Food Intolerances? (Sorry, it's kind of long)

itsrebec · August 2012

Ok, here is my tale of woe:

Four years ago, I was diagnosed with MS. About 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with psoriasis. No big deal; I take injections for both of them and am relatively issue-free.

After losing a few pounds, I started allowing myself to be photographed. I couldn't help noticing that my face was very, very red. It was so red that makeup didn't cover it. I went to see my dermatologist (who gives me the shots for my psoriasis) and asked if it was rosacea. I figured it was, that he would give me a cream, and I would just add it to my dairy morning routine.

He told me is was NOT rosacea, and that my blood vessels were just too close to my skin surface. He said I would need to go to a laser doctor and have my face zapped. I made an appointment and and felt VERY uncomfortable in the waiting room I'm a Birkenstock and thrift store girl, not a Botox and collagen implant person.

When I got there, the aesthetician said that based on my history (MS and psoriasis) she wanted me to see the doctor at the spa. The doctor saw me for about two minutes and said that she thought it wasn't rosacea OR close to the surface blood vessels but a food allergy. She sent me to ANOTHER person, this time a holistic nutritionist.

The holistic nutritionist decided immediately that I had food allergies, put me on a TON of supplements, and took me off soy, wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs, honey, caffeine, and aspartame. I already don't eat meat, so you can imagine, the past few months have been challenging. My primary doctor was asked to check me for lupus (they call this redness a Lupus Mask) which came back negative.

I though the weight would fall off of me, so I saw it as not only for my health, but for my waistline. Except the weight did not come off at all!

So I joined here, and so far, I've lost 7 pounds in two weeks. I'm happy with the loss, but my diet is very, very boring and very, very restricted. A woman I work with has Celiac and she recommended I see her doctor who is apparently the best of the best. It took me two months to get an appointment.

Cue this morning. I go in to see the digestive health doctor who DOESN'T THINK I HAVE CELIAC OR ANY FOOD INTOLERANCES BASED ON THE FACT THAT I HAVE NO HISTORY. He recommended I see a board certified dermatologist because mine isn't board certified... He said, "go back to eating those foods because if you had a gluten intolerance or dairy allergy, you would have had issues other than just red cheeks."

I am so confused. I have spent months eating really boring bland food, going without at really awesome restaurants, AND had spent hundreds on specialty foods and supplements. I don't know what I should do or eat or who I should listen to.

Does anyone out there have a similar story? What did you do?

Thanks for reading,

Rebec

PS - note the red cheeks in the picture

predent · August 2012

If you concerned that you may have a food allergy, I would go to an allergist to have testing done. I used to guess about what I was "probably" allergic to a few years ago and finally got around to having allergy testing. Now I know exactly what's up and it's much more manageable. My mother had the bright red cheeks and found out later on that she had lupus. However, she also had all of the aches and pains associated with it.

momtokgo · August 2012

Take it from someone who has celiac and severe dairy intolerance, you would have other symptoms. But that's not true for all food allergies, you could easily be reacting to something on a smaller scale.

Did you go back on the foods? If it was gluten or dairy causing the issues your body would not be happy about you eating them again.

itsrebec · August 2012

I was told I had these intolerances my a nutritionist. I wasn't complaining of anything other than red cheeks. I was tested for lupus, and it came out negative.

No, I haven't started back on gluten or dairy. I'm afraid to... but at the same time, I don't know what to believe.

maddymama · August 2012

I second pp who said to get the whole allergy test thing run. It's a pain, but it really does let you know what you are dealing with.

It could be you have an allergy or intolerance to your face wash or makeup, also. Or your laundry detergent, or a cleaner in your house. It really could be anything. You could spend the next 15 years cutting stuff out of your diet, and have it be an environmental thing. A doctor who can run the allergy tests might be a good deal in the long run. Also, the board certified dermatologist sounds like a good bet, too.

itsrebec · August 2012

I'm going to go see my primary tomorrow. I will bring up the allergy thing...

I only use eyeliner, so I don't think it's make up.

ahmommy · August 2012

It sounds like you've cut all of those ingredients from your diet for a few months. Did the redness clear up? If not, none of those foods are the culprit. It doesn't take that long for it to get out of your system. I'm not familiar with all of them, but I know dairy and soy will be out of your system within 2-3 weeks.

My older daughter was dairy intolerant as a baby. Her symptoms were reflux, painful gas, diarrhea, mucousy stool, and blood in her stool (sorry for TMI).

My younger daughter is intolerant to dairy and soy. She had similar symptoms as above.

Food intolerances are not likely to show up on allergy tests, because it's a different mechanism of reaction.

My older daughter will now get a rash on her face occasionally. Her dermatologist told me that it's most often a sensitivity to red food dye, but she was specifically talking about children, and hers is a red bumpy rash around her mouth.

