Chicken allergies

I too am allergic to poultry.( eggs and dairy also ) Why are poultry allergies so unheard of by the "general" public? When I list my allergies the dairy and eggs don't really get odd looks, but when I say I can't have chicken, turkey or other poultry I get the oddest looks. I am grateful that in the past 5 yrs food allergies are becoming more well known, but until I found this web site I was actually beginning to think I was the only one allergic to poulty.

Also, as someone who has always been allergic, I don't understand the need for people to continue to try foods that they know make them ill, also knowing each time you are exposed to something you are allergic too you are taking a huge risk of a major attack. Would I love to have chicken wings with my husband while watching football, eat thanksgiving turkey, or have a huge brownie with ice cream? OF COURSE I would, but my health is worth more than eating these foods. Perhaps it's harder when these allergies come later in life and you actually know what you are missing, but I don't think food should be so important that one is willing to risk their health. I don't mean to preach, I am just curious.

Hi,
I too have a reaction when I eat poultry. I like the others thought I was the only one. No one in my family has this problem. I realized it was chicken when I was in my 20's. I recall have numerous stomach aches as a child and back then in the 60's you didn't have allergies or such disorders, Its good to see there is a bit more out there. I have often thought that maybe I had something wrong that caused me to not be able to digest chicken, eggs etc. My symptoms start about 2-4 hours after I eat chicken. I get a terrible stomach ache and then start throwing up. Once I do that I am pretty much ok. Just feel a bit weakened for the rest of the day. If anyone has any more info out there it woud be great to read it.

Thanks!!

Wow... like everyone else, I'm pretty surprised to see that others have some of the same problems I do...

I started having reactions to certain foods when I was about 19... by the time I was 20, I had figured out that it was poultry meat that was causing the problem (I'm 30 now, which means it's been ten years since I've eaten a chicken dinner or had turkey on Thanksgiving...!). I get bloating/cramping in the stomach (BAD bellyache), which later moves to tightness in the chest, sweating profusely, and general misery. To my knowledge, there isn't really anything I can do but wait it out... if it's really bad, it'll make me throw up... but normally it's just a half-hour to an hour of being miserable, and it goes away.

I get the reaction from meat... chicken and turkey both do it. Sometimes if there's chicken stock in something I eat, I'll get a really mild case of it, but not every time. Eggs, milk, etc. are no problem. However, I also get the same reaction from brown beans (refried beans, BBQ baked beans, etc.)... seems unrelated, but it's exactly the same result...

Like most of the others, people are pretty surprised to hear about this... most don't say outright that they don't believe me, they just think it's very strange (and I agree... it is!). But, it's really a pain checking every can of soup, sauce, etc. to see if it's got chicken stock in it. And don't get me started on going to weddings...

Anyway, I've been to a couple of doctors, and none have ever heard of such a thing... so basically, all I've got at this point is "just live with it," which means no poultry meat for me. So if anybody's got any ideas/theories/proven ways to get around this thing... I'm all ears...

Hi,

Very interesting forum. My sister had food allergies (chicken), and I am allergic to ketchup and never had chicken in my life. Recently, I accidentaly ate turkey and had no side effects at all. Does that equal eating chicken as well? What do you guys think?

I am now keeping away from chicken, but would like to know if I can eat it. What kind of tests could show if I'm ok or not?
If I am to try to eat a small piece at home, what kind of preventive medication should I have? Adrenaline?

thanks,
Thaisi

FWIW Tyson chicken a few years ago told me that they didn't give their chickens hormones. They said it would add more costs than it was worth. Then I asked them what they fed their chickens and they wouldn't tell me. It could be antibiotics that cause allergies. It could be anything. I think if you find a food that causes you problems you should stop eating it.

its is actually the same for me i cannot eat seafoods, eggs, chicken and canned foods. Everyone thinks that i am koking :(... and some people dont take it well like thy say i have personnal issues against them or no confidence in what they cook. OHHH.. sometimes this really frustrates ma not to be undertood

