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Awful allergies since birth

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Posted 3/20/2012 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all! My name is Emma. I'm 18, a college freshman (visual arts major-love to paint, draw, sculpt and create) and the oldest of 6 kids. I also have AWFUL allergies and have from the day I was born. It's ridiculous.
I'm allergic to almost everything in the environment...at my last test about 3 years ago, I was positive to 37 of the 40 things tested. That includes all animals with fur and feathers, most pollen (grass, weeds, trees, flowers, etc), dust, mold, perfume and smoke.

My food allergies are: raspberries, strawberries, kiwi, melons, cinnamon, pineapple, papaya, sesame, and mango. Anaphylactic to milk, fish, and shellfish.

I've also had eczema from infancy, and mild-moderate allergic asthma since I was 6. I'm on singular, flovent and zyrtec daily but nothing works!! Most of the steroid nose sprays give me really bad nose bleeds, so I quit using those.

My family is currently fighting with insurance again to try to get me on allergies shots...they claim I don't need them, even though all this sneezing, coughing, rashes, and breathing trouble has impacted my quality of life since I was a toddler! I have all the allergies listed above, but they've impacted my immunity, so I've gotten 2-3+ sinus infections a year since I was about 5. Every. single. year. I have one right now and I feel miserable.

I can't stop sneezing and my nose is so stuffy and itchy and my throat and my head are killing me and I can't breath at all and my throat feels thick and itchy and gross and my eyes look like I'm on weed. I'm hoarse and coughing and my arms are covered in eczema. Pollen count is crazy here today, and it started early so I didn't think to start the honey....I wasn't going to start it until this week so I'd be ready when everything blooms 2-3 weeks from now. And now it's blooming.

I'm so sick of being this sick. I HATE ALLERGIES!

So sorry my first post has to be a downer...It's nice to meet you all, I'm so thrilled to find some support, and once I start feeling better I'll be happier.
Posted 3/22/2012 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Emma, I understand clearly where you are coming from with allergies. It's an inherited allergy gene, and I have it, too.

If you can reduce the sugar in your diet, and I mean strongly reduce it, you may find that you are somewhat relieved symptomatically. For example, you're still a growing girl and need milk, but often, milk is a trigger because of the sugar in it. I use Lactaid chewable tablets before ever tasting the milk. That helps. (It's an inability to break down the diasaccharide.  Lactaid does that for us.)

I've often thought that those of us with severe allergies have a sugar sensitivity that makes the whole thing just worse. Period. Reducing intake of diasaccharides may go a long way in improving your sinus infections.

I'm not a doctor, so I can tell you only what has worked for me, not what you should or shouldn't do. You and your doctor need to discuss all of your symptoms. Sinus infections are frequently related to food sensitivities, however.

One question you might probe your family about is whether or not there is diabetes in the family. If there is, that's another signal to suspect a strong sensitivity to sugar, whether in sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose,(anything with "ose" at the end of it!).

This spring season has been difficult for many of us who are struggling. I read your thread earlier and recognize so readily the problems.

Take care. If it's encouraging to you, avoiding the things that you are sensitive to may help more than you know. For example, watch for a stuffy nose occurring following the ingestion of a food you suspect as a trigger.

Chocolate, milk, cheese and anything with sugar in it are all bothersome for many of us, though food sensitivities are peculiar for each individual.

Take care.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 3/22/2012 11:12:53 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/22/2012 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your thoughts. I don't eat a lot of sweets, and I'm allergic a lot of them anyways (Because they contain milk, preservatives, or one of my other allergens).
I can't have milk, cheese, or normal chocolate because of my allergies. It's NOT lactose intolerance--I vomit violently, my whole face swells up and I could stop breathing. Any trace of fish or dairy could kill me and I'm not just being dramatic.

I do see where you're coming from with the sugar sensitivity, and I appreciate your concern and time to respond, but you're misunderstanding the severity of food allergies.

I'm not meaning to sound offensive, and I hope you don't take it that way. I'm just trying to educate :) I'm glad you've found some relief for your allergies!
Posted 3/22/2012 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
No, Emthefirst,

I spoke about food sensitivities. If you look back, you will see that.

Food allergies are quite different and represent an immune response from the system, and they are very dangerous, as you suggest.

Food sensitivities or intolerances are not an immune system response but can be bothersome and cause problems for those who have them.

It often takes years to have allergies and sensitivities resolved because they can change, emerge as another sensitivity or another allergy, so it's really a lifetime of care that one must deal with in an inherited allergy gene.

I hope this makes the distinction clear for you.

My best to you,

It's Genetic
Posted 3/22/2012 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Emma, has your doctor checked you for autoimmune problems?
I've very allergic to many of the things you listed above also.
I'm even allergic to allergy shots!

It's a very aggrevation spring down here in Georgia!
My white car has turned canary yellow. Someone at work today wrote in the pollen on my car. They did swirls and waves everywhere. I'm surprised they didn't write "wash me".
Posted 3/22/2012 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry. I see that now. Thanks again for the information and I'll think about it. All the best to you as well.
Posted 3/22/2012 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Joy,
Yes, I've been tested for other autoimmunity, since I have so many allergies and such and it runs strongly in my family. But so far I've tested negative for all of them and at present I just have severe allergies, asthma and eczema. My antibodies were elevated for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, but my thyroid levels are normal and I'm not showing symptoms, so for right now we're just on the lookout.

I wish I could start allergy shots, but we're afraid I'll be allergic to them too!
Posted 4/1/2012 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Emma,

Does your allergist think that you would benefit from shots?  If you have a highly skilled allergist, you should do fine on shots. 

 I understand the idea of being allergic to shots...I have to take an antihistimine before having my 3 injections, and I've also found it helpful when the allergy nurse coats the syringe with benadral before drawing up the serum.

I have asthma, and when I started shots they made me very sick, but with the advent of steroid inhalers, I became able to tolerate them.  That allowed the allergist to increase the strength and therefore the effectiveness of my shots.  They don't eliminate my allergies, but they definitely help.

I honestly don't see the benefit to your insurance agency to refuse you shots.  If the shots work, they will help improve your health and thus reduce their costs. 

I wish you the very best and hope that you can convince them to allow you to give shots a try.

Good luck!

Denise

Posted 4/1/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,

I've heard on the news about the pollen count in the South.  Wow.  We're not quite there yet, but our pollen count has been high since early March.  It's way ahead of schedule and I've been struggling as a result.

Good luck with coping yet another challenge.  I'm rooting for you!

Wishing you the best,

Denise

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