I think I would seek a second opinion from a dermatologist if I were you. Having a diet that limited would be torture without seeing any real benefits.

itsrebec · August 2012

No, unfortunately, there hasn't been any real difference in the redness. A second opinion (and an allergist) is definitely in order!

The digestive health doc I say today told me that usually people with absorption issues (like with Celiac) are thin and tend to lose weight easily. Ha, if only! :sad:

KareninCanada · August 2012

Well since you've been off all of those trigger foods, you can start doing challenges and see what happens.... one food at a time, three servings over the course of one day, then back on elimination for 2-3 days. Repeat with another food. But if you haven't seen any change, it sounds more like you may have been had by someone selling supplements.

Psoriasis IS apparently a sign of gluten intolerance, which can have all of the same symptoms as celiac except there is no intestinal damage, therefore you don't get the lack of absorption and slow growth/weight loss. It can actually lean the other way as it can cause a kind of addiction response to gluten-based foods.

We're actually doing an elimination here to try to track down our daughter's issues, and one thing I read over and over again is, you rarely have gluten or dairy intolerance without some kind of bowel issues. So it seems odd that they didn't discuss that with you before throwing out a diagnosis.

takingnameskickingbutt · August 2012

There is no lupus test, first off. There are something like eleven factors and if you have four the doctor can give you a diagnosis. I would recomened seeing a rhumeatologist. You could have lupus and not have a positive ANA (anti-nuclear antibody, which is the "lupus test".

Secondly, people with absorbition issues are not always thin. I have lupus and roscea and both are under control. Since you have MS, you know that you have inflamation issues. Roscea is also inflammatory.

You can friend me. Although you aren't eating dairy or gluten, are you eating substitutes? Like gluten-free bread or pasta? Thos have high GI. I eat gluten, dairy, sugar, and soy free and feel like it has helped inflamation. Although I say this a lot, I would recomend reading Mark Hyman's book "The Blood Sugar Solution".

bcattoes · August 2012

Wow!! I think this is a perfect example of why it's best to see only licensed professionals when dealing with your health.

See the licensed dermatologist and see what they say. If they suspect allergy or food intollerance they will likely refer you to an allergy/immunology specialist for allergy tests and/or food trials. (these things are not typically diagnosed by looking at your face!)

ipag · August 2012

somanyrhoades · August 2012

First off I would like to say don't bother with allergy testing. An allergy and an intolerance are two entirely different things. Unless a certain food is making you break out in hives or causing anaphylaixis then it's not a true allergy, but an intolerance, so testing will do no good. I would also like to say that intolerance can range from mild (like your skin condition) to severe (like nausea and vomitting). Autoimmune disorders are kind of a tricky thing, mostly because we don't really know what causes them or why some people have a over-stimulated immune system. There is some evidence (though most of what I have read is anecdotal) that dietary changes can help improve autoimmune diseases including lupus and MS. Of course no change should be made without talking to a healthcare professional, but remember, your doctor should be one who supports the treatment methods you would like to try. You haven't mentioned how you were feeling since coming off all the things the nutritionist at the spa recommended. If you are feeling better, reintroduce one ingredient at a time for no less than two weeks. If your symptoms come back, then you know that's what it was. I disagree with the nutritionist putting you on a bunch of supplements and discontinuing ALL those foods at once. That's not only a big change to under go, it's still never really going to give you an answer as to what exactly you are intolerant. too. I hope this helps and I hope you get things straightened out!

itsrebec · August 2012

Thank you all for the input (including the House picture!) My doctor did blood work to look for those lupus triggers, but said nothing showed up. I will ask her again which of the 11 actually showed up (for example, if 3 did, then maybe I'm borderline?)

I can honestly say, I have felt no difference since going off soy, gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, caffeine, and aspartame. I still have migraines, I still have a red face, no differences at all.

I didn't realize my dermatologist wasn't board certified. I guess I assumed they all were (dumb me).

Regarding stress, I have a pretty mellow life, especially in the summer. I'm a teacher who LOVES her job and her students.

takingnameskickingbutt · August 2012

Let me rephrase, there is only one blood test for lupus (a positive ana), but it is not definitive in the diagnosis. Having a negative ana (which is a lupus indicator), does not mean you do not have lupus. What are you eating? Can you give me a sample menu? I am having a hard to believing you have no relief from removing all those things from your diet? Are you eating sugar?

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutfaq.aspx?articleid=380&zoneid=19

itsrebec · August 2012

I am not avoiding sugar, but then again, I don't really go out of my way to eat it.

A regular menu of mine is a detox protein shake for breakfast, caprese salad with olive oil and blue corn chips for lunch, a "faux" pizza with brown rice tortilla, faux cheese, tomato sauce and veggies. For snacks I'll have fruit or brown rice cakes with Earth Balance allergen-free buttery spread.

I see a rheumatologist and allergist in a few weeks.

Food Intolerances? (Sorry, it's kind of long)

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