Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Absolutely, you should still be tested. What are you seeing - an environmental allergist (chemicals) or a regular allergist.When I saw the allergist, she believed that I couldn't have vulvar problems from chemicals (she was an environmental allergist), but she proceeded anyway to test me on my personal products (I took a grocery bag with my soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, meds, body creams etc.).It was a very enlightening several weeks. Turned out I was allergic to yellow dyes, which were in my daily meds AND my daily tylenol; biocides used in many medical applications - i.e. Neomycin, Eucerin , Mycolog (all of which I either had used directly on my vulvar skin or had been part of something else prescribed to use!!!!); perservatives, and a number of the chemicals used in shampoos, bar soaps and such. So, I was indeed being affected and the allergist got me off of the offending products and on to 'cleaner' products.I can't tell you how much improvment there was just by eliminating the soap and shampoo products that end up on vulvar tissue whether you bathe or shower. I now wash my hair when I get out of the tub, either by leaning over the tub or in the sink so that none of the hair chemicals ever get onto my vulvar skin. I had to change my meds to whichever brand did not have yellow dyes and I avoid foods with yellow dyes.I wish I had asked to be tested for a yeast allergy, but I didn't and really yeast wasn't a big issue for me. I only get it if I use internal estrogen cream.Foods in general were not a problem for me - but foods with yellow dye were.Good luck and keep us posted.DustyLindsey wrote: Hi, everyone, I am going to see an allergist next week. The original referral was because with all of these problems, my ob/gyn wanted to rule out an allergy to my husband's, um, you know... (don't want to be tmi). Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 Hi Lindsey - I think that food intolerences or allergies play a role in my complicated set of conditions. I agree with the idea of testing for allergies to the personal care products you use. I also think that I am very sensitive to gluten, fermented products (wine, balsamic vinegar, etc), baker's yeast, and mold (bleu cheese). All my favorite things! Anyway, I find that I get red hives and itching inside my elbows and back of my knees - classic allergy itch spots. Do you have any rashes, itching, hives, gas, bloating, or feeling that foods just don't agree with you? That might be a sign of things to test for. One problem that I've had is that I've taken three different types of tests for allergies (primarily food, molds, yeasts, etc.) and I have had different and conflicting test results from all of them. Very little overlap in things I am supposedly " allergic " too. I don't know what to do about that - it has left me to kind of figure out the food, mold, yeast issues on my own. I recommend the Enterolab tests for gluten intolerence (and any of their other tests, but I was only tested for gluten at my doctor's recommendation). I think that was a key finding for me. Two of the three allergy tests I took did not indicate a problem with gluten. The one that identified a problem with gluten showed that I was allergic to every food I eat, which was a result that I just couldn't " wrap my head around, " so I'm not really dealing with that. I'm just trying to identify my biggest problems and reduce and eventually eliminate them from my diet. I don't know if there is a link with my vulvar pain. But when I see red, itchey, raised up bumps on the inside of my elbow, I can imagine that there is inflammation going on in other parts of my body. Overall, I'm still pretty confused about allergy testing and I hope that you don't find this information useless or frustrating. I just wanted you to hear from someone who believes in checking out allergies, but has received some pretty confusing info. from the various tests. Sally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 I have always had "hay fever" and probably something of lactose intolerance (I get bloated/gassy after ice cream). In the past few years I have been having problems with hay fever allergies, I have had hives both from contact allergies and from medicine. So...it looks like I will ask to be tested for a lot of things. Lindsey Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 One of the best ways to test for allergies is to do the elimination diet. I have been on the 20 Day rejuvenation diet for 2 weeks now. NO gluten, yeast, dairy, wheat, eggs. I have not been stuffed up at all unless I burn a scented candle! The bumps on my forehead have cleared up and my stomach is not bloated. I have lost some weight, which I wanted to do. I am taking B vitamins, acidophillus and fish oil tablets. