Re: About wheat

May 9, 2002

> i'm glad you could follow what i said as well as you did

> sometimes i think i'm about as clear as mud ...

oh, stacey, i find you very clear

but best of all

i enjoy how you express yourself.

to me you're the ee cummings

of the group.

(with punctuations, as appropriate).

your point (made also by others)

about nutrition and unrefined foods

is well-taken, but

must all food intake be

solely about nutrition?

most of it should be, of course,

but can't the rest be

for fun/convenience?

marjorie

marjorie lazoff md

May 9, 2002

<<

your point (made also by others)

about nutrition and unrefined foods

is well-taken, but

must all food intake be

solely about nutrition?

most of it should be, of course,

but can't the rest be

for fun/convenience? >>

oh absolutely!

i mean, eating has a huge social component

and a lot of us have to eat on the run

and when having a nice meal out with people

i will eat things i wouldn't normally eat

and it's great fun

tasting

sharing

socializing

laughing

(admittedly people think i'm crazy if i mention

i'd rather eat something that tastes bad and is good for me

than tastes good and is nutritionally bereft ...

of course good taste and good nutrition is ideal)

i personally find i function best on a natural diet

(highstrung machine i suppose -- ferrari? )

that gives me the high octane fuel that i need

for 17 hour work days ...

i know not everyone notices a huge difference

in how they feel if they eat well vs not so well

on film sets where i work

i notice people eating crap all day long

they also need a zillion capuccinos to make it through the day ...

then again they also probably smoke

don't exercise

blah blah blah ...

moderation in all things

including

moderation?

sounds like a good idea

alot of weightloss systems

(not the potion pill ones -- the ones where they actually

train you

to eat according to the food pyramid

focussing on embarking on a healthier lifestyle

instead of just losing weight ..

suggest a 'reward' meal once a week

where you can enjoy some of your old faves.)

i recently heard that 60 %of americans

and

50% of canadians

are overweight ...

which leads me to think that nutritious eating

is the exception

as opposed to the rule ...

stacey

May 9, 2002

It's hard to know if Stacey has a valid point about

the peanuts. I've been unclear if more people have the

allergy (a higher percentage of the population), or if

it is more publicized. I knew one child, back in the

60s, who had the allergy... and I've only known a

couple since then. That's not a measure, by any means,

just my personal experience.

What I've been told is that children under four years

of age, who don't have a highly developed immune

system, should avoid all peanut products. Based on

this advice from his pediatrician, I didn't feed my

son peanut butter, etc. until after his fourth

birthday.

One of my friends has a deadly allergy to tree nuts

(almonds, cashews, etc.), which is the food his mother

reportedly craved when pregnant. Another of my friends

has twins. One of the twins has the peanut allergy,

and I've always wondered if peanut butter was a staple

in her pregnancy...

Abou the NRS and food triggers -- I fully understand

how hot beverages, spicey foods, etc. can trigger a

flush, especially in sensitive people. This foods can

trigger a flush in anyone, even non-rosaceans.

Where I part ways with them, is when they start

talking about " trigger " foods like tomatoes -- which

are something to which people are frequently allergic,

and don't cause flushig in the general population.

It's here that I think the NRS is being self-serving

-- attempting to lump all of these reactions into the

category of food triggers, instead of addressing them

as allergies, subacute allergies, sensitivities, etc.

I operate under the assumption there is a political

reason for this: The NRS doesn't want to lose funding

and numbers to groups dealing with food allergies.

Therefore they make the list of (what they call)

" tripwires " much more inclusive, casting a larger net.

As examples their website lists:

cheese, sour cream, yogurt, citrus fruit, liver,

chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though

bread is OK), vinegar, eggplant, avocados, spinach,

broad-leafed beans and pods, and foods high in

histamine or niacin.

Taking an antihistamine about two hours before a meal

may counter the effects of histamine, while aspirin

may reduce the effects of niacin-containing foods in

sufferers affected by these substances.

They address the topic of histamine and

anti-histamines lightly, but don't mention the

possibility of allergy, and to some degree, I find

that irresponsible and misleading.

It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

another issue again) and nothing else.

Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

Modifying my diet has helped the most.

