Welcome to my journey! Since we're starting at the very beginning, here are the facts. I'm 29 and I haven't been healthy for years. I didn't really realize just how unhealthy I was till I started seeing a naturopathic doctor. Turns out, asthma shouldn't rule my life, chronic pain isn't normal, and I shouldn't be having headaches every day. I had no idea that what I eat could be the cause of all that! 1 major cleanse and 6 weeks later, I was feeling great. Then I started introducing all my old foods back into my diet and the crap hit the fan. I had gotten a food allergy panel done once the cleanse was over, but hadn't received the results yet so I felt like I was living on borrowed time. I was eating like crap and I knew it. Last week I had my first asthma attack in 6 months. It was scary and horrible and it happened on the very same day I got the results of my test. Seems like someone is trying to tell me it's time to get serious! So, I am embarking on a journey that I know will not be easy. I am doing this to be healthy and feel whole, but I know it is going to be rough going.
This blog is a chance to share my journey with you. You may have food allergies, know someone who does, or just be curious. I hope to use this forum to educate, vent, share my struggles and accomplishments, tell stories, post recipes, and anything else that might come along the way. So, here it is. Hope you enjoy.
How do I know what I'm allergic to?
I had my blood drawn for a food allergy panel. Here's how it works. They take your blood and add 110 seperate food, then they watch what your blood does. If it accepts the food as a nutrient, you're golden. If it attacks the food (which is indicated by an imuno response), you're not so golden. I have 22 food allergies. My naturopath would correct me and tell me they're "food sensitivities", but tell that to my raging asthma attack!!
What I'm allergic to:
The test splits up the allergens into 3 categories, High, Moderate, and Low. After three months of avoiding all these food, I may be able to add back in ones from the low category.
High
Aspergillus Niger (the google machine tells me this stuff is often found on peanuts, grapes, and onions)
Casein
Cheese (American, Cottage)
Egg white
Parsley
Yogurt
Moderate
Baker’s yeast
Kidney beans
Cheese (mozzarella, parmesean, swiss)
Low
Brewer’s yeast
Buttermilk
Cilantro
Cow’s milk
Ginger
Kale
Lamb
Pineapple
Tuna
White Mushrooms 
Oh, my friend. As a lover of food, you know how sorry I am for you. At least you know now. And at least gluten isn't on that list, too! No, but seriously. That sucks.
ReplyDeleteSo when they took your blood, did they just do one big draw, or did you have to have the 300 needle sticks? We're pretty sure that Sam still has several food allergies that we haven't yet identified and we want to get him tested.... but are afraid of traumatizing him. But i'm sure his life would be easier if we could get him on his allergen-free diet as young as possible.
Do it, do it, do it. I wish I had known when I was younger! It will be so much easier for him if you start early. It's all one blood draw. No way am I putting 110 needles in me!! The lab that did mine was NeuroScience and it was covered by my insurance. Find a naturopathic doc in your area and have them do it, it will make your life with him soooooo much easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks, lady! I keep telling Bill we need to just find out everything he has sensitives to, to make Sam's life easier, and Bill thinks we can just figure it out on our own, because he doesn't want to make Sam get the horrible kind of testing. But one draw sounds very do-able. Thanks! I'll look into it. Not to mention, it will make OUR life easier - Sam can't be potty trained until these allergies are under control... for reasons too disgusting to say on your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for not oversharing. I appreciate that. You can do some elimination to find out allergies, but it is far too difficult to figure out all of what he may have trouble with unless you get the test done.
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