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER it is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I know too, I have done a special diet 2 years ago and felt great. Then went completely off of it and felt like garbage again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Hi Sally, I appreciated your post to as it made a lot of sense. You seem to have been very observant about your condition and are working carefully to fix yourself. I may have emailed you before with this particular Website but since you are talking about allergies and I think this is the most valuable websites I have ever read on the subject and on food related diseases I want to send it again. I think the medicine of the future if it wants to heal people will focus on " Circulating Immune Complexes " like with dairy and other foods. If one is to google that one can find a lot of information about this but I doubt that many docs will even have a clue about it as the research is in the research institutions and not the doc's offices. Anyway, the following URL will take you to this massive website which is the best I have ever seen for information that is not generally out there concerning " allergies " . If you go there, on the left you can click on allergies for a lot of wonderful information. In fact I still go back to this URL to read it as it is so full of good stuff that I can't find anywhere else. I think the problem is food-- " Circulating Immune Complexes " and dairy and gluten are very much involved but other foods as well--protein peptides. Hope this is helpful. Just my opinion. Arline __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 , Lactose intolerance in my experience is caused by the destruction of the villi in the small intestine that produce the enzyme lastase which is needed in order to digest milk sugar (lactose). Most likely this destruction is caused by gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity destroys more that the lactase enzyme and is an autoimmune disease and not an allergy. Allergy testing has never been effective for food allergies although the allergist continue to sell them. I hope you read the article I sent earlier. Translated this means that for food sensitivities one needs different and more advanced testing for the major foods that cause serious reactions in the body and certainly allergy testing won't test for gluten sensitivity or milk sensitivity, which is different from allergy. The new tests at Enterolab are the only ones I know of where you can find the true story. At least start with the gluten, which tells most of the story. My opinion. Arline --- Lindsey wrote: > I have always had " hay fever " and probably something > of lactose intolerance (I get bloated/gassy after > ice cream). In the past few years I have been > having problems with hay fever allergies, I have had > hives both from contact allergies and from medicine. > So...it looks like I will ask to be tested for a > lot of things. > Lindsey > > > --------------------------------- > Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. > We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Yes, , it is amazing how much better one can feel when they don't eat the foods that are killing them. It is a miracle. I guess you are ready to add something back to find out what you can eat and what you can't eat. I bet I know. (Smart Aleck Here !!) Best Wishes, Arline --- blueeberri@... wrote: > One of the best ways to test for allergies is to do > the elimination diet. I > have been on the 20 Day rejuvenation diet for 2 > weeks now. NO gluten, yeast, > dairy, wheat, eggs. I have not been stuffed up at > all unless I burn a scented > candle! The bumps on my forehead have cleared up > and my stomach is not > bloated. I have lost some weight, which I wanted to > do. I am taking B vitamins, > acidophillus and fish oil tablets. I FEEL SO MUCH > BETTER it is amazing. > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Hi Arline - I don't see the URL you mentioned in the body of the e- mail below, but I might have missed it reading too fast. It's late and I'm leaving town in the morning. I remember an earlier e-mail from you with a great website on food allergies and I think it is the one with some health products that you recommended. It was very informative. Sally -- In VulvarDisorders , BABB wrote: > > Hi Sally, > > I appreciated your post to as it made a lot of > sense. You seem to have been very observant about your > condition and are working carefully to fix yourself. > > I may have emailed you before with this particular > Website but since you are talking about allergies and > I think this is the most valuable websites I have ever > read on the subject and on food related diseases I > want to send it again. > > I think the medicine of the future if it wants to heal > people will focus on " Circulating Immune Complexes " > like with dairy and other foods. If one is to google > that one can find a lot of information about this but > I doubt that many docs will even have a clue about it > as the research is in the research institutions and > not the doc's offices. > > Anyway, the following URL will take you to this > massive website which is the best I have ever seen for > information that is not generally out there concerning > " allergies " . > > If you go there, on the left you can click on > allergies for a lot of wonderful information. In fact > I still go back to this URL to read it as it is so > full of good stuff that I can't find anywhere else. > > I think the problem is food-- " Circulating Immune > Complexes " and dairy and gluten are very