Suzi

__________________________________________________

May 9, 2002

It's hard to know if Stacey has a valid point about

the peanuts. I've been unclear if more people have the

allergy (a higher percentage of the population), or if

it is more publicized. I knew one child, back in the

60s, who had the allergy... and I've only known a

couple since then. That's not a measure, by any means,

just my personal experience.

What I've been told is that children under four years

of age, who don't have a highly developed immune

system, should avoid all peanut products. Based on

this advice from his pediatrician, I didn't feed my

son peanut butter, etc. until after his fourth

birthday.

One of my friends has a deadly allergy to tree nuts

(almonds, cashews, etc.), which is the food his mother

reportedly craved when pregnant. Another of my friends

has twins. One of the twins has the peanut allergy,

and I've always wondered if peanut butter was a staple

in her pregnancy...

Abou the NRS and food triggers -- I fully understand

how hot beverages, spicey foods, etc. can trigger a

flush, especially in sensitive people. This foods can

trigger a flush in anyone, even non-rosaceans.

Where I part ways with them, is when they start

talking about " trigger " foods like tomatoes -- which

are something to which people are frequently allergic,

and don't cause flushig in the general population.

It's here that I think the NRS is being self-serving

-- attempting to lump all of these reactions into the

category of food triggers, instead of addressing them

as allergies, subacute allergies, sensitivities, etc.

I operate under the assumption there is a political

reason for this: The NRS doesn't want to lose funding

and numbers to groups dealing with food allergies.

Therefore they make the list of (what they call)

" tripwires " much more inclusive, casting a larger net.

As examples their website lists:

cheese, sour cream, yogurt, citrus fruit, liver,

chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though

bread is OK), vinegar, eggplant, avocados, spinach,

broad-leafed beans and pods, and foods high in

histamine or niacin.

Taking an antihistamine about two hours before a meal

may counter the effects of histamine, while aspirin

may reduce the effects of niacin-containing foods in

sufferers affected by these substances.

They address the topic of histamine and

anti-histamines lightly, but don't mention the

possibility of allergy, and to some degree, I find

that irresponsible and misleading.

It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

another issue again) and nothing else.

Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

Modifying my diet has helped the most.

Suzi

__________________________________________________

May 9, 2002

and go on and on in their book Advanced Dermatologic

Therapy II about peanuts and other nuts causing outbreaks of acne.

> It's hard to know if Stacey has a valid point about

> the peanuts. I've been unclear if more people have the

> allergy (a higher percentage of the population), or if

> it is more publicized. I knew one child, back in the

> 60s, who had the allergy... and I've only known a

> couple since then. That's not a measure, by any means,

> just my personal experience.

>

> What I've been told is that children under four years

> of age, who don't have a highly developed immune

> system, should avoid all peanut products. Based on

> this advice from his pediatrician, I didn't feed my

> son peanut butter, etc. until after his fourth

> birthday.

>

> One of my friends has a deadly allergy to tree nuts

> (almonds, cashews, etc.), which is the food his mother

> reportedly craved when pregnant. Another of my friends

> has twins. One of the twins has the peanut allergy,

> and I've always wondered if peanut butter was a staple

> in her pregnancy...

>

> Abou the NRS and food triggers -- I fully understand

> how hot beverages, spicey foods, etc. can trigger a

> flush, especially in sensitive people. This foods can

> trigger a flush in anyone, even non-rosaceans.

>

> Where I part ways with them, is when they start

> talking about " trigger " foods like tomatoes -- which

> are something to which people are frequently allergic,

> and don't cause flushig in the general population.

> It's here that I think the NRS is being self-serving

> -- attempting to lump all of these reactions into the

> category of food triggers, instead of addressing them

> as allergies, subacute allergies, sensitivities, etc.

>

> I operate under the assumption there is a political

> reason for this: The NRS doesn't want to lose funding

> and numbers to groups dealing with food allergies.

> Therefore they make the list of (what they call)

> " tripwires " much more inclusive, casting a larger net.

>

> As examples their website lists:

> cheese, sour cream, yogurt, citrus fruit, liver,

> chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though

> bread is OK), vinegar, eggplant, avocados, spinach,

> broad-leafed beans and pods, and foods high in

> histamine or niacin.

