Congrats! After 29 yrs, you finally have a food allergy...

runningartist
runningartist Posts: 24 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
I just turned 29 two weeks ago. This past summer I did a Paleo Challenge where, basically, I eliminated anything FUN from my diet. That means sugar, wheat, flour, grains and dairy. After a little over a month on it, I went back to my regular meals. WELL! From eliminating it, then going back I developed several issues with my GI system. After round one of skin testing yesterday it's official I've developed an allergy to wheat, barley and dairy.

Thankfully it's not life threatening... so if I can't avoid those foods, I just deal with the side effects, but I'd like to make an active effort to avoid.

Can anyone recommend gluten free cookbooks? meals to make? snacks to eat? How about any younger folks that like to go out and drink - what do you do for a carb before drinking so you don't get too intoxicated?

Thanks to much for your help in advance!

Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Try switching to brown rice or quinoa. There are a number of gluten free breads and pastas available also. Some people with gltuen allergies can eat oats and other can't.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    Try googling celiac (the condition that causes gluten intolerance). There's lots of useful information out there :wink: I'm not really familiar with most of the substitutions, although I have a few acquaintances who deal with celiac.

    And I feel your pain. My husband developed a severe mint allergy when he was about 25. It is life-threatening, so we have to make sure no mint gets near him (gum, toothpaste, coughdrops, even some industrial cleaning supplies). We've adjusted and made it work. Hope you have success too!
  • Rikki444
    Rikki444 Posts: 326 Member
    Sounds like my story. Sucks. Well, for some time I tried to replace bread with gluten free bread or cereal.... but that is EXPENSIVE. So I just avoid it all together (shrug). Sometimes I just have the cookie and deal. Sometimes I substitute. Point is, you don't have to let this take over your life.

    As to drinking..... I am useless for that one.... I almost don't drink.
  • crystal_loga
    crystal_loga Posts: 106 Member
    Being from south Louisiana, I've eaten seafood all of my life. Fast forward to 20 yrs old, I meet my boyfriend's family (husband now) and have a crawfish boil. I go into full blown allergic reaction. =( It's happened again a few times and each time its gotten worse. I now can no longer have any type of shellfish! =( Sucks, cause I know what I'm missing.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    If you are being told these changes to your diet have created a food allergy, and that you can still keep eating because they "aren't life threatening" you need to 1. see a different allergist and 2. see a dietician. I hate it when people give advice like that.

    There are several factors in which you should address food allergies -one theory is eliminate and only have occasionally, you may or may not react - the other is fully eliminate for an entire year and your response is probably gone after a year if it's a true allergy.

    An allergy is different than an intolerance like with Celiac disease. They aren't the same, one is a histamine reaction, the other is a physical damage to your body. They should be handled differently.

    One final thing, skin scratch testing is NOT accurate to diagnosis these allergies. Blood work is the best, but it has to be the full spectrum not just the simple, it's expensive and most dr.s don't order the correct tests. You can test positive on a skin test if you ate the item the day before.

    Please seek a second opinion and educate yourself.
  • McPenguin
    McPenguin Posts: 67
    Sorry to hear you're going through this!

    I can totally relate. I am 32, and just last year I developed a life threatening allergy to PAPRIKA. And that crap is in EVERYTHING. Even strawberry sauces to make them look more "red". :( I have to eat at home ALL the time, and make my own foods, even salsa and canned tomatoes.

    I don't have any help for you about gluten free recipes, but yes - I agree with the poster who said to search celiac disesase for more information. I'm sure there are forums, blogs, etc, with oodles of recipes.
  • CrazyDaisysMommy
    CrazyDaisysMommy Posts: 472
    I'm gluten free for two weeks now, and it hasn't been that hard. Gluten free products are pretty hit or miss. Food for Life Gluten Free Brown Rice Bread is good if toasted. The heat softens it a bit and I have it every morning with some light cream cheese and smoked salmon. (I'm a recovering bagel addict, so this is my crutch). Next I'm trying Trader Joes gluten free frozen pancakes and if I ever have the time I'm going to experiment with some recipes I've gotten from the Gluten Free Cooking School, which is a blog.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    Can anyone recommend gluten free cookbooks? meals to make? snacks to eat?

    Thanks to much for your help in advance!

    elanaspantry.com

    Lots of grain-free recipes from sweets and snacks to entrees that usually are quick to make and low ingredient lists. She also has 2 cookbooks with links on her page.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Being from south Louisiana, I've eaten seafood all of my life. Fast forward to 20 yrs old, I meet my boyfriend's family (husband now) and have a crawfish boil. I go into full blown allergic reaction. =( It's happened again a few times and each time its gotten worse. I now can no longer have any type of shellfish! =( Sucks, cause I know what I'm missing.

    This is what happens with allergies, a little bit you don't notice, then you keep eating the offending item, you very well can have serious problems. Sellfish is very common to turn life threatening easily.
  • McPenguin
    McPenguin Posts: 67
    If you are being told these changes to your diet have created a food allergy, and that you can still keep eating because they "aren't life threatening" you need to 1. see a different allergist and 2. see a dietician. I hate it when people give advice like that.

