Severe Food Allergies

[mouse]

My corn allergy went through the roof. I was hoping that I was allergic to the protein, but after trying marg. I found I am allergic to the whole thing. I used an epi-pen and oxygen last night and finally sent my husband to the drug store to refill my last Medrol Pac (predizone). I am better today, but scared. My dairy allergy is not this bad. But, I have been able to avoid dairy and only use it once or twice a month to make mash potatoes. If I use butter, my body breaks out in these rare type hives and my breathing becomes so bad and then I am on predizone. Tomorrow we are going to the health food store and hunt for a corn free marg. plus so many other items without corn. This is not going to be fun to learn how to cook all over again. I just learned how to cook gluten free.

So, if anyone has tried alternative treatments for allergies I would like to know how it went for you. I cannot take shots as over a two year period they were never able to increase me to the next level.

I also would like some suggestions on brands for the health food store that are gluten free, corn, soy and dairy free. I need marg., ketchup, tarter sauce, tomatoe sauce and some ideas for snacks. I just gave away most all of my gluten-free snacks as most had cornstarch or corn syrup in them.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[tarnalberry]

I pretty much never use margarine. You can cook with just plain olive oil or canola oil, and it will turn out just fine.

[mouse]

My problem is that I use more margarine in mashed potatoes instead of a lot of milk. I also might have figured out why I reacted so bad on Friday. Besides putting margerine on my baked potato (ate out), I also had a Jack Daniels and coke. Does anyone know if rum has corn in it? I can't live on prednizone and have to figure this out quickly.

Thank you Tarnelberry for the advice, but I already cook with Canola and Olive oil. But, I can't eat a plain baked potato as I hate them. I also like sandwiches every so often, which I suppose I can leave the marg. off.

[burdee]

Hi Armetta:

I have gluten, casein and soy intolerances. On potatoes I use casein/soy free margarine "SMART SQUEEZE" made by the Smart Beat Company. On sandwiches I use Nalley's Light Mayonnaise which is made from canola oil and is sugar free (no soy). Also Spectrum Naturals makes a canola based (no soy or dairy) mayonaise, but not the 'canola light' variety which has soy. I'm not sure if soy bothers you, but that's common with people who don't tolerate casein. Good luck shopping.

BURDEE

[tarnalberry]

My problem is that I use more margarine in mashed potatoes instead of a lot of milk. I also might have figured out why I reacted so bad on Friday. Besides putting margerine on my baked potato (ate out), I also had a Jack Daniels and coke. Does anyone know if rum has corn in it? I can't live on prednizone and have to figure this out quickly.

Thank you Tarnelberry for the advice, but I already cook with Canola and Olive oil. But, I can't eat a plain baked potato as I hate them. I also like sandwiches every so often, which I suppose I can leave the marg. off.

margerine on sandwhiches? I remember seeing that when I went to france and being *shocked*! :-) eh... whatever you grew up with, I suppose. :-)

as for mashed potatoes, I'm CF myself, and found that using chicken broth is a pretty decent substitution. works fabulously for rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, and works reasonably well with a bit of olive oil for regular mashed potatoes as well.

[jnclelland]

My problem is that I use more margarine in mashed potatoes instead of a lot of milk. I also might have figured out why I reacted so bad on Friday. Besides putting margerine on my baked potato (ate out), I also had a Jack Daniels and coke. Does anyone know if rum has corn in it? I can't live on prednizone and have to figure this out quickly.

Don't know about rum, but Coke is sweetened with corn syrup.

Jeanne

[mouse]

Mu decaf diet pepsi box does not list corn syrup. Am I misreading it? Aren't diet sodas sweetened with something else? I have the Celiac diet down pat, but this is really throwing me for a loop. Now I have to wonder if the drink did it as I did not ask for diet soda. Maybe, I am still just allergic to the protein of corn and not the whole thing. If that is so, I could still have fries at Famous Sam's (separate frier and they cut them fresh). But, I am just to scared to try them now. From a link that was posted on another thread, it said if you are allergic to the protein, then you can still have the oil which means my margarine. I will have to wait sometime to try it I am allergic to casein which is the protein in milk and so I was hoping that was the case with the corn.

[BRUMI1968]

As for margarine...I suggest you try Ghee...it is clarified butter. Purity Farms makes some that says it is lactose and casein free...I'm not particularly sensitive to those things so I can't vouch for non-reaction, but ghee is the only dairy I eat. It is made by heating the butter, then scraping off the junk that floats to the top. It is expensive, but a little bit goes a long way. It does have an interesting taste - but I've gotten used to it. It greases things up just like butter - just tastes a bit different is all.

Corn is a tough one - American food has lots of corn in it. An interesting book to read for you might be "The Omnivores Dilemma" by Michael Pollen...the first section. It is all about how much corn is in our food. I'm sure your library would have the book.