Then if It is not the antibiotics or the growth hormones, do you know why I received no reaction when eating the Non-processed affected chicken compared to the standard cooking chicken? (FireMT)

Hey there, I have been suffering with problems (stomach cramps, bloating, anxiety-like feelings, depression fatigue, etc.), and nasal congestion for over a year now. I have been taking allergy sprays, anti-drepessant meds and still don't feel well. This thread made me think of something:

I started eating lots of chicken because my doctor said that my cholesterol was high so I cut out fast foods like Burger King, Wendy's, etc. I currently eat chicken approximately 5-6 times per week, grilled or in a salad. I had the basic allergy test to dust, mold, grass done in the spring but all were negative. Could it be that chicken is causing all of my problems? I remember a time many years ago when I ate chicken from KFC and this wicked post-nasal drip started and it made me sick.

Could food allergies cause this effect on the body? Today has been rough in that I have been very fatigue and just feel lousy. I last had a chicken breast Friday night at my favorite restuarant. I have always suspected that I was allergic to dairy products and have stayed away from milk. However, I had cheese on a burger on Friday, on a sandwich for lunch yesterday and on a friend's homemade pizza and salad last night.

But I eat chicken the most!

Any advice will be appreciated.

My 5 year old daughter gets hives/excema on her hands and face when she eats homemade chicken soup.  It is made with a kosher chicken and I use only salt, parsley, parsnip root, onion, carrots and dill.  She eats regular chicken all the time and has no reaction.  She had a milk intolerance as a baby but has seemed to grow out of it.  She also has excema on her face and hands but it really only appears if she has been outside in the cold and her skin is very dry.  Does anyone have any ideas?  She doesnt have this reaction to any other foods.

Thanks.

thank you for sharing your chicken allergy stories.  i've been married to a man for 7 years who claims allergies to many things.  poultry is the big one, all poultry, also beans, many kinds of nuts and fish, most veggies including carrots.  what trips me out is that he is not allergic to eggs, soy, pb, milk, wheat, shellfish etc.  i get so frustrated that he can eat eggs but not poultry and pb and soy but not other legumes.  his allergies make absolutley no sense and i've never seen a reaction.  his family says he's been in the hospital a couple times and i know he deals with ibs, but i felt like he was making many of his allergies up.  he is extremely difficult to cook for and eating out/visiting friends is hard too.  he picks carrots out of his salads and won't eat off plates where chicken has been.  he even complains about the smells of many things.  i've seen him unknowlingly eat turkey pastrami and soup with chicken broth and salsa with carrots and never had a reaction.  anyway, this forum has helped me to see he may be telling the truth and i'll just have to continue to have some understanding.  i looked into having him go to an allergist but he gets defensive and says i don't belive him, also appears that the allergy tests often have false positives so he may come out thinking he's allergic to even more things he's really not allergic too!  i keep hoping the allergies will go away.  it's hard to find low-fat high protein meals to cook on a budget with no chicken and beans!  sorry to all of you with chicken allergies seems to be the dominant menu item most everywhere.

thanks again

Exactly Armand!! Couldn't have said it better :).

People have to realize that severe allergies are nothing to mess around with! It's not because we are being picky, it's just trying to avoid what we know will happen. You wouldn't eat poison, would you?? Chicken is like poison to us.

For my first post - and yet someone else that is deathly allergic to chicken (I must have at least 3/4 epi pens in strategic places) - skip all of the free range and elimination diets suggested above: go get tested by an allergist. As in my case, they enjoy treating you (most allergist do not have level 4 clients as my chix allergy) and relaying your case with other dox. Take fiemt advise to heart: go get tested/it's easy and not threatening - and will rule out exactly what you have and what to avoid. If you are the lucky one, your allergist will not try and convince you to go vegan in restaurants.