    There are several factors in which you should address food allergies -one theory is eliminate and only have occasionally, you may or may not react - the other is fully eliminate for an entire year and your response is probably gone after a year if it's a true allergy.

    An allergy is different than an intolerance like with Celiac disease. They aren't the same, one is a histamine reaction, the other is a physical damage to your body. They should be handled differently.

    One final thing, skin scratch testing is NOT accurate to diagnosis these allergies. Blood work is the best, but it has to be the full spectrum not just the simple, it's expensive and most dr.s don't order the correct tests. You can test positive on a skin test if you ate the item the day before.

    Please seek a second opinion and educate yourself.

    Hey - thanks for the info! I knew the part about the differences between intolerances and allergies... but I didn't know you could test positive on a skin test if you ate an item the day before. Interesting!

    But, the part where you said to eliminate the food for a year, and your response is probably gone - I don't get that. I've eliminated paprika from my diet for WELL over a year, and just last month, I accidentally ate a bite of chicken that had it - and reacted badly enough to need to use my Epi pen and go to a hospital.

    Is it perhaps the severity of the histamine reaction that determines if this method works? Because I don't see it getting any better in my future. If it's trying to kill me now...
  • LycosNyctereutes
    LycosNyctereutes Posts: 61
    Being from south Louisiana, I've eaten seafood all of my life. Fast forward to 20 yrs old, I meet my boyfriend's family (husband now) and have a crawfish boil. I go into full blown allergic reaction. =( It's happened again a few times and each time its gotten worse. I now can no longer have any type of shellfish! =( Sucks, cause I know what I'm missing.

    This is what happens with allergies, a little bit you don't notice, then you keep eating the offending item, you very well can have serious problems. Sellfish is very common to turn life threatening easily.

    I too became allergic to shrimp and who knows what else at about 22 or 23, after spending my childhood summers in Biloxi eating tons of shrimp! (Not just a little) Actually, you can become severely allergic to something spontaneously, it has nothing to do with the amount you are exposed to. Also, continued exposure to "the offending item", providing it's not life threatening, can desensitize you to it. I am allergic to cats, and I work in veterinary medicine. It was miserable at first. Now I have to touch one and rub my eyes before I have a reaction, and it's not as bad of a reaction as it used to be. I first became allergic to cats at 19, when I went to pet a cat that I had known and seen daily for several years! I just blew up, sneezed and itched like crazy one day!
  • LycosNyctereutes
    LycosNyctereutes Posts: 61
    There are several factors in which you should address food allergies -one theory is eliminate and only have occasionally, you may or may not react - the other is fully eliminate for an entire year and your response is probably gone after a year if it's a true allergy.

    Where exactly did you get this information? I've been allergic to shrimp for years, and gone years in between accidental exposures, and still have reactions. I've never even heard of someone developing an allergy to something then it going away after a year!
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Where exactly did you get this information? I've been allergic to shrimp for years, and gone years in between accidental exposures, and still have reactions. I've never even heard of someone developing an allergy to something then it going away after a year!

    I worked for an allergist for 10 years. This was a generalized statement that isn't broad on every allergy, but was more in regards to the statement from the original O/P that said "I can still eat because not life threatening". Yes, your body's reaction can go away to no prolonged exposure. Trying to keep it simple, your body continues the reaction as long as you are continuing to expose, you continue to react, if you remove the offending item, your body doesn't have the "build up" of histamin reaction so therefore you have a less severe response. The same theory is the allergy shots, you get exposed frequently and in small amounts, so your body will build up resistance to the offending item to react less, but it's also why these are done under medical supervision. It's kind of like the theory with kids - "I was allergic to milk as a child but outgrew it" our bodys are constantly adapting to things we are exposed to. You can develop an allergy at any time, or you can overcome an allergy in the same manner by reducing or removing the exposure. Just like if you are allergic to something like avocados you may also be allergic to latex, you don't think there is a joint connection, but these items are found to be linked.

    As I stated - seek a second opinion. The allergy world response is always changing.
  • runningartist
    runningartist Posts: 24 Member
    Holy cow! One hour and all these responses! Thanks so much for your help, I will definitely look into those blogs and books you all have suggested.

    As for "not life threatening" that's me talking, not my doctor, in part because I really don't want to give up the item. So really, it's me being stupid. Also, I tested positive for wheat after not having it for at least a week, so I know consumption the day before or day of wasn't an issue.... but having a blood test done is certainly something I'm going to inquire about!

    I'm a special ed teacher and just as more kids are being diagnosed with autism, a lot more people are developing food allergies and intolerances. It's scary! When I called my dad to tell him last night his response "Well, why would this happen now?! and I'm 69 and I've never developed anything like that! Ha!" Not exactly the best response, but I've read several places while doing the research on the Paleo lifestyle that removal of an ingrediant for an extend period of time can most certainly cause an allergy once reintroduced or an intolerance.

    Again, thanks for the help!!! :-)
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