Have you become more sensitive...?

[Pen]

I was just wondering if anyone else had become more sensitive to allergens since they cut out culprit foods from their diet. Within weeks of my cutting out the foods that I was sensitive too (and I always avoid the ones I am allergic to), I noticed that I was unable to tolerate certain smells. At the smallest whiff of someone's perfume I would start coughing uncontrollably. I had already stopped using anything perfumed (mainly because of the nasty synthetic chemicals that go into most perfumes), but my poor husband also had to stop wearing aftershave when he was around me. Tobacco smoke also affects me much more than it did (thankfully no one in my family smokes) too.

[matt]

probably more to do with your nose becoming sensitive to smell again after being suppressed due to allergic reactions. nasal cavities clearing out and hence things smell stronger now...just an idea

[Pen]

Nice theory Matt, but my sense of smell has always been acute and I only rarely had hayfever (thinking about it, this is the first year I have suffered with that for a few years). I am just wondering if I have become more allergic to things as a result of coming off my steroid inhaler (for lungs) earlier this year. I think an Internet search is imminent...

[Fozzybear]

Since cutting out milk I've only had one bad reaction, to an antibiotic. The other reactions I've had have all been very mild, either because I'm I'm not getting a build-up of lactose any more or because when I've accidentally eaten it the amount has been small.

"...my name is Paul and I am lactose intolerant. It has been 12 months since my last drink of milk." ;)

[Pen]

Wow, I just found a very interesting article on "Nutritional Causes of Allergies" http://www.tracemineralanalysis.com/allergies_and_hair_analysis.htm (http://www.tracemineralanalysis.com/allergies_and_hair_analysis.htm). This is likely to be of interest to those of you with allergies. From reading it, I think I have found the answer to my problem of acquiring a perfume allergy... it is because my adrenals are drained (because of using a steroid inhaler for 17 years) and because I came off the inhaler earlier in the year (the steroids from the inhaler were keeping my allergies at bay). This is part of the article:

"The adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones; including cortisol (an anti-inflammatory hormone), which normally serves to prevent allergic reactions. Normally, when one is exposed to an irritating substance, the body increases its production of these anti-inflammatory hormones which prevents an allergic response from occurring. Most individuals suffer from allergies because theya re not producing adequate amound of adrenal galnd hormones. An adrenal insufficiency is the major cause of allergies to pollen, dusts, molds, animal hair, foods and environmental chemicals."

[Copper]

I know what my lactose limit is and if I stick to it I am fine. Sometimes I put a little too much lactolite in my coffee so I take a lactase capsule. The last time I had a major overdose it caught up with me at bedtime and I spent the whole night feeling very very sick. I do not want to get like that again.

I think that I do react faster to lactose, eggs etc since I have identified that I have a problem with them.

[Nic]

I definitely react to smaller amounts of milk the less I have. I used to be OK with no milk all week and then a pizza with cheese on, but that was five years ago and now even butter on vegetables will set me of. I used to use this as a reason to 'cheat' every so often, but I've been persuaded that life is easier if I don't, so now I'm quite strict.

Nic

[ellsie]

I didn't have a milk allergy until I cut it out of my diet for 6 months. On returning to milk was when the problem reared its ugly head.:(

[alexx]

I definitely have become more sensitive to milk - I had a "lapse" from my diet recently (tempted by a pizza when tipsy!) and the the next day had an awful reaction (and no it wasn't hangover ;) ) I certainly learnt my lesson!

[Nic]

Alexx - I so empathise. I have never felt so ill in my life than when (many years ago, when young and foolish) I scoffed profiteroles when rather drunk. My boyfriend (now husband) still claims it was the sherry, champagne, red wine, white wine, port and brandy... but I know better!

Nic