Coco Beans & Coconut? Help Please

Hello to all,

HI Razzle,

 Thanks so much for the information, it's most helpful.

My Skin Prick Test also showed I'm allergic to Corn, everything in the store has High-Fructose Corn Syrup in it!

I guess this means I need to stay away from foods that have High-Fructose Corn Syrup in it? What do you think?

Sabrina

Razzle said...
Hi Sabrina,

Not a silly question - both foods are tropical, so it makes sense to ask. You should be ok with coconut. They're in two different botannical families:

Cocoa ------Stercula Family
Coconut ------Palm Family

See http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/English/botanical.htm#by_Food_Name for a pretty comprehensive list of foods & botannical families. Typically, if one has an allergy to one food in a particular botannical family, then one is at a slightly increased risk of having or developing an allergy to other members of the same botannical family.

I hope this helps - take care,

Razzle,

 I'm think it will be best to avoid any "corn" at all, corn syrup, corn anything to be on the safe side.

I just made an appt. with a different allergist (sp?) for June 10th. I wasn't pleased at all with this one I just used for my skin prick testing. When I went in for the results, he didn't even tell me what I was allergis too, just said I'm allergic to everything and left it at that.

When I was leaving his office I rquested a copy of my skin prick test, the nurse said I couldn't have a copy unless I paid 25 bucks for it. I raised hell about that and finally got the nurse in charge and she gave me a copy of it, of course she made me sign a paper for release of the copy. I was so dang mad about the whole experience. I mean I thank god I got a copy of the results or I would never had known exactly what I was allergic too.

So like I said I've decided to find a different allergist and will see him on June 10th

Thanks for your reply,

Sabrina

Razzle said...
Hi Sabrina,

That depends ~ if you are allergic to corn protein but your threshhold of tolerance isn't too low, then you may be ok with corn derivatives like corn starch & corn syrup. Experimentation may be the only way to figure it out, too, since there isn't really a good test for corn syrup/starch/etc.

How severe are your allergy symptoms from corn? If you aren't sure, then ask your Allergist about challenging corn derivatives at the doctor's office instead of at home so that if there is a severe reaction, then there are staff with training and supplies close at hand to deal with the reaction. If your symptoms are milder, then it is ok to try corn derivatives at home, as long as you have allergy medication close at hand (benadryl, epi-pen). If you do go ahead with a challenge at home, then have someone else there with you to help observe for symptoms and such, because one of the symptoms of anaphylaxis is brain fog - confusion and difficulty concentrating - that may interfere with your ability to determine whether or not you need to take medication/use epipen/call 911.

Take care,

Razzle,

 Sorry...after re-reading your reply to me, I didn't even answer the question you asked.

I scored a "3" on the skin prick testing for corn.

The allergist did prescribe me "Albuterol" (pill) and said to take it 3 times a day. I haven't even filled the script yet. I know that Albuterol can make ya feel hyped out so I think I'll stick with avoidance from foods I'm allergic too for the time being til I see this other new allergist.

Sabrina

Razzle said...
I agree with you about wanting a second opinion. I hope you find a better Allergist. Take care,

Hi Razzle,

 Do you take any medication for your allergies/asthma? If so would you mind telling me what meds and if you have any side effects from them at all?

Thanks, Sabrina

Razzle said...
That's ok. If I were you, I would discuss all of this (your test results, treatment recommendations, etc.) with your new allergist when you get in to see him/her. And be sure to share your concerns about Albuterol causing hyperactivity, because that is a well-known side-effect.

Good luck,