Chicken Allergy or Intolerance?

When I was little, my mom used to make a dish of rice, green peppers, tomatoes and chicken, and every time she made it, I would complain of a stomach ache and wouldn't eat it.  She would always just get mad and think I was just being difficult!  Then when I was 4 years old (I'm now 25), we drove an hour to get take-away from a Chinese restaurant that didn't cook with MSG, and on the way home I ate 3 little popcorn shrimp.  Once we got home, my heart started to race and I had dry heaves, and a weird blood-vessel pattern covered my skin.  My parents called the pediatrician, who told them to give me benedrill (not yet knowing I was also allergic to Red Dye #40) and rush me to the hospital (it was night-time but he offered to meet us there).  By the time I got there, the reaction had mostly subsided, but he told my parents to get me allergy tested.

According to the results of the testing, I came up #4 (highest level) as allergic to Shellfish and Peanuts, and was also allergic to chicken, rice, peppers, tomatoes (all the things that were in my mom's dish).  I was also allergic to citrus fruits, melon, raw carrots, bananas...and most fruits to some degree, all of which made my mouth, tongue and throat itch.  I had never had an adverse reaction to peanuts, but the doctor said just to avoid them and all nuts since I tested so high.  On the other hand, I never had a problem with rice, peppers or tomatoes, which I tested allergic to but never had a reaction to.

I avoided most of these foods until I turned 18, which was really difficult.  I was "that kid" that everyone had to make special meal arrangements for when I came over, and it was really embarrassing at restaurants.  When I was 18, the new testing showed that none of the things I was previously allergic to were positve, except for walnuts (but I'd been avoiding all nuts, so that was good news to me!). 

The allergist suggested that I bring peanuts (not roasted, salted or seasoned) into his office, and try eating them there, so that if I have a reaction there'd medical staff there to help.  I had no reaction, and now can eat peanuts!

However, I did the same with chicken, brought in a boiled chicken breast with no seasoning or additives, ate some in his office, and still had a reaction.  It felt like I had to burp, but when I tried to, the chicken just came up in my throat, as if it just wasn't digesting and I had discomfort in my chest and I had to keep swallowing.  This lasted about half an hour or so, and was the same thing that had happened when I was younger and happened with turkey and duck.

The allergist said that since I didn't test positive for chicken allergy, that it wasn't an allergy and must be a digestive problem.

However, it really makes me wonder...after my testing as a child seems to have been so inaccurate (rice, peppers and tomatoes were really no problem, and never had a problem with peanuts, but other things I WAS allergic to didn't test positive).

I don't really know what to do, and I really want to eat chicken!  (and turkey and duck).

I am in marketing and sales, and go to a lot of networking luncheons and dinners...

I always have to call ahead, and then explain to the people at my table why I'm having fish or beef while they're all eating chicken.

I am kind of afraid to try it again..since it always just seems to cause the same problem.

However, I've been wondering if it is a digestive problem....are there digestive enzymes or something I could try??

I am also very allergic to Penecillin, Cephalosporins and Flagyl antibiotics, so that makes me wonder as well (except that I can eat beef and I know they give all that **** to them too!).

And I understand about people not believing you or telling you it's all in your head!!  I hate that, it's NOT all in our heads...

I'm not avoiding really good food and making my life difficult just for fun!!  And I'm not imagining these reactions!!

   -Laura          

It was skin testing...I've never been offered any other option!  The allergist never offered to try further testing, he just said "it's not an allergy since the skin test was negative."  I am not sure what to do next...should I just forget about the whole thing?  Should I try organic chicken?

I have a feeling it won't make much difference.  The reaction doesn't seem to be severe, just unpleasant.  Maybe I should find another allergist and see if he will try blood testing...

I haven't eaten chicken in 7 years, I can barely remember what it tastes like!  (but it smells so gooooood) 

I did try a tiny bit of naturally raised pheasant a few weeks ago, and that seemed to be ok, but I had so little of it that it might not have made a difference.  I wonder if a naturapath might have any suggestions...they are just so expensive.

  -Laura

I'm allergic to all fowl aswell (however, my reactions are anaphylactic). I would suggest to continue staying away from all chicken, even free range. I would also seek out a new allergist. Both the RAST testing and skin testing can have false negatives and false positives... my skin test are extremely positive and yet my RAST show negative. A good allergist will not only rely on these tests, but on the history they take from you. Allergies are difficult and confusing to understand! There is also something else ... it's looks like and acts like an allergic reaction, but it is an anaphylactoid reaction... and these will not show up on allergy tests, since it's a different antibody causing the reaction.

Take care,

Shannon