Do you REALLY have a food allergy/intolerance?!

Well, I'm still fat enough that nobody would question if I'm anorexic (I'm not, for the record) when I tell them I can't have gluten... :ohwell:

Food sensitivities, intolerances, allergies, what have you... they are a fact of life for many people. Just yesterday a friend reported that her infant tested positive for allergies to peanuts, soy, and eggs, so they were going to go test their 3-year-old in case they might have overlooked anything she shouldn't be eating.

While I agree that it could be used as a convenient "excuse" for just not eating anything, ever, it really makes me angry when people do that. It makes things that much harder for people who do have things they must avoid, because once someone has one bad experience with someone who is lying about something for attention or whatever other reason, it's easy to assume that anyone else with a similar "problem" is also a dirty lying liar.

It also made me mad when I realized my gut reaction to the title of this thread. All I wanted to do was say, "Yes, I REALLY do!" and then flail about, trying to validate myself somehow to a bunch of people whom I've probably never even spoken to on here before. I get defensive, I feel a little hurt that someone I've never met is implying that I am a liar and am seeking attention or could even be masking an eating disorder, and I wonder whether my friends, family, and coworkers are thinking the same thing.

If I could have gluten products without suffering from systemic aftereffects for several days afterward (damn it, there I go trying to validate myself!), I would definitely choose them over the other options presented as "substitutes." Many of them are just terrible, both in taste and nutrition, so I have sought to just change how I eat rather than trying to mimic the stuff I used to be able to eat. I do occasionally get stuff like Udi's gluten-free multigrain hamburger buns (for instance, if we are having a cookout or potluck), but they're way too expensive for everyday use.

It sucks if your cousin did, in fact, lie to get attention (or maybe dodge it), but please don't assume that everyone who reports a food allergy or intolerance is pulling the same crap as she did. And asking them to "show their papers," so to speak, is way past the boundaries of decent human interaction. Just take their word for it, and if you don't like it or "agree" with it, walk away.

I had gastrointestinal issues of my own and when my Dr. (the same gastro specialist as my cousin) asked if there was any celiac disease in my family, I casually mentioned my cousin. He looked at me and sighed and said that she didn't have celiac disease when he had tested her...This Dr. probably didn't do it on purpose to reveal medical information about another patient.... but, anyway... that's beside the point to my story.

The bigger issue I see here is a direct violation of HIPPA unless your cousin gave your doctor permission to speak to you about her condition. That's against the law and he can lose his practicing license.

Some people may not have a full-blown intolerance or allergy, but they may be sensitive to certain foods. For example, wheat and dairy make me bloated and flare up my psoriasis. I don't get sick from those foods and can eat them, but obviously prefer not to and am thankful for all of the gluten-free products now available.

With that said, I have heard of people like your cousin who lie about allergies to preserve their disordered eating, particularly for people with anorexia. It makes sense that they lie because then it's so much easier to function in social situations involving food without actually having to eat anything if you have a disorder.

i actually have medically diagnosed celiac disease. my cousin has it, my aunt has it, my grandfather had it, and my other cousin has it on my other side. lol. so i am the 1% haha

Ditto and numerous hospital trips and especially one in an ambulance blue lights all the way will confirm the others especially soya.

As a Celiac, I need to speak up.

First, I feel bad for the cousin. Regardless of perceived legitamacy of the diagnosis. She feels better not eating the gluten. No different than feeling better when you exercise or diet. No to mention 90lbs is only ~50lbs under ideal weight. It's better to be this than over it.

And yes before I go any further. I was medically diagnosed as a Celiac. That said, many many Celiacs correctly identify themselfs as such before a doctor gets involved.

NO, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ANNOUNCE my Cealiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance just to avoid explaining a diet or to lose weight. Truth be told being Celiac and following it's restrictions to the tee is the HARDEST thing in the world. You would not believe the things that have Gluten in them that are not even foods. It's in everything: food, cleaners, beauty care, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste and list goes on.

To those that have tried gluten free but are still not feeling good. Look into the non-food products you are using. I bet you are still getting glutened. Also you have to avoid eating out as much as possible, otherwise you are getting cross contaminated.

Lastly, here is a great blog that talks about Celiac disease on a personal level. http://frustrationsofaceliac.wordpress.com/

I lie and tell people I am allergic to tomatoes. Truth is I just really hate them and people do not accept that.

I can't get past this guy violating her privacy. Bad, bad, bad. He could potentially lose his license. :noway:

My mother-in-law seems to get sick to her stomach before trying anything that is not the highest price on the shelf. I think if we quit paying for it all she would be cured.