> Taking an antihistamine about two hours before a meal

> may counter the effects of histamine, while aspirin

> may reduce the effects of niacin-containing foods in

> sufferers affected by these substances.

>

> They address the topic of histamine and

> anti-histamines lightly, but don't mention the

> possibility of allergy, and to some degree, I find

> that irresponsible and misleading.

>

> It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

> allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

> another issue again) and nothing else.

>

> Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

> protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

> Modifying my diet has helped the most.

>

> Suzi

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 9, 2002

and go on and on in their book Advanced Dermatologic

Therapy II about peanuts and other nuts causing outbreaks of acne.

> It's hard to know if Stacey has a valid point about

> the peanuts. I've been unclear if more people have the

> allergy (a higher percentage of the population), or if

> it is more publicized. I knew one child, back in the

> 60s, who had the allergy... and I've only known a

> couple since then. That's not a measure, by any means,

> just my personal experience.

>

> What I've been told is that children under four years

> of age, who don't have a highly developed immune

> system, should avoid all peanut products. Based on

> this advice from his pediatrician, I didn't feed my

> son peanut butter, etc. until after his fourth

> birthday.

>

> One of my friends has a deadly allergy to tree nuts

> (almonds, cashews, etc.), which is the food his mother

> reportedly craved when pregnant. Another of my friends

> has twins. One of the twins has the peanut allergy,

> and I've always wondered if peanut butter was a staple

> in her pregnancy...

>

> Abou the NRS and food triggers -- I fully understand

> how hot beverages, spicey foods, etc. can trigger a

> flush, especially in sensitive people. This foods can

> trigger a flush in anyone, even non-rosaceans.

>

> Where I part ways with them, is when they start

> talking about " trigger " foods like tomatoes -- which

> are something to which people are frequently allergic,

> and don't cause flushig in the general population.

> It's here that I think the NRS is being self-serving

> -- attempting to lump all of these reactions into the

> category of food triggers, instead of addressing them

> as allergies, subacute allergies, sensitivities, etc.

>

> I operate under the assumption there is a political

> reason for this: The NRS doesn't want to lose funding

> and numbers to groups dealing with food allergies.

> Therefore they make the list of (what they call)

> " tripwires " much more inclusive, casting a larger net.

>

> As examples their website lists:

> cheese, sour cream, yogurt, citrus fruit, liver,

> chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though

> bread is OK), vinegar, eggplant, avocados, spinach,

> broad-leafed beans and pods, and foods high in

> histamine or niacin.

> Taking an antihistamine about two hours before a meal

> may counter the effects of histamine, while aspirin

> may reduce the effects of niacin-containing foods in

> sufferers affected by these substances.

>

> They address the topic of histamine and

> anti-histamines lightly, but don't mention the

> possibility of allergy, and to some degree, I find

> that irresponsible and misleading.

>

> It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

> allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

> another issue again) and nothing else.

>

> Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

> protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

> Modifying my diet has helped the most.

>

> Suzi

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 9, 2002

and go on and on in their book Advanced Dermatologic

Therapy II about peanuts and other nuts causing outbreaks of acne.

> It's hard to know if Stacey has a valid point about

> the peanuts. I've been unclear if more people have the

> allergy (a higher percentage of the population), or if

> it is more publicized. I knew one child, back in the

> 60s, who had the allergy... and I've only known a

> couple since then. That's not a measure, by any means,

> just my personal experience.

>

> What I've been told is that children under four years

> of age, who don't have a highly developed immune

> system, should avoid all peanut products. Based on

> this advice from his pediatrician, I didn't feed my

> son peanut butter, etc. until after his fourth

> birthday.

>

> One of my friends has a deadly allergy to tree nuts

> (almonds, cashews, etc.), which is the food his mother

> reportedly craved when pregnant. Another of my friends

> has twins. One of the twins has the peanut allergy,

> and I've always wondered if peanut butter was a staple

> in her pregnancy...

>

> Abou the NRS and food triggers -- I fully understand

> how hot beverages, spicey foods, etc. can trigger a

> flush, especially in sensitive people. This foods can

> trigger a flush in anyone, even non-rosaceans.

