Recent Posts

Topic: Allergy Support Group / newly diagnosed - tons of allergies

kkenney3: Yes, your anaphylactic reactions sound very scary to experience, and I can see how the fear of potentially having a reaction can become debilitating in itself! Please keep in mind that some of your anxiety, heart palpitations, scary thought patterns, etc. may in part be side effects of the medications you are taking, and/or side effects from your allergies themselves. In addition, blood-sugar drops can really affect your mental and emotional patterns. In consideration of the types of food allergies you have, as well as your diabetic condition, I would highly recommend you NOT go vegan/vegetarian, as many of the foods you might eat on a vegan/vegetarian diet are ones you are allergic to, and which could cause blood-sugar instability if not balanced with adequate protein. You may instead wish to consider focusing on moderate amounts of organic, high-quality chicken and beef (not ground meat, as this may contain fillers) at each meal, combined with organic vegetables and fruits that you know you can tolerate, and perhaps organic brown rice. If you can stick with a simple diet long enough to clear out your system from residual allergens, you may eventually be able to add a few more foods (that are not on your anaphylactic list) to your palate without having severe reactions. As for a spiritual alternative to “driving yourself nuts”, try prayer: whatever your current beliefs may be, you can still ask God to show you who He is, why this is happening, and how He wants to work with you through this trial. Have hope!

Topic: Allergy Support Group / newly diagnosed - tons of allergies

I guess this is where I’ll start. I’m glad to have “stumbled” upon this site! I’m a 40 yr old female, that developed a simple allergy to shellfish at 35. I had never experienced a severe reaction to anything. Back in Dec. 2007 I had an allergic reaction to almonds (I think) and needed a CT scan, to which I had an analphlatic reaction to the dye. (and yes, I did tell the tech I had a shellfish allergy) Apparently, the dye damaged my MAST cells. 3 wks ago I had an anaplatic reaction to a fresh caesar dressing at Uno’s (it had fresh eggs, and oyster sauce..who knew that?). Since, I’ve now become analphlatic reactive to any sensitivity, including egg, dairy, fruit, wheat, nuts and environmental (tree and weed, dust and mold) I was never so happy after a week to find Trader Joe’s and Whole foods. Now with a steady regimine of Singulair, Clariton, Prednisone, Asmanex, Nasonex and Gasrocrom my “flare ups” are minimal. I can tell you this is the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced and have a whole new appreciation for allergies. My friends and family have joked about putting me in a bubble, but I’m thinking it’s a better alternative. I have had palpatations, anxiety, suicidal thoughts…this really is crazy! I’m afraid to go anywhere, for fear of enviromental reactions. I’m educating myself, as best I can. But I’ve resigned myself to being forced into Veganism. I’m also Diabetic so my new diet and meds are raising “H” with my glucose levels, and I’ve been taken off all my regular meds. (Actos and a multivitamin) due to the allergy risks. I’m looking for people who can relate and steer me to healthy and spiritual alternatives to driving myself nuts. I’m surrounded with people who care but really have no idea how difficult this really is. Thanks…Kathy

Topic: Allergy Support Group / enriched wheat flour

I am allergic to barley. While reading ingredients I’ve noticed that a lot of enriched wheat flour does have barley flour too. If it isn’t listed in the ingredients, does it mean there is no barley flour? Sometimes it has vitamins, etc. listed with barley flour and other times it’s not listed. What exactly does enriched wheat flour mean?

Topic: New Allergy Requests / Nightshades

I found an interesting article on the topic of nightshade vegetables. Please see below:

http://www.trustedhands.com/content/id267.html

Topic: Looking for Recipe / Tomatoes/Yeast

Yeast/mold is a big problem for me, too, and I have only recently been able to handle dried herbs/spices every once in awhile. Can you handle those? If so, cumin, etc., will give a ‘taste’ of Mexico. I remember seeing the huge listing of what you can’t eat. Can you eat wheat tortillas? I know you’re at college. Is there a kitchen where you can make your own from other flour, if needed? (I can’t eat those already made, because of the mold in them, unless very fresh and then freeze them.)
Dried beans were the staple of my diet when I first started. Maybe canned ones without ‘extras’ would be okay for you, depending on how sensitive you are. Easy crockpot beans are listed on this site, if it’s of help.
We tend to eat lots of what we’re allergic to. The ‘irony’ of it all is based in FACT!
Hope you’re doing okay.

Topic: Looking for Recipe / Allergic to nuts

Thank you sooooo much. The child who is allergic actually won’t touch pesto but my husband and I love it and we don’t want to make anything that has nuts in it even if our child is not going to eat it. It has been awhile since we have had it so I am looking forward to trying this recipe, and who knows, maybe my son will come around!!!

