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Does Lyme Cause Food Allergies?

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Posted 1/12/2014 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
I am wondering do the Lyme bacteria (and co-infections) cause food allergies? I started juicing recently which really helped with the Lyme but soon noticed pain/swelling at the roof of my mouth, along with rash/pimple on my butt, and now a sore behind my ear.

I had two years ago tested for food/herbs/chemical sensitivities before by ALCAT (cost me $900 US!) but was ok with these fruits. Do I need an IGG food allergy test?
Posted 1/12/2014 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Also is it parasites that cause these allergies/sensitivities? Or could Lyme bacteria cause it as well? Just wondering because I am going to get rid of my remaining parasites soon, then plan to do another allergy test.
Posted 1/12/2014 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
In people with lyme there are often shifting food allergies. Gluten, cow dairy, and egg are often the most common intolerences. Leaky gut syndrome is often present. With leaky gut, you can develop more and more food allergies. I guess we need to heal the gut to stop the allergies. Our gut is where our immune system and response originates?
Posted 1/13/2014 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Excellent replies.

I have tested positive for at least 4 tick-borne infections, and another doctor thought I have CFS.

I have had YEARS of excruciating migraines, to the point I have been on opiate patches for relief.

Recently, my headaches have gotten worse, and I wondered why could that be? The only thing new I had been doing is consuming more orange juice. So I cut out all citrus from my diet, and the headaches improved. And then I noticed a special Apple juice (non pasteurized) from Whole Foods would also bring on migraines. Red apples have tannins in them, which can cause food intolerance (distinct from "allergies").

So, I am waiting to see an allergist, but now on a reduced dosage of the opiate patch (yae!).

Yes, it does seem that all of these diseases, for reasons unknown, are associated with food intolerances. I would research finding an allergist who is especially interested in the subject. Now I am trying to eat more bland foods. Boring, but I am in less pain.

take care
SusanLyme
Posted 1/13/2014 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Taroki,

I know this article is pretty overwhelming, and I am still trying to understand all this myself - but this provides some insight as to why allergies and sensitivities occur ...

www.dearpharmacist.com/2013/08/08/2394/
Posted 1/13/2014 9:44 AM (GMT 0)
Lyme can cause food allergies.

Lyme treatment can cause an imbalance of gut flora, which can also cause food allergies (via leaky gut).

So yes, it is more common for those with Lyme to develop food allergies they never had before getting Lyme.

Also, be aware that sometimes the tick bit itself can also induce a special type of food allergy (mostly to a carbohydrate in beef).
Posted 1/13/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
SusanLyme, welcome to the forum!

I just wanted to mention that fruit juices in general aren't the best to consume a lot since they can feed the bacteria and make candida worse in case you have that too.

I'm sorry you've had to suffer with migraines so much.
Posted 1/13/2014 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. Still kind of worried. I had Lyme for most of my life, and never had an allergic reaction to anything before. Only slight milk intolerance.

Last night, I ate only 2 oranges, 1 banana, 1 red mango, and at 2am I woke up with itchy red eyes, itchy throat itchy elbow (delayed allergic reaction?)

I don't know what to do ... if I keep juicing, would it make my allergies worse? Should I do the food allergy test and heal the gut before adding additional fruits/vegetables?

Could it be that now that my immune system is stronger I am now having an immune reaction to foods I am sensitive to?
Posted 1/14/2014 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Delayed reaction or yeast flare from the sugar in the fruit...or both...

Yes, if your immune system has "woken up" then it could be causing symptoms from allergies you had before but didn't have the immune response to generate symptoms noticeable enough...

I'd recommend allergy testing, but keep in mind no allergy test is 100% accurate, so can only use the tests as a guide for elimination/challenge (carefully - do not do this without guidance from an experienced Allergist or Naturopathic/Integrative physician).
Posted 1/14/2014 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
The delayed allergy can be from the sugar in the fruits? You mean I am allergic to sugar?

Just wondering why is it necessary to have a naturopath monitor my allergies? Could I not just use the allergy test results and then eliminate them from my diet for 3 months or so while healing my gut with l-glutamine or supplements?
Posted 1/14/2014 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
A full yes from me, Lyme can cause food allergies.

I had a severe imbalance of my gut flora and leaky gut prior to treatment, causing food allergies and intolerances.

about the fruit: another possibility is that you might have a fructose intolerance. I have this. Headaches are typical for fructose intolerants.

Like Razzle, I would advice an allergy test, and an appointment with an experienced nutricionist. Someone with enough experience is able to determine what you might be intolerant for, things that haven't shown up in the allergy test, just by questionning you and listening to your complaints.

I am in no way affiliated with this lab, but the following is a very good lab for food allergy testing: USBio Tek Laboratories. It's the lab my dr uses, and I'm in Europe.

 

Posted 1/14/2014 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
hmmm ... I recall I did have headaches from eating too much sugary foods. Is this what you mean by fructose intolerance? Is there a cure for it? I know people have had their allergies cured by doing liver flush, detox, etc.

USBio Tek is good? How does it compare to ELISA and the rest? I heard ALCAT is best for food sensitivities (which I did the test for 2 years ago).
Posted 1/15/2014 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
No, the delayed allergy could be from the proteins in the fruits.

Yes, fruit sugar can trigger symptoms but that may be from fructose intolerance, which is an enzyme deficiency and not an allergy.

Hereditary fructose intolerance has no known cure. However, inflammation in the gut can impair the brush boarder enzymes (which digest fructose, amongst other things) and this can be "cured" when the inflammation subsides.

I'm not familiar with USBioTek tests.
Posted 1/15/2014 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Already got an answer from Razzle :-)

well, my dr thinks USBio Tek is good, I have no experiences with other labs, so I can't compare it to ELISA and the rest... sorry, maybe someone else will help you with that. I was just testifying out of own (and my sister's) experience.

Posted 1/15/2014 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have loads of foods I am intolerant to. I can only eat I think 7 different foods. I always thought that it was caused by the medications I used to treat my symptoms that caused leaky gut (motrin, naproxen, asprin). My mom just read today that Lyme and parasites can cause leaky gut. I'm not sure what exactly caused my food problems, I have read medications can cause it but maybe Lyme does too.

I got a food allergy and intolerance test that showed I am intolerant to lots of foods but some foods weren't tested and I just figured out that they were causing a reaction and I felt better when I didn't eat them. The test I got was called "US BioTEk Standard Food Panel IgG/IgE".

I am about to see a naturopathic doctor who specializes in digestive and gut health so I am hoping my leaky gut will be gone soon. I have been trying to heal my own gut with bone broth and elimination but it isn't working. A young lady at my parent's church tried healing her gut on her own and it didn't work for her either. Then she saw an herbalist who gave her a couple herbs and now she is all better and can eat anything. You could try healing your gut yourself, I have read of people who have, but if it doesn't work then a naturopath might be a good option. (naturopathic.org)

Anyways, whatever you do I hope it works :) Food allergies are the worst.
Posted 1/15/2014 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. Yesterday I ate 3 oranges, 1 mini-watermelon, 1 banana and I did not get any allergic reaction except for a bit itchy/dry throat. So maybe I am just not used to eating so many fruits?

Also I wonder if eating nuts could have caused that delayed allergic reaction the other night. I had some mixed nuts which I never had before as I am trying to eat healthy now.

Never had known allergies before although I recall someone telling me as a kid I was allergic to pollen/flowers? I wonder if I need to retest for food sensitivities also (quite expensive so I don't want to if I don't have to).
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