much involved > but other foods as well--protein peptides. > > Hope this is helpful. Just my opinion. > > Arline > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Sorry, I always forget the punch line--such a klutz. Here is the URL. http://www.alphanutrition.com/ Arline --- sally_bibb wrote: > Hi Arline - I don't see the URL you mentioned in the > body of the e- > mail below, but I might have missed it reading too > fast. It's late > and I'm leaving town in the morning. I remember an > earlier e-mail > from you with a great website on food allergies and > I think it is the > one with some health products that you recommended. > It was very > informative. > Sally __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Sorry, I always forget the punch line--such a klutz. Here is the URL. http://www.alphanutrition.com/ Arline --- sally_bibb wrote: > Hi Arline - I don't see the URL you mentioned in the > body of the e- > mail below, but I might have missed it reading too > fast. It's late > and I'm leaving town in the morning. I remember an > earlier e-mail > from you with a great website on food allergies and > I think it is the > one with some health products that you recommended. > It was very > informative. > Sally __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Sorry, I always forget the punch line--such a klutz. Here is the URL. http://www.alphanutrition.com/ Arline --- sally_bibb wrote: > Hi Arline - I don't see the URL you mentioned in the > body of the e- > mail below, but I might have missed it reading too > fast. It's late > and I'm leaving town in the morning. I remember an > earlier e-mail > from you with a great website on food allergies and > I think it is the > one with some health products that you recommended. > It was very > informative. > Sally __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 WHen you say you are taking acidophilus tabs - you mean probiotics? L. acidophilous by itself is not as good for us as including the strains which specifically address our problems.Dustyblueeberri@... wrote: One of the best ways to test for allergies is to do the elimination diet. I have been on the 20 Day rejuvenation diet for 2 weeks now. NO gluten, yeast, dairy, wheat, eggs. I have not been stuffed up at all unless I burn a scented candle! The bumps on my forehead have cleared up and my stomach is not bloated. I have lost some weight, which I wanted to do. I am taking B vitamins, acidophillus and fish oil tablets. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER it is amazing. Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 WHen you say you are taking acidophilus tabs - you mean probiotics? L. acidophilous by itself is not as good for us as including the strains which specifically address our problems.Dustyblueeberri@... wrote: One of the best ways to test for allergies is to do the elimination diet. I have been on the 20 Day rejuvenation diet for 2 weeks now. NO gluten, yeast, dairy, wheat, eggs. I have not been stuffed up at all unless I burn a scented candle! The bumps on my forehead have cleared up and my stomach is not bloated. I have lost some weight, which I wanted to do. I am taking B vitamins, acidophillus and fish oil tablets. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER it is amazing. Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Blood testing for allergies can and does show problem foods. The unfortunate thing about it is that we just can't, logistically, be tested for every food and every drink we may ingest. We'd spend our whole lives being tested. Be sure to have a list of things you DO associate problems with - to give the docs a starting point.I don't know how old you are, but it is a fact that as we get older, we stop making the lactose enzyme in our bodies and most people become lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is a VERY common occurrence - so common in fact that it is expected that once we leave our babyhood where milk is the staple of our diets, we can all expect to have the intolerance to some degree. It is, in fact, normal to be that way. See:http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.htmlMy honest advice to you is to begin a journal of things you eat,drink and do, as well as meds taken. Also note any allergic reactions that day and pain levels too. As time goes on , you can note, say today for instance that you have hives and look back through your journal to the last day you have h ives and look for some commanilities in what you consumed or did that day that could have brought on the situation. I was able to identify a number of problems myself this way.Good luckDustyBABB wrote: , Lactose intolerance in my experience is caused by the destruction of the villi in the small intestine that produce the enzyme lastase which is needed in order to digest milk sugar (lactose). Most likely this destruction is caused by gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity destroys more that the lactase enzyme and is an autoimmune disease and not an allergy. Allergy testing has never been effective for food allergies although the allergist continue to sell them. I hope you read the article I sent earlier. Translated this means that for food sensitivities one