Food Allergy

[chrissimone]

Hi all, I think I have food allergies, I have been trying to figure out what they are, but not having much luck. I stopped eating ice cream, and it seemed to go away. then came back so I stopped eating sugar and I stopped itching again and then after a while started itching again. In march of this year I had a skin test at chaing mai ram, and it came out negative. That is what the Dr. said, but I had some spots of swelling and redness which were gone when the Dr. came to check the test, so I am not sure. I talked to another Dr. in bangkok at the seventh day adventist hospital, and he said all he could do is another skin test,and gave me some pills (very expensive) and said there is no blood test for allergies. I have talked to people here in the US who have had blood tests, also I read in this forum , about people getting then here in Thailand at the Bumangrad? Can I just go there and ask for a blood test for my allergies? I hope to return to Thailand in Jan. Thanks, Chris.

[zorro1]

when are you next home? Thailand doesn't cater well for allergies and food intolerance so your best off seeing a naturopath back home

What makes you think its food and not soap etc? good luck

[chrissimone]

Thanks for the reply, the first thing I changed was my laundry soap, shampoo and soap, didn't make any different. I am in hawaii now but live in a small town. My GP left town so hard to get to a doctor here. I called one and he said $250.00 first visit, manatory 2nd visit then he would test me. I think he prescribes a lot of pot for medication, so not sure if he is top of the line. I was hoping I could find a cheaper doctor in Thailand, but if they are no good I will look here. Thanks Chris.

[WaiWai]

Air-borne pollens and other substances can cause irritation and excema (google it). Worth considering if nothing obvious seems t be the cause. Topical creams would help if that is the case.

[Mosha]

Is it only when you are in Thailand? What are you eating here that you never eat at home? I have a bad allergy to crutaceans. Crab, prawn, lobster will have me on a toilet inside a couple of hours. I do know of some with same allergy as I have but have your reaction.

[WaiWai]

Not sure quite what you mean when you say the skin test came out negative.

Did they draw lots of small squares on you and expose you to the various usual suspects ?

[chrissimone]

Hi Wai Wai, Mosha, I get it more here in hawaii, but somtimes in thailand also, so I think it is something I eat rather than an airborne. I love seafood and know that it is suspect, but haven't had a reaction after eating crab or shrimp, or fish. The doctor poked me on the inside of my arms I think about, 18 times, and wrote numbers beside each poke. When I have a reaction it is itching, sometimes with a rash. It tends to last about half an hour.Thanks for the reply, Chris.

[Mosha]

It certainly sounds like you need to see someone, who knows about allergic reactions. Food allergies are more common than people think. Roughly 25% of people are thought to have some kind of reaction. However the vast majority have reactions that are so minor they are not even aware of the problem. One of my brothers always feels the need to urinate if he smells old books, like the smell you get in libraries.

[bina]

mosha

so does my dog, foofoo. he prefers my english language paperbacks though...

'sorry, couldnt resist'

chris, the bloodtests are for certain things like yeast (which is very very prolific in food and just 'around'); how do u know its from food? some reactions btw take 24 hours to show up as a reaction...

it could be a pollen from a flower (hawaii and thailand have a lot of the same flora) or tree; it could be fruit (mango, lots of tropicals cause rash skin allergies)

it could be sun exposure

pollution

proteins (cat enzyme, cockroach enzyme, dog saliva proteins - my kid is allergic to our dogs' licking )

additives in certain foods; canned foods

types of nuts besides peanuts

oils

anything that was made in a factory that has a food item that u are allergic to, gets contaminated, and therefor incites a reaction (like food products that have had contact with peanuts from the same production line as an example)

the possibilities are endless.

and even if they test u, they test for the majority of things most people in a given country are allergic to... but may miss out on others, or the tests for some things might not exist... try eating only basic food items for a week, and then slowly add things back (thats how its done for babies/children for the most part)...

why dont u google food allergies a bit to read on the major med sites they are very helpful

check for things like milk powder that can be in ice cream that u think has no milk in it, (buy parve kosher, no milk products there at all), for starters since milk is a main known allergen. but caffeine and gluten are catalyzers for other allergies so cut back completely for starters.

dont just change soaps and detergents, stop using them all together. dont worry, u still come out clean in the shower. really. dont shower with hot hot water (as the thai always say also).

forgot: could be the water itself (daughter is allergic to hot water, every shower makes her break out in hives unless she showers in, surprise, cool water).

stay away from teas, herbal and otherwise as some of those are allergenic as well. same as propolis. (two of my three kids are allergic to propolis. we found out the hard way.)

allergy doctors basically have to puzzle it all out based on what info u supply so u have to keep records and help them help u (i've got an allergic family so know the id allergen procedures fairly well by now)...

bina

israel

[chrissimone]

mosha, I think I have allergies to food and airbourne pollen. Maybe my bird also. Do you know of a octor that does allergies in bangkok? I went to the allergy specialist, at Chaing Mi Ram, and he didn't help. Should I try just going to Bumrungrad and asking to see allergy doctor?

