A food allergy is hypersensitivity to dietary substances, leading to various types of gastrointestinal complaints. It occurs mainly, but not exclusively, in children. It is a commo...
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Allergy vs. Anxiety
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Hello, I am new here and here I am lying in bed at 2:00 in the morning thinking whether I am having an allergic reaction, I just took a 20mg dose of reactine (more for reassurance) that I will live to see another day. I am 30 years old and have been living with my allergies for the last 10 years. I have Oral Allergy Syndrome to the birch family, name it and I am allergic to it.
I thought I was doing fine although had 2 severe reactions to lychee about 5 years ago one requiring having to have epi in the ambulance. So I did the right thing, especially since I have two kids now and finally went to see an allergist. Okay, did I go mental....I found out that I am allergic to tree nuts 3/4 and my RAST results showed positive to lychee. So now I am totally mental, lost 30 pounds 'cause I stopped eating everything that has nuts in it....like all the deserts and I cannot stop thinking about when I am going to have my next allergic reaction (which is absolutely awful). My allergist thought I might be allergic to latex but never had symptoms and my RAST was negative but boy I don't know when I last touched a bandaid. I feel like I have to try eating everything again like its the first time I am having it. I am so scared, I don't know if I have developed a phobia about food. I wrote to an anaphylaxis support group and she pretty much told me I needed anxiety drugs but I just need support. My husband and my mom thinks that it is all in my head, I know that they are probably right, I go to my doctor for counselling but it is times like this when I need a friend the most. Please help, need advice to figure out how to shake this off. I keep telling myself to go back to eating what I was eating with the exception of my new found allergies and my epipen and reactine are always by my side. But then how come I am sitting at 2:00 in the morning thinking I am allergic to palm oil and waiting for something to happen. By the way, if I am allegic to tree nuts does that mean coconut also? Thanks in advance for the support, it really helped to get it on paper. Posted on 02/15/08, 02:02 am |
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This is nerve wracking. Especially since there is a life-threatening aspect to it. I am so sorry for you!
Lots of people up here have really bad allergies. You just need to start with the many foods you still can eat. Basically you need to cook from scratch a lot more, because processed foods will be too difficult to determine whether they are safe. But once you do get used to doing this, it will also be more healthy for you and your family. Just ignore your husband and mother. Were they with you in the ambulance? Can you get the doctor to talk to them, or pass over some articles on people who died from food allergies? You don't have to eat anything you don't want to. Why should you? Just stick to your guns and don't let anyone intimidate you. Good luck and see you later. 
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I don't think coconuts count as tree nuts.
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You're definately not crazy for being scared! I've lived with allergies since I was 5 and I've had a few horrible reactions going to the hospital in an ambulance and needing to use my epi pen. It's terrifying! I definately get scared about having a reaction, but when I get anxious about it my throat closes more anyways.. so it gets worse and I don't always know what's going on either. What I do now to ease my mind is get an allergy test for everything done once a year, because my allergies have changed, gone away, and come back again. After I get my allergy test done I talk to a nutritionist for advice on how to avoid the foods I'm allergic to and to find alternatives. That helps me, but I also remember the times I have used my epi pen. Even though it's scary in the moment, it works fast and you will be okay when you use it. I also keep benedryl with me, so if I start to get anxious about an attack I take that and give myself 30 minutes to calm down and just rest. You're not crazy! I'm allergic to lots of nuts, along with dairy, wheat, sea food, chicken, turkey, lamb, and some vegies... so I've come up with quite a few ways to make food easily and pretty fast for when I'm busy. If you'd like some recipies of things without nuts feel free to ask and I can give you some. Good luck!
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I get mental w/my son's food allergies.... I feel for ya!! I would say coconuts are ok, unless u speciffically react to them, good luck!@!
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You have every right to be scared. If you felt great on that other diet, go back to it. My nutritionist said that very often it's the foods we crave that are the ones we are sensitive to. When she starts an elimination diet with a new client, she puts the foods they crave at the top of the list to test. Those were the ones for me. I'm a gluten and casein/dairy person, and I suspect tree nuts as well. I'm still working on figuring out my sensitivities, too.
Figuring out what it is that you are reacting to takes time and patience. Go back to the diet that made you feel better, and if you are craving something, remember the depression and other bad symptoms before you fall off the wagon, as they say. Don't give in to the cravings. Be strong. Then add back one thing at a time, and have a lot of that one thing, and see if you feel worse again. You have to do one at a time, and have a lot for about 3 days, in order to tell. If you suspect palm oil for some reason, then test it. You might want to ask the allergist before testing. I don't think palm oil is a common sensitivity. Check out Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network--they have great information, especially when an epi pen is involved. www.faan.org
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