Imagine foods? Is that the name of a brand that makes allergen free cookies? Their snickerdoodles are good.

I'll do more research and post again, but I thought I'd mention the ghee.

[Mango04]

Are you saying you do eat dairy once or twice a month? That might make you react more strongly to the corn, even if the dairy allergy isn't too severe. Sounds strange, but that's what happens to me. I tried reintroducing small amounts of dairy a while back and it made me react to everything. If I eat small amounts of soy, (which I'm also allergic to), even once or twice a month, I react to all sorts of other things all throughout that month as well.

I also just completely stopped using any sort of butter or margarine. I find if I don't have it in my fridge I just don't really need it. Olive oil, coconut oil and grapeseed oil work well for me.

I remember seeing margarine on sandwiches when I was in Australia once. I thought it was pretty surprising too

[shai76]

I have life threatening allergies as well. I am receiving immunotherapy for my environmental allergies, and that seems to be helping me all around. But if you are that allergic to stuff you should really watch the inactive ingredients in your meds. You don't take Advair, do you? It contains milk proteins. My doc was outta town (serving in Iraq, actually) and his associates assistant gave me a sample. I stupidly trusted her. As soon as I inhaled the stuff I started barfing violently, had an asthma attack and brokeout all over. I told the pulmonolgist about it that she sent me to see and she was all, "there's no milk in Advair. But I brought a list of the inactive ingredients from the package and showed her. HA! Doctors don't know what is in meds a lot of the time.

Anyway, the best thing to do now is AVOID at all costs. Read all packaging, but since your allergies are like mine, don't trust anyone or anything. Make everything yourself from scratch. Forget about the margarine, you'll never find a kind that is soy free AND dairy free. Try cooking with olive oil. Make all your french fries from real potatos. Cook only whole foods, no processed stuff. If there are more then a couple ingredients in something, don't bother with it. Rice pasta is pretty good, but I actually prefer just regular jasmine rice.

The best things to have for cooking are a rice steamer, a grill (even an indoor one, which is what I use and it makes great steaks), and ice cream maker, which may sound weird, but you can buy milks you can drink (almond or rice milk) or make some yourself and then make ice cream with no cross contamination. I bought one for $25 that has a base I keep in the freezer and requires no rock salt or ice. You just plug it in, add the ingredients, and within a half an hour you have ice cream.

The good news is I've heard from others that if you stay gluten free you may just "get over" your food allergies. I'm hoping and praying.

My problem is that I use more margarine in mashed potatoes instead of a lot of milk. I also might have figured out why I reacted so bad on Friday. Besides putting margerine on my baked potato (ate out), I also had a Jack Daniels and coke. Does anyone know if rum has corn in it? I can't live on prednizone and have to figure this out quickly.

Thank you Tarnelberry for the advice, but I already cook with Canola and Olive oil. But, I can't eat a plain baked potato as I hate them. I also like sandwiches every so often, which I suppose I can leave the marg. off.

For the mashed potatos you can add broth, or just more rice milk. You shouldn't be drinking colas and alcohol with gluten intolerances and allergies/asthma. Alcohol will make you sicker, and often contains gluten. Coke has caramel color which I'm pretty sure has gluten. If it is regular coke it has corn in it. Salsa on baked potatos isn't bad. I just can't understand why you would rather be sick then eat a plain baked potato? I can't even walk into a restaurant, and I definitly wouldn't take the chance of eating at one with my life threatening allergies.

It just doesn't sound like you are taking your allergies seriously. If you want to get off the predisone and become healthy you seriously need to consider your priorities.

[mouse]

Excuse me Shae 76, but I have been gluten free for 28 months. I am 64 years old and because I was diagnosed so late, I will never have a full recovery. Look below my signature at the auto-immune diseases they have diagnosed me with. My quality of life sucks. The only thing I have been able to do is look forward to is going out to dinner. I have eaten out safely for all this time. It has only been just now that the corn allergy has gone to the roof. I do not live on prednisone. I have used 3 medrol Pacs in the last year. I watch my allergies like a hawk. I also do not drink, except one drink when we used to go out to dinner. I am a big lush, aren't I. And I do not like your condesending attitude towards me. The original question was if someone had tried alternative treatments for allergies. According to my doctor I was two weeks away from dead before he thought of Celiac. I have not entertained in this new home (lived here one year) as I don't have the energy. According to the specialists I have seen this is as best as it is going to get. Maybe you want to live within 4 walls and only go to the grocery store, but I want a little more - like going out to dinner a few times a month. I will never travel again or lead a normal life. I have been handling it pretty good until I hear the tone in your posting. Live my life and see how it is. Do you go to the Mall? I can't. I order most everything by phone or online. I always try to be upbeat for the newbies and I teach my GP and his PA about Celiac as I am trying to prevent the young ones from being where I am at. All I wanted was someone to give me ideas on alternative medical treatments and maybe ideas on what I can buy at the health food store. I am out of here.

