can allergies cause stomach problems?

Hi I was hoping someone could help me out with some issues Ive had pretty much my whole life.

Have you been tested for gluten intolerance or anything of that sort?  Maybe try to keep a diary of the foods you eat and what and where you're at during these times.  I've been diagnosed with Mastocytosis, and have been told by my doctor that I HAVE to get a different job, as my work environment is a trigger for my attacks.  (Pretty much a case of sick building syndrome and my body just can't take it anymore!)

 

Best wishes,

Shelley

Hi Shelley,

My 9yr old son suffers from the very same symptoms (just as you described) and has for a while. His stomach hurts all the time, especially when his allergies are acting up. He was tested for allergies and everything indoors bother him, in the summer he's not as bad because he's outside most of the time and is not bothered by outside allergies. He wakes up crying in the morning, heads to the bathroom several times during the day thinking that will help (has his teachers worried). He takes allergy pills and a nasal spray but we haven't tried the shots yet. I suffered from allergies and asthma my whole life, did the shots as a kid, but my stomach never hurt like that. We've seen 3 different doctors and they all say "it's allergies" but they don't give us a cure to make his poor stomach stop hurting. We've changed his diet thinking that might help but it's still the same. I'm at a loss.

Hello, I am a 50 year old male. I had this problem when I was in 5th grade. The stomach pain was on the left side and between the rib cage bottom and an invisable horazontal line from the belly button. The pain got so bad that it was diagnosed by a doctor (in the 60's) as possibly that my appendix was on the wrong side some how. 

We recently moved to Florida from Minnesota. My now 11 year old son (5th grade) has always been healthy. Since moving here he's broken out in hives, been diagnosed w/ asthma, and has tested positive for allergies to certain grass & mold that is highly prevalent in Florida, dogs and hamsters. He's been complaining of horrible pain in his stomach, along the belly button and on his left side. He also fluctuates between constipation & diarrhea. He's had multiple blood work done, undergone an endoscopy & a colonoscopy, had CT scans and some sort of scan that tests the function of his liver & gallbladder. They've found antibodies for Crohn's disease, but yet the colonoscopy came back negative. They tested his stool samples for bacteria, which came back negative, but during the colonoscopy came back positive. He was on a strong antibiotic for 2 weeks, but the pain never got any better. Suddenly the pain went away in November. Now, in the past month, the pain is back. He had horrible diarrhea for about a week, but since several family members also had it for a day or two, I wasn't too concerned until it continued, so I took him to a general doctor. He thought it may be bacterial and allergy related, so he's on another antibiotic right now. He also told me to put him back on his asthma/allergy meds. I've put him on his asthma inhaler daily, his allergy nasal inhaler daily, and switched from Claritin to Claritin D as of yesterday. (the Claritin D is what has been recommended). I'm hoping that the pain gets under control. I'm more and more convinced that the pain & other symptoms are allergy related. I just don't know what I can do to help it. If anyone else has anything that works, I'd love to hear it. I'm relieved in reading other's symptoms above, knowing that I'm not alone in this. I've felt so helpless.

It sounds like his body is in overdrive.
Has he had any food allergy testing?

Joy

He was tested for every allergy after he broke out in hives. The skin test had come back negative, so they actually drew blood to check more thoroughly. His gastroenterologist also tested for allergies and celiac disease. The only sensitivity was dairy. He's been on Claritin D for about 3 days now, and he says his stomach is hurting a little less now. He's still on the antibiotic too. What do you mean by his body is in overdrive?

I am sitting here with a tummy ache and the runs while i was reading this and my allergist tells me that it does upset your stomach and bowels and causes loose stool. I also have severe anxiety about being sick, i am a germaphobe to the extreme and i take xanax to curb that as needed and i find that when i take one or a half of one it eases the pain in the bowels ALOT! I always ask the nurse who gives me my shots every other week if i am crazy or what, cause i always have the runs and a tummy ache and she assures me it is from the drainage.

bkhuast,
I mean it sounds like he's having a cascade effect: one thing is setting off another and it is setting off the next...and so on.

I've had something like that happen to me before. It's hard to get it under control. Keep taking the medicine it will help over time.

Joy

I have had a burning in my stomach where it feels very warm and often will result in several trips to the bathroom. I have discovered it is related to coffee (caffine and the acid). It is not an allergy, as I have had it checked. It also comes from other sources of caffine. Something to consider. Be well.