needs different and more advanced testing for the major foods that cause serious reactions in the body and certainly allergy testing won't test for gluten sensitivity or milk sensitivity, which is different from allergy. The new tests at Enterolab are the only ones I know of where you can find the true story. At least start with the gluten, which tells most of the story. My opinion. Arline --- Lindsey <gaia_ca> wrote: > I have always had "hay fever" and probably something > of lactose intolerance (I get bloated/gassy after > ice cream). In the past few years I have been > having problems with hay fever allergies, I have had > hives both from contact allergies and from medicine. > So...it looks like I will ask to be tested for a > lot of things. > Lindsey > > > --------------------------------- > Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. > We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Blood testing for allergies can and does show problem foods. The unfortunate thing about it is that we just can't, logistically, be tested for every food and every drink we may ingest. We'd spend our whole lives being tested. Be sure to have a list of things you DO associate problems with - to give the docs a starting point.I don't know how old you are, but it is a fact that as we get older, we stop making the lactose enzyme in our bodies and most people become lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is a VERY common occurrence - so common in fact that it is expected that once we leave our babyhood where milk is the staple of our diets, we can all expect to have the intolerance to some degree. It is, in fact, normal to be that way. See:http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.htmlMy honest advice to you is to begin a journal of things you eat,drink and do, as well as meds taken. Also note any allergic reactions that day and pain levels too. As time goes on , you can note, say today for instance that you have hives and look back through your journal to the last day you have h ives and look for some commanilities in what you consumed or did that day that could have brought on the situation. I was able to identify a number of problems myself this way.Good luckDustyBABB wrote: , Lactose intolerance in my experience is caused by the destruction of the villi in the small intestine that produce the enzyme lastase which is needed in order to digest milk sugar (lactose). Most likely this destruction is caused by gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity destroys more that the lactase enzyme and is an autoimmune disease and not an allergy. Allergy testing has never been effective for food allergies although the allergist continue to sell them. I hope you read the article I sent earlier. Translated this means that for food sensitivities one needs different and more advanced testing for the major foods that cause serious reactions in the body and certainly allergy testing won't test for gluten sensitivity or milk sensitivity, which is different from allergy. The new tests at Enterolab are the only ones I know of where you can find the true story. At least start with the gluten, which tells most of the story. My opinion. Arline --- Lindsey <gaia_ca> wrote: > I have always had "hay fever" and probably something > of lactose intolerance (I get bloated/gassy after > ice cream). In the past few years I have been > having problems with hay fever allergies, I have had > hives both from contact allergies and from medicine. > So...it looks like I will ask to be tested for a > lot of things. > Lindsey > > > --------------------------------- > Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. > We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Blood testing for allergies can and does show problem foods. The unfortunate thing about it is that we just can't, logistically, be tested for every food and every drink we may ingest. We'd spend our whole lives being tested. Be sure to have a list of things you DO associate problems with - to give the docs a starting point.I don't know how old you are, but it is a fact that as we get older, we stop making the lactose enzyme in our bodies and most people become lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is a VERY common occurrence - so common in fact that it is expected that once we leave our babyhood where milk is the staple of our diets, we can all expect to have the intolerance to some degree. It is, in fact, normal to be that way. See:http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.htmlMy honest advice to you is to begin a journal of things you eat,drink and do, as well as meds taken. Also note any allergic reactions that day and pain levels too. As time goes on , you can note, say today for instance that you have hives and look back through your journal to the last day you have h ives and look for some commanilities in what you consumed or did that day that could have brought on the situation. I was able to identify a number of problems myself this way.Good luckDustyBABB wrote: , Lactose intolerance in my experience is caused by the destruction of the villi in the small intestine that produce the enzyme lastase which is needed in order to digest milk sugar (lactose). Most