>

> Where I part ways with them, is when they start

> talking about " trigger " foods like tomatoes -- which

> are something to which people are frequently allergic,

> and don't cause flushig in the general population.

> It's here that I think the NRS is being self-serving

> -- attempting to lump all of these reactions into the

> category of food triggers, instead of addressing them

> as allergies, subacute allergies, sensitivities, etc.

>

> I operate under the assumption there is a political

> reason for this: The NRS doesn't want to lose funding

> and numbers to groups dealing with food allergies.

> Therefore they make the list of (what they call)

> " tripwires " much more inclusive, casting a larger net.

>

> As examples their website lists:

> cheese, sour cream, yogurt, citrus fruit, liver,

> chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though

> bread is OK), vinegar, eggplant, avocados, spinach,

> broad-leafed beans and pods, and foods high in

> histamine or niacin.

> Taking an antihistamine about two hours before a meal

> may counter the effects of histamine, while aspirin

> may reduce the effects of niacin-containing foods in

> sufferers affected by these substances.

>

> They address the topic of histamine and

> anti-histamines lightly, but don't mention the

> possibility of allergy, and to some degree, I find

> that irresponsible and misleading.

>

> It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

> allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

> another issue again) and nothing else.

>

> Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

> protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

> Modifying my diet has helped the most.

>

> Suzi

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 9, 2002

> It appears my rosacea diagnosis was caused by food

> allergy/sensitivity (and actually intolerance --

> another issue again) and nothing else.

I can understand how a food allergy can cause skin inflammation,

vasodilation, itching and/or swelling on the face.

I can also understand how a person with rosacea can independently

have a food allergy/sensitivity which manifests on the face; just as

a person can have both acne vulgaris and rosacea existing

independently on a face.

But I don't understand how a food allergy/sensitivity can cause

rosacea. Can you explain?

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Topicals, antibiotics... the common treatment

> protocols didn't work for me. Clartin helps a little.

> Modifying my diet has helped the most.

>

> Suzi

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 10, 2002

> which leads me to think that nutritious eating

> is the exception

> as opposed to the rule ...

agreed, stacey, you make cogent points

supporting an unrefined diet.

and suzi makes a good point

about the role of unrefined foods

in an elimination diet

for those struggling with

poorly defined food allergies

or intolerances.

though for most people,

i would think the food pyramid is

tuff enough, and would make

a solid enough impact on health

without overtaxing one's culinary skills,

or those of one's spouse,

parent, or...

private chef.

marjorie

marjorie lazoff, md

May 10, 2002

> which leads me to think that nutritious eating

> is the exception

> as opposed to the rule ...

agreed, stacey, you make cogent points

supporting an unrefined diet.

and suzi makes a good point

about the role of unrefined foods

in an elimination diet

for those struggling with

poorly defined food allergies

or intolerances.

though for most people,

i would think the food pyramid is

tuff enough, and would make

a solid enough impact on health

without overtaxing one's culinary skills,

or those of one's spouse,

parent, or...

private chef.

marjorie

marjorie lazoff, md

May 10, 2002

> which leads me to think that nutritious eating

> is the exception

> as opposed to the rule ...

agreed, stacey, you make cogent points

supporting an unrefined diet.

and suzi makes a good point

about the role of unrefined foods

in an elimination diet

for those struggling with

poorly defined food allergies

or intolerances.

though for most people,

i would think the food pyramid is

tuff enough, and would make

a solid enough impact on health

without overtaxing one's culinary skills,

or those of one's spouse,

parent, or...

private chef.

marjorie

marjorie lazoff, md

May 10, 2002

Marjorie,

I've got to nail you on perpetuating the concept that

whole food eating is much more difficult than eating

convience foods.

Kraft Macaroni and cheese requires boiling the

noodles, adding butter, milk, and a rather scary

orange powder.

Eating a nice rice, or whole grain pasta with olive

oil and real parmesean cheese doesn't require any more

labor. Sautee a chicken breast, some prawns, and/or

mushrooms and you have a veritable feast compared to

the Kraft version.

Believe me, I couldn't pull it off it were much more

time consuming than that. I'm a full-time working

person with a career that demands lots of evening and

weekend hours, and I'm the mom to a kindergartender

(plus I try to have a life of my own!).