I'm allergic to those bar s hotdogs:)

Ivhad this diagnosis too ibs until they checked for fructose malabsorbtion. Ibs suffers out there it might be worth asking.

When I eat large quantities of wheat gluten I break out in hives. One doctor told me to avoid it because I could be getting hives internally (causing problems that prompted another doctor to send me too a surgeon, who had me get an MRI and a colonoscopy). Some doctors don't give food advice. The doctor gave me a prescription for a drug that had very serious side effects and was not suitable for breastfeeding mothers (I was still breastfeeding at the time). It was ridiculous. Who would take a drug like that just because of minor bloating (I was able to treat it without drugs and have no problems now). Any way, wheat is a huge part of the readily available food source. Since it appears I just have an intolerance in excess, I did not cut wheat out of my diet, but I do sometimes limit it (it was my choice not to cut it out). Testing accurately for celiac disease is very difficult, so don't jump to a conclusion. My tests were negative and I accept that.

When I eat whey protein it causes me to vomit and feel sick all day. That didn't use to happen, but I developed an intolerance. There is no logical sense in eating something that causes me to vomit. It is unpleasant and it is a waste of money and nutrition.

My twin brother also has a true allergy to peanuts.

I'm lactose intolerant, it's not too bad. I'll take lactase pills if I want to drink milk or the occasional ice cream though :P Cheese, yogurt, etc are all fine

This rant belongs in chit chat. Celiac and gluten intolerance are two different things. One is auto immune, the other is a digestive issue without inflammation. Please troll somewhere else.

I have a story that I would like to share.

You see, I have a cousin. She is 5ft4 and around 90lbs at 26 yrs of age.
She is clearly underweight to the trained eye... although, most people really just think that she has a petite frame.
As a teenager, my cousin was "normal" and maybe even slight overweight.

So what happened?
She started out being lactose intolerant. Great! No more dairy!
Then, one day, she told me that her gastro Dr. told her that she had celiac disease! No more gluten!
Then, last year, she decided that she was going to become vegetarian!

So, now, what does she eat? Rice cakes, veggies and the occasional fruit.

I had gastrointestinal issues of my own and when my Dr. (the same gastro specialist as my cousin) asked if there was any celiac disease in my family, I casually mentioned my cousin. He looked at me and sighed and said that she didn't have celiac disease when he had tested her...This Dr. probably didn't do it on purpose to reveal medical information about another patient.... but, anyway... that's beside the point to my story.


So, she's BUSTED! Her real intolerance is food... she has anorexia nervosa. Without hitting every criteria for anorexia nervosa and being severely underweight, I believe many people cut out food groups to lose weight.

Do you cut out whole food groups and tell people you have an intolerance/allergy in order to lose weight? How often does this occur?

I really do have lactose intolerance (gastroenterologist diagnosed). Lactaid pills (OTC @ pharmacy, daily and before dairy consumption) and Lactaid Milk (I drink and cook with it) allow me to eat dairy (except cheddar cheese) without the horrible symptoms.

Interesting fact: 10% of European/British Isles people quit making lactase before they die. "Most" the rest of the world (non-European blood lines) quit making lactase in early childhood.

Small world story: A co-worker mentioned he was gluten intolerant. I mentioned my lactaid pills. He said his uncle invented those pills. I said tell your uncle THANK YOU!

I am not allergic to any foods that I know of, but I do have some IBS issues (and no Gall bladder) so there are some foods I avoid because I've noticed I feel better when I do. For example I used to drink a ton of milk, but I switched to almond milk, seems to have helped. And I don't eat a ton of bread because it really bloats me up, to the extreme that I could have 2 different sizes of pants for before and after I eat it lol. The only thing I 100% don't eat is bananas and it's a shame because I truly love them, but they do not love me, the stomach pain and sickness I get from them is horrendous. I have told people I am allergic so that they didn't put it in a smoothie etc otherwise they seem to think you just don't like it.

Not allergic to any foods, thank goodness! I am allergic to something in many soaps, cleaners and medical ointments. If it comes out of an aerosol can, I usually get a rash.

My youngest son is incredibly lactose intolerant. He cries for HOURS, throws up and sometimes breaks out in a rash when he has milk product. I never knew that someone could go through all that just because of lactose. So in order to reduce the risk of him having it, most of everything we have in the house has no lactose. I try to buy organic and after I got used to reading ALL labels, we really aren't suffering:)

Yikes my niece is that way and is full out allergic, definitely keep an eye or have him tested because her allergies worsened pretty quickly/suddenly.