Bina, thanks for the reply, I think I have a reaction to about everything on your list. 80% of the time I start itching at night after my hot shower, so tonight I took a warm shower instead, I will try that for a while and see if it helps. I don't think I have the will power to stop all those foods, most are my favorites and I am addicted to food.

I am pretty sure it is multiply things I am allergic too, I was hoping I could get a blood test and find my allergens that way. Both my ex-wife and my brother did this, and they said they got a print out of their triggers with the worst listed first, and the most mild listed last.

Thanks again, Chris.

[bina]

the ideas i gave u were from my son's skin tests and my niece's skin test (she's four but awful skin allergies that become infected-- the list she was given was very very long, and basically, her parents decided to concentrate on the majors, reduce a bit the minors and just deal-- she is getting loratidine (my kid does also which helps reduce her allergy reaction to the water, and to the dog saliva, her asthma remains more or less the same)...

in general, psychologically speaking the lists help u, but practicality wise, they make u crazy reading ingredients... and u become very obsessive about what u eat...

our doc says that three quarters of our food stuffs are triggers for anyone with allergies, just some people handle them better: caffeine, gluten, seafoods, canned stuff with preservatives in it, etc are all easy to take out of your diet (eat rice and rice based products, eat home cooked food, dont drink cola and coffee, dont use bought food preparations but make your own...

Although an individual could be allergic to any food, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats, there are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions. These are: milk, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

from the food allergy site he recommended to my niece's parents.

dont use animal based (lanolin) skin creams, or any with alcohol in them ...

birds cause allergies because of the mites in their feathers which secrete proteins that cause allergies: de mite your bird, keep his cage very clean

use cotton only clothing that fits loosely, wash using baking powder laundry soap or no soaps at all and no softners

stay away from chocolate, strawberries, oranges, mangoes

cashews, sesame seeds (sesame oil, tehina , candies) sunflower seeds and by products and oils

i forgot latex and exposure to the rubber tree (grows in thailand and hawaii), and latex used in tons of products, even some really weird ones that i forgot (on niece's list)...

good luck

bina

[chrissimone]

Bina, Thanks again for the reply. I will watch the things on the list, But I am still not sure, can I have a blood test done and recieve a list of my allergies? Thanks Chris.

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

There is an allergy clinic in Chiang Mai though I have had no experience with it. Did you see an Allergist (allergy specialist) or have you been seeing a general physician? If you haven't seen an allergist that would be a good move. I'll try to get more info on the allergy clinic in CM for you when I'm out tomorrow.

[chrissimone]

Hi, I saw the allergist at chaing mai ram, He only came in on saturdays, so he was maybe from the clinic. I am not sure if I will make it to Chiang mai this trip or not, so no need to go out of your way, but thanks for the offer. I plan on going there, but, my plans are always changing, so not sure. What I would like to know, is if I can get a blood test in thailand to get a list of my allergies. Thanks,Chris.

[tim armstrong]

Hi, I saw the allergist at chaing mai ram, He only came in on saturdays, so he was maybe from the clinic. I am not sure if I will make it to Chiang mai this trip or not, so no need to go out of your way, but thanks for the offer. I plan on going there, but, my plans are always changing, so not sure. What I would like to know, is if I can get a blood test in thailand to get a list of my allergies. Thanks,Chris.

Hi Chris,

Sometimes the fear factor kicks in. The more allergies you have, the more you think you have. i.e. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Try some simplified lifestyle changes based on the replies so far. Try a veggie, fruit, diet for a month. drink bottled water only, and don't use ice unless you know its source. Especially don't eat anything that could have been sprayed with agrochemicals or injected with hormones. Are you stressed about something? -If so it may be playing a part . Tim

[chrissimone]

Thanks Tim, Maybe it is stress, I can't pinpoint any food or other factors. It is so hard for me to change my diet radically, I guess In will live with it. The itching doesn't last too long, 5 minutes to 1 hour. thanks for the reply,Chris.

[disgruntled]

The air quality our here in Thailand can be terrible. One day the air seems to be filled with particles and the next day its totally different. There's no telling what is drifting through the air here.

If you are in the US your probably using the heat now which has been off for some time. That might set some particles into the air of your sealed home.

Just wanted to add some thoughts. I don't know much about this.

[h90]

there is a test which you can do yourself, you just need to find on google how it is done. It needs several weeks. on the beginning you just eat one kind of food noone is alergic and than you add step by step other things. Must be terrible, but can be done.