no raw fruit or vegetables, only certain nuts and no gluten of wheat. She found once she kept away from all of these things she was OK, but if she accidentally ate it would flare up even worse. About a year ago she tried adding small amounts of wheat/gluten back into her diet as she was doing a round the world trip and was worried about severe reactions when out in some 'foreign' land, surprisingly she had no problems but once she got back to the UK six months later it all flared up again. The silver birch tree plays a part in her symptoms, so maybe where she travelled didn't have, but am sure there must be birch trees in other places.
Maybe cut everything out that causes problems, then after a while try adding one thing back at a time and see how you go?

gingermatilda

My sister had severe OAS for many years and avoided all uncooked fruits and vegetables due to a severe anaphylactic reaction. She tried various allergy specialists, naturopaths etc with no improvement

A family friend recommended a traditional chinese medicine doctor, who prescribed herbal medicine and acupuncture. Despite her skepticism, it actually worked within a couple of months and she is still able to eat normally now, more than 10 years later (she still avoids watermelon though!). It was truly amazing - I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it.

Hopefully this info can help someone out there

hrh2009

Hey

Poor you; this is not nice...
I have it too but not severe at all and seem to have got rid of it mostly and only now get it with peaches and brazil nuts.
I noticed mine got a lot worse when I eliminated the cause so I tried a few weeks of taking an antihistamine then eating small amounts of the food that was causing it (e.g. originally discovered it with peanuts doing it to me, now eat peanuts daily without issue).
May have also subsided as I eat more natural foods (veg, fruit, honey etc) than I ever have done and take antihis daily anyway for hayfever.
It's not nice and is so frustrating but that's been my experience (oh and never eat a food that causes it without drinking lots after and don't over chew the culprit foods i.e. fruits til their mush.... as I found it releases more of the aggravating thing in to my mouth/throat).

All the best

hrh2009

Slow reintroducing worked wonders for me and so glad I tried it otherwise I'd have missed out on many lovely foods... nuts, strawbs, apples etc.

Lizzy622

See an allergist and get an Epi pen to carry with you. My daughter has been to urgent care several times due to OAS.

deluxmary2000

I'm surprised so many people have this. Most people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them my daughter and I are allergic to apples (and peaches, and pears, and apricots). I've never heard of OAS being life-threatening - just varying degrees of uncomfortable, so I'm surprised to hear people mention EPI pens, etc. I think that may be a different kind of food allergy, but I'm not an expert so I can't say for sure.
Anyway, if I'm really dying for some of the fruits that trigger my allergies, the following helps a lot:
1 - Wash the fruit well.
2 - CUT IT UP before eating and place small pieces in your mouth. If something gets on my lips (for instance if I bite into a whole apple) it's game over.
3 - Regular, seasonal allergy medication eases symptoms. I take Allegra since it is the only thing that works for my seasonal allergies.
4 - Drink lots of fluids inbetween bites.

Also, I had read that when women are pregnant their allergies can go away. This happened with my first child. When I was pregnant, and for about 3 years after, my allergies magically cleared up. But then they came back with a vengeance and didn't ease up with the birth of my second child. Just a thought in case you had recently had a kid - you may not be as allergic as you used to be.

deluxmary2000

Oh, and I forgot to mention this (you probably already know), but be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching any food that triggers OAS. I rubbed my eyes once hours after eating a slice of a peach, and my eye swelled up in seconds.

rageginger

My allergist told me if you avoid the allergen completely for a few years, you may become "un-allergic" to it.

I know this is possible, but throwing my personal experience in the ring, that hasn't happened for me and I'm going on 14 years with this bloody allergy. I had testing done at 19, then again around 28 or so, and was told I was no longer allergic to cherries (hooray! One out of a list of 10-15 foods!), so that was exciting. NOPE. The very first cherry I tried (Benadryl in hand just in case), I reacted to.

OAS can indeed be life-threatening, mine is. OP, I would really reccomend seeing an allergist if at all possible, and until you do, quit eating the foods that are triggering your reaction. My allergist told me that every time the allergen is presented to the body, the reaction is stronger and faster. I waited until I had a terrible reaction (and should have gone to the hospital but I was 18 and away at college and dumb, so...) and even then my parents practically had to drag me to see the allergist. Basically, with the reactions I described to him, the next time I would have "tested" my apple allergy might very well have been my last.

