Allergies

Do any of you suffer with insane allergies to foods?  Its getting to the point where I cant eat anything anymore!  I just learned after my third attack of hives, relentless itching, weakness, and a pounding heart, that I'm either allergic to meat (the latest being beef roast) or possibly MSG.  I am so incredibly sick of this!!!!!!!!!!!!  What do I have left besides food that makes me feel decent?  I havent had a good nights sleep in so long that I'm cranky and irritable.... because of all the itching I do.  Its not meds because I am down to Tylenol and Advil.  I've cut out so much already because of the stupid pancreatitis, and now this!

Its my understanding that hives in particular, can be stress related, as can the itching. I don't really know much about this, but a friend who gets hives has said this is the case. She takes OTC benadryl and it seems to help.

I have an MSG reaction myself, but it is just a feeling of "hot cheeks" and rushing blood - no itching.

So, I'm not much help in the way of suggestions or shared experience, but I hope you find help soon. Not sleeping and not eating sure makes life difficult.

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Lynnwood, Co-Moderator: Lupus Forum
SLE(’00), Sjogren's Syndrome, Raynaud's Syndrome, SAD, Depression, Herpes Simplex 1
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OTC Daily: Multivitamin, Calcium, B-12, C, D; As Needed: Ibuprofen, Tylenol Sinus

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I linked an interesting article about food intolerances. Maybe it will give you some insight:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/401_food.html

DH's cousin had many food allergies. She is young, 12 years old. Eventually what they had to do was eliminate everything and start with the basics... more a trial and error thing.

Hi victoria, I  am sorry you are going through this. I don't mean to question your doctors but from a very early age when my stress what really bad I broke out in hives that look like someone hit me with a ball bat. and really thick rashes like I rolled in poison ivy. They put me on valium and the problems resolved themself. After the stress was gone  went off of it. I know you have way too much going on in your life right now.  was just wondering if they explored that a a possibility for these problems?

I pray you find answers

hugs

carol

Hi Victoria:

I'm not going to be of much help here. As I suffer from no allergies, except to most narcotics. I'm sorry that you having to deal with this. I do however, have a child with horrible allergies. My daughter gets allergy shot weekly. I would suggest that you see an Allergist, and be tested to find out excatly what you're allergic too. They can mix a blend of what you're allergic to and begin giving you small doses of what your allergic to, and you'll build up a resistance to the stuff you're allergic to. I have to say it's a very long process and sometimes you can have a reaction, but you'll have it in the office, and they'll deal with it then and there. The overall process is TOTALLY worth it. It's made a world of difference for my daughter. Prior to the shots, she was living on antibiotics for sinus infections, now she's been antiobiotic free for over 2 yrs. She's been doing the shot for 4 years this August. Once you've reached maintenance level, you only need a shot once a month.

I hope that you get some relief soon, and I wish you the best always.

Take care,
Barbara

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dx fibro, SLE, glaucoma, cateracts, bells palsy, depression, migraine headaches, gastreopaersis, chronic anemia, MDS (Blood Cancer). Mediport and tons of meds.