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the replies. It has now been a couple of years since I posted and I'm doing a little bit better so let me update you on what I've gone through so maybe some of you and your loved ones can find some relief as well.

The blood test for celiac is not very accurate. Only the scope and biopsy tells it right.

Lots of food and additive allergies have no blood or skin test. I am allergic to sulfite.

My allergist had me keeping a food log with dates, times, reactions. I react within a half hour to two at most, but some people - the ones who get migraines - react up to two days after eating too much sulfite. That could also be the case for skin reactions. But keeping a food journal could help!

Seeing an allergist is a good idea too. My gastroenterologist still doesn't believe that my reflux was triggered by sulfite-containing foods! My cardiologist is skeptical too (I also get tachycardia), but I found some research papers describing gastric reflux triggering tachycardia.

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Alcie

i have allergies and stomach problems, diarrhea, bloating, belching constantly for 4 mo. ordeal. my gastrologist.who did a colonscopy+endoscopy+biopies(ok), dx: chronic duodenitis.

Please be careful with that problem my aunt developed a severe case of that and died from it.
Are you taking probiotics? It will help get you back in balance.

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Joy

I have stomach problems with my severe food allergies. Approximately two weeks ago, I found out I had high level of antibodies for Chrons. However, I do not have the classic symptoms associated with it such as diarrhea and vomiting after food consumption or damage to my intestines. Over the past five years, I only had three instances where I vomited and had diarrhea after eating food. But, I can tell you that certain foods cause me to experience bloating and gas. Perhaps, you should make an appointment to see a Gastorologist to get checked for Chrons, Celiac disease or IBS. Unfortunately, I still do not have diagnosis for my problem. Since the Chrons is not active in my case, I highly doubt is causing my food alleries. And, the mystery go on. Hopefully, the doctor and researcher from USF can crack the code on Aug. 30.

I hope the advice helps and you feel better soon.

I did not see the recent message posted with the diagnosis before posting my response. I am glad you got a diagnosis and hope you feel better soon.

once I had an allergy attack after eating some almonds, then I had spasm to death, I could hardly breathe, I asked the medicine if allergy can cause spasm, he then told me: my son, allergy can cause anything, allergy can kill, its behavior is somehow unknown to us.

Post Edited (maziar) : 8/17/2011 10:39:07 PM (GMT-6)

I recently learned the difference between an allergy and an intolerance and I thought I'd share...this is a pretty general resource but I found it helpful...hopefully someone on here will too - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/27/earlyshow/saturday/main602681.shtml

xXGamerXx

My husband has environmental allergies. Sometimes, he mentions that his stomach is upset due to the post nasal drip from the allergies. On rare occasions, my stomach get upset from the post nasal drip as well.

Personally, I don't believe in food intolerance. Any food that caused an allergic reaction in the past is still problem for me.

In my case, I develop new allergies as time passes. Eventually, I won't be able to eat anything without taking Benadryl. The doctors do not have a clue. All I know is that I cannot avoid everything.

Next week, I am going to ask my doctor if food allergies can cause Chrons disease. I have the antibodies for Chron's but not the classic symptoms.

I have a 9 year old who has lots of stomach pain.  We avoid anything with red dye and it seems to help. 

I'm going through the same thing now. I am nauseated all the time with bloating and pain and running to the bathroom. I have had bloodwork and a cat scan and am scheduled to have a colonoscopy. I am now thinking it's caused by so much sinus drainage. When the drainage is bad, I am so sick. I think I need to see the allergist again. I was wondering if anyone here has used the electric irrigation system for the sinuses? I am thinking of ordering it to see if it helps.

I read something about that last night in a book called "No More Digestive Problems". The writer explained that when one is exposed to allergens, they can increase the activity and output of proton acid pumps of the stomach and that may be the cause of some pain in the stomach.

She recommended the use of the acid blockers such as Zantrac, Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid, or Prilosec.

Prilosec is now available in full strength over the counter and is a more potent acid-blocker that lasts for 24 hours. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor and is safe to use indefinitely, according to Dr. Cynthia Yoshida, the author of "No More Digestive Problems". If symptoms continue beyond the use of this medication, she recommends that you need to see a doctor.