You can call me alarmist or whatever you want, but food allergies are no joke, and the oral allergy reaction starts in the mouth and moves swiftly to the windpipe. OP, please consider seeing someone, and discontinue ingesting the trigger foods for now.

Lizzy622

I'm surprised so many people have this. Most people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them my daughter and I are allergic to apples (and peaches, and pears, and apricots). I've never heard of OAS being life-threatening - just varying degrees of uncomfortable, so I'm surprised to hear people mention EPI pens, etc. I think that may be a different kind of food allergy, but I'm not an expert so I can't say for sure.
Anyway, if I'm really dying for some of the fruits that trigger my allergies, the following helps a lot:
1 - Wash the fruit well.
2 - CUT IT UP before eating and place small pieces in your mouth. If something gets on my lips (for instance if I bite into a whole apple) it's game over.
3 - Regular, seasonal allergy medication eases symptoms. I take Allegra since it is the only thing that works for my seasonal allergies.
4 - Drink lots of fluids inbetween bites.

Also, I had read that when women are pregnant their allergies can go away. This happened with my first child. When I was pregnant, and for about 3 years after, my allergies magically cleared up. But then they came back with a vengeance and didn't ease up with the birth of my second child. Just a thought in case you had recently had a kid - you may not be as allergic as you used to be.

This can be very dangerous. A life threatening reaction can occur out of the blue even if you ate it a million times before with only minor symptoms. The only thing that helps is cooking which breaks down the proteins which cause the reaction.

ETA It is really scary watching your child's face blow up like a balloon and the hives just popping out all over. By the time the breathing problems started we were at the doctor. Yes this is OAS she has seen an allergist.

Fuzzipeg

OAS. I don't know if this is part of my problem. I have major difficulties with Salicylate. This is the active ingredient in aspirin, in the past it came form the willow trees and there is a whole raft of problems which have been traced back to this over a hundred years or more. Salicylate is a toxin. This causes problems for asthmatics and they are advised not to use aspirin. Many vegetative foods also contain salicylate be it in the skins like apples or smells and pollen. Herbs, spice, tomato puree, cornstarch, vanilla, apples, oranges, and so much more that I could spend the day writing. Plants which produce salicylate do so to protect themselves from moulds and mildews.

I am in my 60's and have had the problems I experienced in my younger years disparaged till I now have major problems with vegetative foods, personal and domestic cleaning products, and generally being out in the environment. I consulted an immunologist at the turn of the year who could only say, he thought my thyroid was not working properly. I have started on liquid thyroid medication and might be finding microscopic positive results, but two months out it is very early days

I still refer to the Salicylate Sensitivity web site frequently. The basic food list used was defined by an Australian Dietitian and her colleagues many years ago now. "Food can make you ill" is another site it adds in other ways foods can possibly cause issues. There are other sites and books but these are the ones which I came across. These give symptoms which also appear on the thyroid sites too. Because salicylate is a toxin it can be putting the thyroid under more pressure. Why the thyroid connection? The thyroid regulates the systems responsible for our bodies "house keeping" activities, with the liver, pancreas and other organs, eliminating toxins, ensuring cells replicate themselves properly, regulating our digestive system, creates the antiseptic balance in our mucus membranes and so much more. If it starts to go wrong it can cause so many different symptoms that the medical profession would have their work cut out to make all the links. I refer to my national Thyroid support site. the USA and Australia have ones I have also looked at and found the same information there too, there is also the "Stop the Thyroid Madness" sites which is helpful too, they all have similar lists of related symptoms.

Please read up for yourselves. The Immunologist I spoke of says much of this is at the "edge of science". All I know is our lives are very different to those lived by our ancestors only two hundred years ago when life was harder but food more simple. There is nothing cuddly or fluffy about salicylate sensitivity/toxicity, it can be a chronic situation just as life threatening as taking an aspirin overdose.

All the best to everyone. I hope you find your own answers to your issues.