confused, am i allergic or not

[jarael]

is it possible for dairy allergy symptoms to change?

i ask because i was diagnosed and dairy allergic and lactose intoleerant a few months ago. i have been avoiding mainly but have had many relapses.

sometimes it causes extreme itchin with spot on my back with bad asthma, migraine, naseau, tingly tongue, itchy scratchy or slight sore throat and heartburn, naseau and diarreah. feelings of im gonna die, its like i cant sit still or i feel worse, that prob dont make sense but thats how it feels. bloating, extreme tiredness ,low mood etc etc.

then other times after eating dairy i get a mild reaction with just a funny throat, or maybe itching with a few spots and tiredness. or a mixture of the above symptoms.

i do not understand it, i even had a cheese sandwich a few days ago and my only symptom was bloating, slight itchy tongue and kind of like a sore throat. bad bloating and heartburn next day.

i cant afford another allergy test, not sure if im ok to eat dairy or not. but im scared that symptoms go from light to more serious. i was under the impression from the doctor that allergy symptoms do not change.

does anyone else experience this?


also i have had blurry vision, itchy eyes and sometimes a slight runny nose for past two weeks. doc says front of eye is irritated and caused by a allergy to some plant or tree bt he didnt reckon it was pollen as he said it isnt the season for that.

could this be a cuase also from eating dairy?

[Copper]

An allergy usually gives you swelling eg mouth, throat and or a rash. I guess hives would be an example.

Lactose intolerance gives me bloating, feeling very sick and eventually a trip to the loo.

Your problems appear to fall into both of my descriptions. An intolerance is not going to kill you but an allergy can be life threatening. The swelling can get worse and the throat could close up. You could go into shock.

In your case it is obvious that dairy makes you ill. If I were you I would just cut it out of your diet.

[jarael]

An allergy usually gives you swelling eg mouth, throat and or a rash. I guess hives would be an example.

Lactose intolerance gives me bloating, feeling very sick and eventually a trip to the loo.

Your problems appear to fall into both of my descriptions. An intolerance is not going to kill you but an allergy can be life threatening. The swelling can get worse and the throat could close up. You could go into shock.

In your case it is obvious that dairy makes you ill. If I were you I would just cut it out of your diet.


no more ice cream for me lol, i miss it :(

[Copper]

Buy some Swedish Glace ice cream made with soya, it is very nice.

[jarael]

thanks ill look into that, oh also is tongue goin slightly numb part of an allergic reaction?

[Copper]

I don't know but it is possible. It certainly isn't an intolerance symptom.

[jarael]

ok, had huge set back, seem to be eating almond magnum ice creams, i have had 3 today i cant stop, feel so ill though, how do people overcome these cravings?

[Copper]

I don't like to spend hours feeling sick so that stopped my cravings.

It took me about 2 years to stop missing cheese. I can happily buy cheese for my youngest daughter when she visits. I am not tempted as I know how ill I will be if I eat even the tiniest bit of dairy.

Why not buy some Swedish Glace ice cream? Some health food shops with freezers sell dairy free choc ices and dairy free ice creams some have cones and others are like Magnums.

Just think that you can't tell a Dr that you have problems with dairy if you keep eating it. Why not make a big effort to keep off dairy and at the same time keep a food diary. This will hopefully prove to anybody who will listen that dairy is a problem for you. Keeping a food diary means that if you slip up and are ill you will have yet more proof.

Be strong!

[jarael]

I don't like to spend hours feeling sick so that stopped my cravings.

It took me about 2 years to stop missing cheese. I can happily buy cheese for my youngest daughter when she visits. I am not tempted as I know how ill I will be if I eat even the tiniest bit of dairy.

Why not buy some Swedish Glace ice cream? Some health food shops with freezers sell dairy free choc ices and dairy free ice creams some have cones and others are like Magnums.

Just think that you can't tell a Dr that you have problems with dairy if you keep eating it. Why not make a big effort to keep off dairy and at the same time keep a food diary. This will hopefully prove to anybody who will listen that dairy is a problem for you. Keeping a food diary means that if you slip up and are ill you will have yet more proof.

Be strong!


yeah ur right, i think cus my symptoms are seeming to be milder then they were im telling myself i can eat it all now. when obviously i cant. im feeling very tired, stomach problems. itchy, moody and feel like i cant be bothered to do anything. feel a little naseatated as well. so im gonna have to stop.

i spoke with my doctor today and was told that if i was allergic to a food i would have the exact same symptoms each time i slipped up and ate it. they would not get worse or milder or watever. she near enough said maybe i was eating too much and felt ill because of that. how rude!

i admit i do have a big appetite but i know the difference between over eating and a allergic reaction lol..

today is my last day of dairy. ive had a magnum and some cheesecake. no more. i think the best way for me is to not eat ice cream dairy free either asit will just tempt me to eat the dairy version. and i think the diary is a good idea too. im gonna start that tomorrow as well.

just one question, how do i try to introduce allergic foods back into my diet after a while of avoiding them?

i read somewhere that allergies sometimes just go. dunno if thats tru e or not.

anyway enough of my ramblings and thank you for ur advice

[cnc]

Allergies can worsen over time. That's why people who are allergic to something are told never to eat it, because the next time they could go into anaphylaxis. Some doctors are just not clued up about allergies. Stand your ground and request that they send you to an allergy clinic- it's up to them to prove that you don't need the help rather than for you to prove you need it.