likely this destruction is caused by gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity destroys more that the lactase enzyme and is an autoimmune disease and not an allergy. Allergy testing has never been effective for food allergies although the allergist continue to sell them. I hope you read the article I sent earlier. Translated this means that for food sensitivities one needs different and more advanced testing for the major foods that cause serious reactions in the body and certainly allergy testing won't test for gluten sensitivity or milk sensitivity, which is different from allergy. The new tests at Enterolab are the only ones I know of where you can find the true story. At least start with the gluten, which tells most of the story. My opinion. Arline --- Lindsey <gaia_ca> wrote: > I have always had "hay fever" and probably something > of lactose intolerance (I get bloated/gassy after > ice cream). In the past few years I have been > having problems with hay fever allergies, I have had > hives both from contact allergies and from medicine. > So...it looks like I will ask to be tested for a > lot of things. > Lindsey > > > --------------------------------- > Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. > We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 --- Anonymous wrote: > Blood testing for allergies can and does show > problem foods. The unfortunate thing about it is > that we just can't, logistically, be tested for > every food and every drink we may ingest. We'd > spend our whole lives being tested. Every doctor I have asked about having allergy testing for foods has told me that they don't work for food problems. We have had plenty of allergy testing in my family where everything that was tested for was positive. These people have gluten sensitivity which destroys tissue in the small intestine and thus it makes them react to the blood tests and most foods. When the intestines are healed the allergies go away. Be sure to > have a list of things you DO associate problems with > - to give the docs a starting point. Food sensitivities are usually delayed reactions and a person usually isn't aware of what they are sensitive to. Certainly anaphalactic shock from peanuts is obvious. > > I don't know how old you are, but it is a fact that > as we get older, we stop making the lactose enzyme > in our bodies and most people become lactose > intolerant. I wish I could see some actual research about that. In fact the following says that some people are born without the ability and others have it because of disease. The rest of them the answer isn't known and should be studied. " Some causes of lactose intolerance are well-known. For instance, certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of enzymes produced. In rare cases, children are born without the ability to produce lactase. For most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally and over time. After the age of two, the body begins to produce less lactase. The reasons for this are unclear and under study. " http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/196/main.html#CausesandRiskFactorsofLactoseIn\ tolerance It doesn't say that all people develop lactose intolerance. It talks about the ones that do develop it. Lactose intolerance is a VERY common > occurrence - so common in fact that it is expected > that once we leave our babyhood where milk is the > staple of our diets, we can all expect to have the > intolerance to some degree. It is, in fact, normal > to be that way. If one wants to believe that losing one's ability to produce an enzyme is natural and normal I guess they can. I on the other hand know that those with gluten sensitivity whose gut heals at some point is often not lactose intolerant anymore. My dad drank milk until he died at 72 and was not lactose intolerant. My mother could never drink milk as she was. She had Celiac Disease. See: > http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.html > > My honest advice to you is to begin a journal of > things you eat,drink and do, as well as meds taken. > Also note any allergic reactions that day and pain > levels too. As time goes on , you can note, say > today for instance that you have hives and look back > through your journal to the last day you have h ives > and look for some commanilities in what you consumed > or did that day that could have brought on the > situation. I was able to identify a number of > problems myself this way. Here is a URL that talks about allergies. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000005.htm hay fever allergy to mold, dander, dust food allergies drug allergies allergy testing allergic reactions If these are the symptoms one has then maybe they should be tested for allergies. It is my impression that the people on this list mostly have tissue damage, unending pain, nerve proliferation and damage, muscle spasms, etc., and that isn't allergy to my mind but they are autoimmune reactions probably. I do however think one should keep looking and if one has the symtoms of allergy, get tested. I think the people who have more severe symptoms should have some IgA stool testing done for the major foods that people react to because that is the most accurate kind of test. Arline __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 I was tested by several different doctors for food allergies with different results with every one of them! I believe a person has to do the elimination diet and watch for clues from their own body as to what they can not tolerate. I do not have food allergies, but I have food intolerences. There is a BIG difference. Allergies can send someone into anifilatic shock (I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL THAT!) it can cause hives and for their throat to close. My food intolerences cause me to itch and burn and get a stuffy nose, my stomach bloats and I get irratable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 Arline, I do not dispute for one second that gluten senstivities can cause a person with that problem to be difficult, if not impossible , to test for allergy. The whole body is going nuts with the response to the gluten. I can therefore understand why your docs would tell you, a gluten sensitive, that the blood tests wouldn't work for you. This makes perfect sense to me.However, for the people who AREN'T gluten senstitive, allergy testing for foods and other things, and elimination diet testing for food sensitivities are very valid ways to find the triggers which cause hives, itching etc.As for the lactose intolerance factor, pls do note that I didn't say we ALL become intolerant, but instead that it is indeed very common to be intolerant. Just as many of us become diabetic because we cannot process sugars properly or lose collagen in our skin as we age, or the hair on our heads and bodies as we age, or our hormone balance and the cartilege etc in our joints - many of us also lose the ability to digest lactose. In order for the ladies on the list to become well, they should rulle out all known contributing factors, and gluten sensitivity is certainly one of them. It isn't, however, the only one and allergies - as I have thankfully discovered - are a very real contrbuting factor.Best regardsDustyBABB wrote: --- Anonymous <mslatrobe> wrote: > Blood testing for allergies can and does show > problem foods. The unfortunate thing about it is > that we just can't, logistically, be tested for > every food and every drink we may ingest. We'd > spend our whole lives being tested. Every doctor I have asked about having allergy testing for foods has told me that they don't work for food problems. We have had plenty of allergy testing in my family where everything that was tested for was positive. These people have gluten sensitivity which destroys tissue in the small intestine and thus it makes them react to the blood tests and most foods. When the intestines are healed the allergies go away. Be sure to > have a list of things you DO associate problems with > - to give the docs a starting point. Food sensitivities are usually delayed reactions and a person usually isn't aware of what they are sensitive to. Certainly anaphalactic shock from peanuts is obvious. > > I don't know how old you are, but it is a fact that > as we get older, we stop making the lactose enzyme > in our bodies and most people become lactose > intolerant. I wish I could see some actual research about that. In fact the following says that some people are born without the ability and others have it because of disease. The rest of them the answer isn't known and should be studied. "Some causes of lactose intolerance are well-known. For instance, certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of enzymes produced. In rare cases, children are born without the ability to produce lactase. For most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally and over time. After the age of two, the body begins to produce less lactase. The reasons for this are unclear and under study." http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/196/main.html#CausesandRiskFactorsofLactoseIntolerance It doesn't say that all people develop lactose intolerance. It talks about the ones that do develop it. Lactose intolerance is a VERY common > occurrence - so common in fact that it is expected > that once we leave our babyhood where milk is the > staple of our diets, we can all expect to have the > intolerance to some degree. It is, in fact, normal > to be that way. If one wants to believe that losing one's ability to produce an enzyme is natural and normal I guess they can. I on the other hand know that those with gluten sensitivity whose gut heals at some point is often not lactose intolerant anymore. My dad drank milk until he died at 72 and was not lactose intolerant. My mother could never drink milk as she was. She had Celiac Disease. See: > http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/lactose_intolerance.html > > My honest advice to you is to begin a journal of > things you eat,drink and do, as well as meds taken. > Also note any allergic reactions that day and pain > levels too. As time goes on , you can note, say > today for instance that you have hives and look back > through your journal to the last day you have h ives > and look for some commanilities in what you consumed > or did that day that could have brought on the > situation. I was able to identify a number of > problems myself this way. Here is a URL that talks about allergies. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000005.htm hay fever allergy to mold, dander, dust food allergies drug allergies allergy testing allergic reactions If these are the symptoms one has then maybe they should be tested for allergies. It is my impression that the people on this list mostly have tissue damage, unending pain, nerve proliferation and damage, muscle spasms, etc., and that isn't allergy to my mind but they are autoimmune reactions probably. I do however think one should keep looking and if one has the symtoms of allergy, get tested. I think the people who have more severe symptoms should have some IgA stool testing done for the major foods that people react to because that is the most accurate kind of test. Arline __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 --- Anonymous wrote: > Arline, I do not dispute for one second that gluten > senstivities can cause a person with that problem to > be difficult, if not impossible , to test for > allergy. The whole body is going nuts with the > response to the gluten. I can therefore understand > why your docs would tell you, a gluten sensitive, > that the blood tests wouldn't work for you. This > makes perfect sense to me. Actually nobody knew I was gluten sensitive including me and especially all the doctors I went to over the decades and they all told me that allergy tests don't tell you anything much about food sensitivities that is helpful. One of the reasons as I recall is that the other chemicals used in the tests often are reacted to by the patient so a reaction doesn't really tell you for sure what is being reacted to. > > However, for the people who AREN'T gluten > senstitive, allergy testing for foods and other > things, and elimination diet testing for food > sensitivities are very valid ways to find the > triggers which cause hives, itching etc. Absolutely and if we are talking about hives and itching I am all for it. That sounds like allergies. Actually an elimination diet done well is much more effective than allergy testing for foods and that is what all the doctors told me. It is hard to do that though. > > As for the lactose intolerance factor, pls do note > that I didn't say we ALL become intolerant, but > instead that it is indeed very common to be > intolerant. Just as many of us become diabetic > because we cannot process sugars properly or lose > collagen in our skin as we age, or the hair on our > heads and bodies as we age, or our hormone balance > and the cartilege etc in our joints - many of us > also lose the ability to digest lactose. I believe you said that " it is normal to become lactose intolerant and everybody can expect to have it as they age " . Even in aging there are causes. Just getting older doesn't necessitate diseases without cause, including diabetes, and collagen, and hormone imbalance. It isn't normal. And just getting older by itself probably doesn't cause lactose intolerance in my opinion and I have never seen that written. If one doesn't want to try to find out the cause, one doesn't have to do so. They all have causes. > > In order for the ladies on the list to become well, > they should rulle out all known contributing > factors, and gluten sensitivity is certainly one of > them. Yes, they certainly should. I think today I was talking about immune complexes. Gluten and dairy were used as an examples of the most commmon reactive foods. I was referring readers to some research I found out about it. I wasn't talking about hives and itching or any of the allergy symptoms that I listed from the article. If you think you have allergies, get tested. If however you have something beyond that which is what I am trying to share--like an actual autoimmune IgA reaction, one might be interested. It goes way beyond gluten and includes other protein foods. If one isn't interested the delete key is there. >It isn't, however, the only one Certainly not and I can't imagine why you ever thought it was. and allergies > - as I have thankfully discovered - are a very real > contrbuting factor. I am glad that you apparently have solved your hives and itching problems. I have solved my IgA reactions to some different foods after finding out what they were which mostly are not itching and hives. Part of my solved symptoms which pertain to the subject of this list are extreme clitoral pain, multiple biopsy diagnosed Lichen Sclerosis, constant yeast infections, muscle and nerve spasms and cramps, debilitating lower back pain, extreme fatique, fibromyalgia, anemia, constant bladder infections, urethral spasms, plus itching and hives, also caused by gluten, my thyroid seems to be functioning more normally, my legs don't hurt so much and I can walk now without a lot of pain and more. I have no objections to anybody getting any kind of test and in fact I am the first one to encourage one to keep looking for causes but I will say once again that I have been told many times that allergy testing for food problems are not accurate. Anybody is welcome to do whatever they want with that information. Arline __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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