I've learned to rely on staples and brands that I

trust. I might be a little more lenient than Stacey

because there are a few brands of soup and one brand

of frozen food we buy for home.

Feeding myself at lunchtime is a little more tricky,

but I've scoped out the restaurants near where I work

where I feel I can get relatively clean food. I also

stock up on lunch supplies and keep them in my drawer,

or the office refrigerator.

I don't think everyone needs to do things my way, but

I DO want to turn everyone into label readers. I

consider reading labels to be a really basic shopping

skill, and vital to making choices in what to purchase

and what to support with our hard-earned dollars. A

frozen " lean " meal called pasta primavera can be

absolutely loaded with nasty-sounding ingredients,

when all it should contain is pasta, vegetables, and a

little sauce of some sort.

Fast food isn't even an option for me. All of the fast

food restaurants have web sites where they list their

nutritional information and ingredients. A good

read-through is really all it takes to get someone

looking elsewhere for food. Nothing in a fast food

restaurant contains what it appears to! (And, just

think, they only list what they're required to...)

Living in Northern California makes this easier. We

have great access to seasonal fruit, fresh seafood,

meat without hormones, and exotic vegetables.

Suzi

__________________________________________________

May 10, 2002

But I don't understand how a food

> allergy/sensitivity can cause

> rosacea. Can you explain?

>

> Marjorie

>

That's easy, and I wasn't being clear. I'm 95 percent

sure I don't have rosacea. I have the symptoms of an

allergy and I was misdiagnosed because it looked like

rosacea -- including occular symptoms.

I've been around on the board for a about a year and a

half, and I make this clear from time to time.

So why do I stick around? Because, from what I read

here, I believe this is a relatively common

misdiagnosis. I hope to encourage people to look

beyond their skin for clues to what is going on.

Over the years, I've seen several recommended

dermatologists, and none of them ever suggested that

my diet might play a role in my skin's condition.

None of them even asked about diet, habits, etc. None

ever asked if I had any unusual symptoms in other

parts of my body. I was handed a bunch of topicals and

oral antibiotics and told to schedule another

appointment.

When a friend, who is a well-respected nutritionist,

and works for many of the local physicians, suggested

it might be a food allergy, I began to explore further

with reading, etc.

Coincidentally, at the time this began, I had been

plagued with other body symptoms besides the skin on

my face. Although I consider myself a strong, healthy

person, I was plagued with heartburn, trouble

swallowing certain foods (mostly breads, pasta, etc.),

headaches, itching on my scalp and legs, occasional

nosebleeds, menstrual irregularity, and bowel

complaints that encompassed occasional diarrhea and

also constipation.

In a month's time, I was given birth control pills for

my skin and the headaches. The derm gave me Metrogel

and oral antibiotics.

After a very scary incident in a restaurant where I

couldn't full swallow a small piece of French toast,

and almost drowned myself trying to wash it down, I

had an upper GI. The GI doc gave me Zantac (the fourth

prescription in a month!) and the radiologist said I

probably didn't chew my food well (that was really

insulting), but he noted that I didn't have reflux and

couldn't explain the burning and lumpy sensation in my

throat. When I asked if I could be allergic to bread,

he said " no " and suggested I really try to slow down

and chew.

Finally, my husband, who is a behaviorist (and will

eat anything ) suggested that wheat might be the

problem. He noticed that beer almost always gave me a

headache and I sneezed when he made toast. Most of my

swallowing difficulties involved wheat-based foods.

And during my pregnancy, I experienced a racing heart

whenever I ate pasta (nothing else seemed to cause

this, although I should point out that I've known for

years I'm allergic to raw tomatoes and onions, and

they'll cause this feeling too).

So I talked it over with my nutritionist friend and

decided to try eliminating wheat for three weeks as an

experiment.

Not only did my skin clear up considerably, but to my

surprise, so did my other symptoms.

My MD was delighted with the results. Since that time

I've stayed on a gluten-free diet. We've decided I

probably won't be tested for celiac because the " gold

standard " test requires me to be eating gluten for a

considerable period of time and it's just not worth

the risks to my health. I was referred to an allergy

group who are reputed to be the local hotshots and

they refused to see me because I'm not having a

" life-threatening " allergy. (This is in Sonoma County

where insurance may be at the root of all things

medical...)

