Allergy Symptoms

One question that I get asked a lot is, "What are your symptoms." The list is so long and varied we usually don't make it very far.

I had some rice waffles this morning, and the extreme tiredness I had after eating them (and also Wed. night after eating them for dinner) makes this post rather relevant today. I am hoping it is not the rice flour making me tired. It is more likely, it is the .002% of gluten from barley protein in the Rice Dream Original rice milk that I made them with. I have noticed this milk bothers me some every now and then when I have it in larger quantities too close together. What a bummer...right now it is the only milk product I can have. I have to search out rice milk with no added vitamins (corn) and no gluten.

For those on the hunt of causes of symptoms, I'll list mine here, especially because before even thinking about food allergies I first thought I had other ailments.

Wheat:
1. Fatigue -- extreme tiredness, can't focus and get things done. Begins within minutes after eating offending food and lasts for several hours. Seems to be worse if I eat these allergens 2-3 times in a couple days time span.
2. Cough -- Dry, just a couple times right after eating. I know affectionately call it my "wheat cough" :)
3. Joint pain -- This one took me awhile to figure out. I was having extreme pain in my lower, right hip/back joint and didn't know why. I had an MRI to make sure that it wasn't arthritis. It wasn't until after the wheat was out of my system and I'd eat it every now and then that I realized the connection.
4. Moodiness -- This one is still being tested :) It does seem at times that I am much more irritable 4-24 hours after having wheat/gluten. However, maybe it is just all in my head!
5. Sore/Scratchy Throat -- This is a more recent development that I am not 100% sure is from wheat exposure, but that's my best guess right now!

Dairy (specifically Casein):
1. Stomach ache/digestive problems -- I don't know I can even give specifics. It's been 3 years since I cut back on my dairy intake. I've been dairy-free (other than a few bites every now and then) for 2 /12 yrs. All I know is, I used to be in the bathroom a lot and have lots of pain. I tried sheep's milk cheese (3 times, 3 different days in a row, very small amounts) about 2 months ago. Let's just say, it didn't go well. Since that time I have finally been convinced I am more sensitive to dairy that I first wanted to admit (I was a cheese-a-holic growing up). But, realizing this has also helped me desire it less, which is good!

Soy:
1. Cough -- I get a cough similar to the wheat.
2. Congestion -- mainly slight in my throat
3. Tightness in throat -- Nothing life threatening yet, thankfully, just kinda weird.
4. Digestive issues -- I was eating a food with soy hidden in it several months ago and I knew something was going on because my digestive track was in over-drive.

Corn:
1. Rash/Eczema -- I get this in two places: around my eyes (mainly left) and on my hand (mainly right, in between fingers most prevalent). This will flare up when I have repeatedly eaten a food that contains corn (without my knowing, of course!)
2. Lower abdominal pain/The Big D -- Won't give full details, but it's not fun.
3. Tightness in throat/Congestion -- This happens AFTER #2. It's very weird. It's like I have some delayed anaphylaxis, but it usually happens up to 24-48 hours after I have eaten what I shouldn't have. I am still trying to figure out if this is all corn related.
4. Tiredness/Yawning -- Also part of #3. I will yawn repeatedly for 15-20 minutes. I don't know if it is my body being wiped out from #2 or what, but it comes without fail when I have a bad reaction.
5. Nausea -- This is the last stage of my reaction. Again, after #2 and sort of along with #3 & 4. Can last for 1-2 hours.

Tomato:
1. Cramping/Digestive problems -- This was the biggest thing I remember. I haven't had these at all for 2 1/2 yrs. The doctor said this was my "true" allergy that could easily turn to anaphylaxis if I wasn't careful.
2. Similar problems to corn's #2-5 (and yet they tell me I am not allergic to corn in the same way as tomatoes).

Other suspect foods that I avoid right now due to reactions, but have not had complete allergy testing for them:

Grapes/Raisins:
1. See corn and tomato reactions. They all seem the same for me and stem from my digestive track.

Green/Red/Yellow Peppers:
1. I think similar to tomatoes because they are in the same food family. The last time I had green peppers (sort of to test things) I had a rough time so I won't be eating these again any time soon!

Mushrooms:
1. Tightness in throat/chest -- nothing super dangerous yet, but enough to make me notice and decide to stay away from these! May be related to my mold allergy?

Bananas:
1. Similar to mushrooms. I haven't eaten them too often since being diagnosed with the other allergies because the doctors told me these are often allergenic foods.


I also have multiple environmental allergies that unless I pulled out my list I could never remember them all. Suffice it to say, many trees, pollen, grasses, weeds, pets, molds are included and cause the usual environmental reactions of itchiness, sneezing, congestion.

Within the past two weeks I am also suspicious of having a reaction to nickel or some other metal used in earrings.