Reintroduction should never be done at home- as I said before it's because you can have a much more severe reaction and therefore should be in a safe environment for any food challenge.

[Copper]

I agree with everything Claire has said here.

[jill]

Jarael, if you are suffering so much the answer is quite simple - just don't have any dairy. It is hard, we have all been there, but it is better to go without than be ill. If you are eating so much dairy - 3 magnums in one day, then a magnum and a cheesecake you are bound to be ill if dairy is your problem. We all have weaknesses but there must be something else you can be naughty with. If you want your doctors to help you then you have to help yourself aswell. And if you are allergic/intolerant you shouldn't be thinking of reintroducing them. Next time you go shopping avoid the icecream aisle. Sorry to sound harsh, just trying to help, just think how pleased you will be with yourself when you have had a day, then a week, then a month with no dairy. As Copper says be strong.

[jarael]

Jarael, if you are suffering so much the answer is quite simple - just don't have any dairy. It is hard, we have all been there, but it is better to go without than be ill. If you are eating so much dairy - 3 magnums in one day, then a magnum and a cheesecake you are bound to be ill if dairy is your problem. We all have weaknesses but there must be something else you can be naughty with. If you want your doctors to help you then you have to help yourself aswell. And if you are allergic/intolerant you shouldn't be thinking of reintroducing them. Next time you go shopping avoid the icecream aisle. Sorry to sound harsh, just trying to help, just think how pleased you will be with yourself when you have had a day, then a week, then a month with no dairy. As Copper says be strong.

it was because of the doctor refusing to help which meant i left depressed and felt the need to binge as he wasnt taking it seriously.

i gave up dairy for a whole month with no relapses and only went to the doctor to get some help with weight loss and happened to mention my allergies to him. he basically told me that it was all in my head and tht i could eat what i liked. so left there and binged.

im gonna stop now though and stick to a food diary and no dairy. woke up this morning with banging head ache and flu like symptoms and was itching all night. so think i have learned my lession lol

[jarael]

Allergies can worsen over time. That's why people who are allergic to something are told never to eat it, because the next time they could go into anaphylaxis. Some doctors are just not clued up about allergies. Stand your ground and request that they send you to an allergy clinic- it's up to them to prove that you don't need the help rather than for you to prove you need it.

Reintroduction should never be done at home- as I said before it's because you can have a much more severe reaction and therefore should be in a safe environment for any food challenge.

thanks for the advice, i think im gonna have to stop, woke up this morn with wat seems like flu but without the blocked nose. dunno if related to all the dairy i have been eating but not gonna chance it again.

im struggling cus dairy was a big part of my diet before i gave it up. and i dont like dark choclate. so im craving ice cream and milk all the time. im good in that i dont buy it and store it in the house. but just means i was goin to the shop a few times a day to buy ice cream.

[jarael]

I agree with everything Claire has said here.

i agree with claire too, and although it may seem as though im not taking everyones advice, i really am and i really do appreciate it. just finding it so hard.:(

[Copper]

I know it is hard but just keep remembering how ill you feel when you have dairy.

Also if you have an allergy then it can be life threatening, so please be careful.

[jarael]

ok no more dairy for me :(

[jarael]

strange, woke up today with no ill feelings watsoever, all yesterday and last night i had flu symptoms but without blocked nose or runny nose and also had bad tight chest, i have asthma.

[Copper]

Was yesterday a dairy free day? Good to hear that you are feeling better today.

[jarael]

hi copper thanks i have been dairy free since my last post, have lost 5 pounds in weight and itching and asthma now gone, there were a few times when i picked up a magnum or a chocolate bar then decided to put it back. this works better for me then avoiding to face the ice cream isle. makes me feel that i still have a choice rather than hiding it away and not facing up to it, if u know wat i mean. :)

[Copper]

Well done. I hope that you have put this in your diary. The fact that you no longer have asthma and not feeling itchy is important.

[jill]

Keep it up Jarael. It is very encouraging to hear your symptoms are going so soon. I thought it would have taken a little longer before you started to see an improvement. Well done on the weight loss aswell.

[jarael]

yes all gone in the diary, clothes feel looser again this morning, no bloating.

i think i am goin to avoid the dairy free ice cream i was planning to try, cus i know wat im like. if i coulnt be bothered to go right into town to buy it or couldnt afford it one week i know id go back to the magnums lol.

i have taken up eaten victoria plums and sugar free jelly. not together though lol