I kid you not, when I say I rarely have headaches

(maybe every two months) and they're never

debilitating. My menstrual cycle regulated and my

bowels calmed down. All of my heartburn went away. The

psoriasis I'd had since the sixth grade cleared up

entirely on one knee and elbow and never came back. I

don't have to wash my food down with tons of water and

the nagging " lump " in my throat is gone.

I rarely flush and my occular symptoms are gone.

The only problem -- my symptoms are much more extreme

when I'm inadvertently exposed to gluten. My face will

breakout quickly and I often get bowel upsets that

last two or three days. I flush quickly and my eyes

get slightly swollen and itchy and dry feeling.

Also, despite the fact I eat a super-clean diet, I'm

still plagued by itching on the back of my calves in

the evening, and sometimes hives there as well. One

elbow still has the psoriasis-like rash (which may, in

fact, be psoriasis, and not going away), and I

sometimes breakout without provocation.

I don't know if something else is setting me off, or

if my general histamine response is somehow fired up.

When I followed up with the derm, I told him it didn't

appear to be rosacea but some sort of food allergy and

he simply said something like " hmmm. Yep, that could

do it too... "

Meanwhile, there is a derm in Sebastopol who is

supposed to be brilliant. She's the one who traced my

friend's " rosacea " to a toxic reaction to medication

she'd been taking for years. Several people have

recommended her. I'm hoping she'll help me get to the

bottom of my residual complaints (especially the

evening itching on my legs, which can drive me nuts!).

Funny thing though, her reputation's so good, she

can't see me until August!

Hope this clarifys,

Suzi

__________________________________________________

May 10, 2002

Suzi, I eat very much like you do and I can't believe the stuff they put in

food! I eat a lot of rice, stir frys made with olive oil, garlic, and fresh

vegies, and it is all very easy and quick. Also use lots of tuna, salmon and

even sardines. Recently found some spelt pasta ( which I can tolerate), and

also rice pasta. I am convinced that the many additives in our food do us no

good. I enjoy your posts. One thought, regarding the back of your legs

itching. Have you considered what you might be sitting on, the back of chair,

car seat, or sofa as a possible trigger? Regards, Kate

May 10, 2002

Suzi, I eat very much like you do and I can't believe the stuff they put in

food! I eat a lot of rice, stir frys made with olive oil, garlic, and fresh

vegies, and it is all very easy and quick. Also use lots of tuna, salmon and

even sardines. Recently found some spelt pasta ( which I can tolerate), and

also rice pasta. I am convinced that the many additives in our food do us no

good. I enjoy your posts. One thought, regarding the back of your legs

itching. Have you considered what you might be sitting on, the back of chair,

car seat, or sofa as a possible trigger? Regards, Kate

May 10, 2002

Suzi, I eat very much like you do and I can't believe the stuff they put in

food! I eat a lot of rice, stir frys made with olive oil, garlic, and fresh

vegies, and it is all very easy and quick. Also use lots of tuna, salmon and

even sardines. Recently found some spelt pasta ( which I can tolerate), and

also rice pasta. I am convinced that the many additives in our food do us no

good. I enjoy your posts. One thought, regarding the back of your legs

itching. Have you considered what you might be sitting on, the back of chair,

car seat, or sofa as a possible trigger? Regards, Kate

May 10, 2002

<

>

in this month's issue of

ALIVE

magazine

(available in healthfood stores in canada)

there was an article on the difference between

food allergy and food intolerance

food allergy generally involving a reaction that was immediate

especially anaphylaxis reaction

and intolerance being the inability to digest properly

causing physical reaction some hours after eating

and inhibiting the absorption of nutrients ...

stacey

May 10, 2002

<

>

in this month's issue of

ALIVE

magazine

(available in healthfood stores in canada)

there was an article on the difference between

food allergy and food intolerance

food allergy generally involving a reaction that was immediate

especially anaphylaxis reaction

and intolerance being the inability to digest properly

causing physical reaction some hours after eating

and inhibiting the absorption of nutrients ...