Topic: Allergy Support Group / Be careful of bug spray

Thank YOU!!!

Topic: New Allergy Requests / Nightshades

This is a group that would be good to have as it is a tricky one. Tomatoes and eggplant in the same group. I have known a few other people besides myself who are not friends with nightshades.

Topic: New Allergy Requests / egg

I believe it would be helpful to have an option under the “egg” heading to differentiate between egg white and egg yolk. Many people are not allergic to the entire egg, but only a portion. It can make a big difference in some recipes to be able to incorporate an egg white/yolk.

Topic: Allergy Support Group / College?! =/

My son had the skin prick test and he came back allergic to “everything” except 3 things that they tested for. Both food and other allergens.
He then took the IgG Standard Food Sensitivity Assay test and it narrowed it down a little bit. That’s a blood test that tests the antibodies to the food allergens in your blood. The blood test is not 100% accurate, but it really helped my son. I mean, he had to eat something and found out that he could eat more than he thought he could!!
Another thing, don’t forget to check ingredients in other things. You would be surprised at what they put in soaps and other lotions. My son found out that he was using a soap that had a oil that he was allergic too.

Topic: Allergy Support Group / College?! =/

I’m allergic to a lot of other stuff too; so, i’ve had all the allergy tests—skin prick for both food and outside allergies, patch test, etc…

Topic: Allergy Support Group / College?! =/

Wow Kelly, that’s quite a list. How were you tested for these food allergies? Skin prick or blood test?

Topic: Allergy Support Group / College?! =/

I have a ton of food allergies and am about to head off towards college. The problem is, I rarely eat out as I’m allergic to so much and the school I’m about to attend doesn’t allow anything other than microwaves in our room. …Yes, there will be some stuff I can eat in the school cafeteria, but if its anything like past experiences, I’m not looking forward to it. Haha Plus, I won‘t be able to eat all of my meals there. If you have any tasty concoctions ranging from snacks-dinner that I can make w/ a limited amount of space to do so, a mini fridge, and a microwave I’d greatly appreciate it. note most pre-made microwavable foods/meals are out of the question for me as they contain autolyzed yeast.

FOOD ALLERGIES: Highly allergic to…
Baker’s Yeast(pretty much in EVERYTHING!)
Brewer’s Yeast
Chocolate(…no more snickers =/)
Peanuts
Sunflower seeds
Rye
Carrots
Tomatoes
Peaches
Catfish
Bass
Perch
Shrimp
Lobster
Crab ...food I’m not highly allergic to, but can only have small amounts of…
Egg Yolk
White Potatoes
Broccoli
Squash
Strawberries
and Oranges
…and these are just my FOOD allergies among others. =]

Thanks!,
~Kelly

Topic: Allergy Support Group / Question about yeast

I’m allergic to yeast; among other things and was wondering if anyone has some other ideas for “fillers”. ...Club Crackers and Bisquits just aren’t doing it for me anymore lol.

Topic: Looking for Recipe / Tomatoes/Yeast

Tomatoes and yeast are my two biggest allergy problems as they’re in sooo… much unexpected stuff. I use to be really big on mexican food and subway—oh the irony! ...Anyways, if anyone has some different alternatives for tasty sandwhiches like made with lettuce,etc… and different ways to make things like mexican food,soup,etc… it’d be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
~kelly

note, i have several other allergies, so if u want some suggestions from food-how i deal w/ mine just give me a message and i’ll help however i can. =D

Topic: Allergy Support Group / helps me deal w/ allergies...

I have a ton of allergies & one thing my family and I did to make it easier was we made my own food cabinet. In my cabinet ONLY things that I’m not allergic to are allowed to be in there. ...Doing this elleviates me having to read the labels to everything; it also helps b/c I don’t have to get upset opening the cabinet anymore and seeing something(like chocolate)that I love, but can’t have.

Also, we have two new rules in the family now b/c of me and they are no more pizza or snickers are allowed in the house when I’m around b/c those are my two favorite foods in the entire world. ...it’s a sacrafice on their part, but as they’re not allergic to anything(only me =])they consider themselves lucky and they know it makes me feel better.