stacey

May 10, 2002

<

>

in this month's issue of

ALIVE

magazine

(available in healthfood stores in canada)

there was an article on the difference between

food allergy and food intolerance

food allergy generally involving a reaction that was immediate

especially anaphylaxis reaction

and intolerance being the inability to digest properly

causing physical reaction some hours after eating

and inhibiting the absorption of nutrients ...

stacey

May 10, 2002

> That's easy, and I wasn't being clear. I'm 95 percent

> sure I don't have rosacea. I have the symptoms of an

> allergy and I was misdiagnosed because it looked like

> rosacea -- including occular symptoms.

Thank you, Suzi, that clarifies everything! You once made a comment

about the possibility that what seems like recalcitrant rosacea may

in fact be an undiagnosed food allergy. I thought that was a good

observation, but I couldn't fit that in the rest of what I thought

you were saying. Now I understand.

> I've been around on the board for a about a year and a

> half, and I make this clear from time to time.

Or I may well have misread/misunderstood what you were saying. I just

assumed that you felt rosacea was your primary diagnosis, and you

thought everything stemmed from that.

> So why do I stick around? Because, from what I read

> here, I believe this is a relatively common

> misdiagnosis. I hope to encourage people to look

> beyond their skin for clues to what is going on.

I agree, you're providing a thoughtful service to others by sticking

around. Food allergies/intolerances are certainly something to

consider for those with recalcitrant symptoms. Not only a

misdiagnosis, but I wonder if some with correctly diagnosed but

difficult-to-manage rosacea have more than one disorder going on in

their face. Pure forms of rosacea, both its vascular and inflammatory

aspects, as usually more successfully managed than described here by

some.

Thanks for sharing your story with me. Two things struck me. First,

when allergists say life-threatening, they usually mean a layperson's

definition for the classic diagnosis of an allergy, one that is

mediated by the immune system and potentially causes a life-

threatening condition called anaphylaxis. That's literally all an

allergist specializes in. It could sound like other conditions just

aren't serious enough, but that's not what they mean. One would think

allergists should deal with intolerances too, but intolerances --

although they may feel like allergies and share many of the same

symptoms -- is caused by a whole different set of problems. I believe

that a gastroenterologist that specializes in digestive disorders --

not just a regular gastroenterologist -- would be the specialist for

food intolerances to consult, but I'm not sure.

Second, I am not making a cyberdiagnose -- my eyes are on the wrong

side of your monitor for me to be able to do that -- but what

you describe with the toast and water ( " trouble swallowing " ) sounds

exactly like achalasia, which is a relatively uncommon conditon where

there's a loss of the normal muscle movements (peristalsis) and loss

of relaxation in the lower part of the esophagus. There are

structural causes for achalsia like tumors, which apparently the UGI

ruled out; there are other rarer causes, but usually it's a

malfunction in a complex of nerves that innervates that part of the

esophagus.

The hallmark of achalsia is that the person can't swallow liquids as

well as solids; there's almost nothing else that causes that problem.

It is often associated with heartburn and reflux (that's where the

Zantac and the comment about the UGI showing no reflux fits in), and

it can also cause throat sensations ( " lump in the throat " ) --

everything fits right in with what you're describing.

Plus, patients with achalasia learn (sometimes unconsciously) to move

their necks in different positions and chew slowly to help allow

their food and fluids to pass, so it sounds to me like the

radiologist was teaching you a trick to deal with achalasia, not

insulting your chewing style. (Though I understand, if things aren't

explained, it can sound insulting.)

I can't know, you have to be seen and evaluated by a doctor and

undergo tests to make the definitive diagnosis, but it's striking to

me that you gave all the stigma of achalasia hidden in the story,

without ever actually saying the word. Maybe they told you it

definitely wasn't achalasia?

Whatever, alchalsia wouldn't explain your other symptoms, or an

improvement in your skin with a change in diet. I don't know anything

specific about wheat intolerance, but I'm surprised to hear you were

told that celiac sprue can't be definitely diagnosed in you without

return to a gluten diet. I would think the antibodies would remain

indefinitely, or a biopsy could be performed. But I really don't know.

Has a doctor or nutritionist ever formally diagnosed you with food

intolerances?

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Over the years, I've seen several recommended

dermatologists, and none of them ever suggested that

my diet might play a role in my skin's condition.

None of them even asked about diet, habits, etc. None

ever asked if I had any unusual symptoms in other

parts of my body. I was handed a bunch of topicals and

oral antibiotics and told to schedule another

appointment.

When a friend, who is a well-respected nutritionist,

and works for many of the local physicians, suggested

it might be a food allergy, I began to explore further

with reading, etc.

Coincidentally, at the time this began, I had been

plagued with other body symptoms besides the skin on

my face. Although I consider myself a strong, healthy

person, I was plagued with heartburn, trouble

swallowing certain foods (mostly breads, pasta, etc.),

headaches, itching on my scalp and legs, occasional

nosebleeds, menstrual irregularity, and bowel

complaints that encompassed occasional diarrhea and

also constipation.

In a month's time, I was given birth control pills for

my skin and the headaches. The derm gave me Metrogel

and oral antibiotics.

After a very scary incident in a restaurant where I

couldn't full swallow a small piece of French toast,

and almost drowned myself trying to wash it down, I

had an upper GI. The GI doc gave me Zantac (the fourth

prescription in a month!) and the radiologist said I

probably didn't chew my food well (that was really

insulting), but he noted that I didn't have reflux and

couldn't explain the burning and lumpy sensation in my

throat. When I asked if I could be allergic to bread,

he said " no " and suggested I really try to slow down

and chew.

Finally, my husband, who is a behaviorist (and will

eat anything ) suggested that wheat might be the

problem. He noticed that beer almost always gave me a

headache and I sneezed when he made toast. Most of my

swallowing difficulties involved wheat-based foods.

And during my pregnancy, I experienced a racing heart

whenever I ate pasta (nothing else seemed to cause

this, although I should point out that I've known for

years I'm allergic to raw tomatoes and onions, and

they'll cause this feeling too).

So I talked it over with my nutritionist friend and

decided to try eliminating wheat for three weeks as an

experiment.

Not only did my skin clear up considerably, but to my

surprise, so did my other symptoms.

My MD was delighted with the results. Since that time

I've stayed on a gluten-free diet. We've decided I

probably won't be tested for celiac because the " gold

standard " test requires me to be eating gluten for a

considerable period of time and it's just not worth

the risks to my health. I was referred to an allergy

group who are reputed to be the local hotshots and

they refused to see me because I'm not having a

" life-threatening " allergy. (This is in Sonoma County

where insurance may be at the root of all things

medical...)

I kid you not, when I say I rarely have headaches

(maybe every two months) and they're never

debilitating. My menstrual cycle regulated and my

bowels calmed down. All of my heartburn went away. The

psoriasis I'd had since the sixth grade cleared up

entirely on one knee and elbow and never came back. I

don't have to wash my food down with tons of water and

the nagging " lump " in my throat is gone.

I rarely flush and my occular symptoms are gone.

The only problem -- my symptoms are much more extreme

when I'm inadvertently exposed to gluten. My face will

breakout quickly and I often get bowel upsets that

last two or three days. I flush quickly and my eyes

get slightly swollen and itchy and dry feeling.

Also, despite the fact I eat a super-clean diet, I'm

still plagued by itching on the back of my calves in

the evening, and sometimes hives there as well. One

elbow still has the psoriasis-like rash (which may, in

fact, be psoriasis, and not going away), and I

sometimes breakout without provocation.

I don't know if something else is setting me off, or

if my general histamine response is somehow fired up.

When I followed up with the derm, I told him it didn't

appear to be rosacea but some sort of food allergy and

he simply said something like " hmmm. Yep, that could

do it too... "

Meanwhile, there is a derm in Sebastopol who is

supposed to be brilliant. She's the one who traced my

friend's " rosacea " to a toxic reaction to medication

she'd been taking for years. Several people have

recommended her. I'm hoping she'll help me get to the

bottom of my residual complaints (especially the

evening itching on my legs, which can drive me nuts!).

Funny thing though, her reputation's so good, she

can't see me until August!

Hope this clarifys,

Suzi

May 10, 2002