I’ve got several other tips I use from home-the big bad world …just message me ur prob. and i’ll help any way I can. =]
~kelly

Topic: Allergy Support Group / newly diagnosed - tons of allergies

Well my situation has changed a little. I went to a specialist in New York. Yes, I have many food intolerances, but not as many as first thought. I am still staying away from yeast, dairy, gluten, egg, sugar, soy, peanuts, some tree nuts, some fish, and all fruit. I am able to eat more meat and some more veggies. But here is the rest of the situation…I have found out that I also have a mild form of adrenal insufficiency, a systemic yeast or fungal infection, and possibly Lymes disease (find out in 2 weeks).
I do not think it is crazy to think babies can have allergies/intolerances at this age! If her tests come back inconclusive or fine, I would just adjust your diet based off of her symptoms and not worry about the formal diagnosis. My baby had MAJOR reflux issues while nursing and I am convinced it was my diet. Unfortunately, I had to wean her (due to my health problems) before I could figure out the diet issues. Now she is doing well on a soy formula.
Hang in there. You are not alone. Jesus is in control!

Topic: Allergy Support Group / numerous allergies..need suggestions

I did some searching and found an article that recommends a 50/50 mix of oat flour and barley flour. Here’s a link to the article, with other good info you might try:

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=24749 – “Holiday Baking for Kids with Allergies”
___
RadioBabe
in CO

Topic: Allergy Support Group / numerous allergies..need suggestions

My grandson is allergic to wheat,rice,soy,egg,nuts,garlic. Which flour is the most comparable to the taste of regular flour. He is only 17.5 months. I have tried garbonzo, rye, tapioca flour. He hasn’t liked anything! It breaks my heart at daycare when the other kids are eating animal crackers and he is just sitting there. We pack all his meals. Maybe it is just the texture he is not ready for.

Topic: Allergy Support Group / Salt & Oil substitutes, esp. in bread

fetlock, you’ve got a tough combo! You might try the Sesmark brand’s brown rice crackers, unsalted, which I believe have basically just rice flour and water(they do not contain sesame, despite the name). Holgrain brand also makes a cracker that is strictly brown rice and water (I believe salt-free).

If you’re still interested in a cracker recipe, I may be able to work on one for you. However, please advise if you can tolerate the following ingredients:

-baking soda
-cream of tartar
-lemon juice
-garlic
-tapioca
-xantham gum
-gelatin
-molasses
-honey

Topic: Allergy Support Group / New too

I thought finding info about Mustard Allergy was tough… at least I found a good list of related foods. I’ve searched for info on your allergies and I’m not finding much. That doesn’t mean there isn’t more out there… we just haven’t found it, yet.

I did found this list of Barley-related foods, on this very website, that may cause an allergic reaction – http://www.cookingallergyfree.com/allergens/allergen_listing/barley_allergy

Barley – annual cereal grain; in beer, ale and whiskey and considered identical to wheat
Barley flour – considered identical to wheat flour
Barley malt – a sweetener produced from sprouted barley; dark, brown, thick and sticky
Beer – hops is used as flavoring and stability agent in beer
Beer vinegar – vinegar made from beer that is made in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands; often described as having a malty taste
Malt – a sweetener produced from sprouted barley; dark, brown, thick and sticky
Malt vinegar – vinegar made from malting barley; an ale is then brewed from this and allowed to turn into vinegar and aged
Whiskey – distilled from fermented grain mash and aged in oak casks, distilled from corn, rye, or wheat
Worcestershire sauce – widely used fermented liquid condiment originally manufactured by Lea & Perrins; a flavoring used in many dishes, especially with meat; made with malt vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind, onion, garlic, spices and flavoring

Topic: New Allergy Requests / Chick Peas

Topic: Allergy Support Group / New too

I am in the beginning stages of testing too. So far, I’m allergic to barley, poppyseeds, chick peas/garbanzo beans, and eggs. I’ve been trying to eliminate and it’s hard to know what the derivitives are. When I checked “barley” on my allergens on this website, it automatically checked vanilla and vinegar. Is that something else I now need to avoid? Vanilla came up in my testing but not enough for the dr. to say I need to avoid it.

Topic: New Allergy Requests / Chick Peas

Are chick peas related to the other peas? I wasn’t sure what to check.

Topic: New Allergy Requests / candida allergy

I’ve been thinking about Vit. C crystals.
(above… non-vitamin C citric acid? isn’t Vitamin C the same as citric acid? maybe there’s a difference is pharm. grade and food grade?)
Anyway, I just wanted to say something in defense of vit. c crystals—
When I first started this journey, I was so allergic to mold/yeast, that I couldn’t eat canned veg and had to scrub/bleach EVERYTHING, couldn’t have anything processed.
BUT I could usually eat canned tomatoes, which contain citric acid. Well, I didn’t get sick MOST of the time eating canned tomatoes, which means the citric acid wasn’t bothering me, but the mold in the tomatoes.
Also, vit. C crystals are in every ‘yeast’ cookbook I own.
So, my advice to those who are allergic to mold/yeast is…
IF YOUR ALLERGY ISN’T LIFE THREATENING, don’t assume you can’t try vit. C crystals.
Many people do okay with them.