It also must be nice to be able to get shots for your enviromental allergies. I am classified in the 5% that can not take the shots.

[Mango04]

Was it someone on here who said we all only have a 50% chance of correctly interpreting the tone of a post or email? It's funny because I read that post in a completely different way. Anyway, I hope you find your answer Armetta. You might be amazed at what happens if you completely cut out the dairy. From my experience the difference between a teeny tiny bit of dairy once in a while and no dairy at all is huge. I feel like a different person when I completely cut it out. That might just be me though.

[Matilda]

..

[jnclelland]

Mu decaf diet pepsi box does not list corn syrup. Am I misreading it? Aren't diet sodas sweetened with something else? I have the Celiac diet down pat, but this is really throwing me for a loop. Now I have to wonder if the drink did it as I did not ask for diet soda.

Diet sodas don't have corn syrup, but regular ones do. (And if you didn't ask for diet, chances are you got regular!)

Jeanne

[Nantzie]

Since you asked about alternative treatments, I did NAET years ago, when I was getting really bad springtime and fall allergies every year. I wasn't having food issues at the time though. The NAET really did help my hayfever. I live in an area where just about everyone gets allergies, and I'm rarely bothered by anything anymore. I don't think I've taken even Sudafed in years other than when I get an actual cold or flu.

NAET can't cure or treat celiac at all. BUT, it might help with some of your other allergies and intolerances. And it's possible that it would take the edge off the symptoms of being glutened.

I'm planning on trying it again at some point in the future just to see if there's any improvement in symptoms. But, at the same time, the symptoms are sometimes the only way you know you've been effected, so I'm still not sure I'd risk losing the symptoms as a warning bell. I'd hate to walk around eating something that SHOULD be gluten-free for weeks (hello, Twizzlers ), not knowing that there may be damage going on. But I'd also love to not have the nightmares and body pain. So, I'm not sure yet.

You may also want to look into acupuncture. I've never really done it myself other than a couple times. Acupuncture is pretty well respected in western medicine nowadays. I used to do some clerical work for some orthopedists and they even did referrals to acupuncture for people with chronic pain or post-injury rehab.

I've got scoliosis too. Ugh. I'm dealing with a big old sciatic nerve pinch right now that's got me so flat on my back I can't even change my son's diapers. It sucks.

Hope some of this helps.

Nancy

[tarnalberry]

If you haven't already, try taking a look at a raw foods cookbook for some ideas. They've also got some great options for CF replacements that are fab (and it looks like not all nuts are off limits, just some of them).

I've been trying to think of things that you can have that you could put on a baked potato. (I know that there's a CFSF margerine available during Passover, but I do believe it has corn... Other than that, the options are pretty much just refrigerated stick forms of whipped canola oil. :-) ) There may be some options there. Nutritional yeast (which is GFSFCF, and I believe corn-free, but you'd need to check), may be an option, but it's an aquired taste. I often have steamed veggies on my baked potatoes when I'm at a restaurant, particularly carrots, for their sweetness. Maybe the SFCF ranch substitute would work on potatoes too. (I'm not sure what you hate about them plain as I enjoy them, so I'm not sure what's trying to be 'corrected', though I understand why you're trying to go that route - a baked potato is pretty simple to ask a kitchen to make safely, then you just have to get it to a state where you don't mind eating them.)

As for alternative treatments... I haven't heard of anything that can help anaphylactic allergies. There was one study that I recall hearing about regarding a new medication (western medicine) Xolair, mabe? That was being used on those with anaphylactic peanut allergies, with mixed results. The goal was just to get the allergy to not be life-threatening, essentially. You might talk to your allergist about it, and do some 'net research, though I know it certainly wasn't the blockbuster they were hoping for.

[shai76]

Excuse me Shae 76, but I have been gluten free for 28 months. I am 64 years old and because I was diagnosed so late, I will never have a full recovery. Look below my signature at the auto-immune diseases they have diagnosed me with. My quality of life sucks. The only thing I have been able to do is look forward to is going out to dinner. I have eaten out safely for all this time. It has only been just now that the corn allergy has gone to the roof. I do not live on prednisone. I have used 3 medrol Pacs in the last year. I watch my allergies like a hawk. I also do not drink, except one drink when we used to go out to dinner. I am a big lush, aren't I. And I do not like your condesending attitude towards me. The original question was if someone had tried alternative treatments for allergies. According to my doctor I was two weeks away from dead before he thought of Celiac. I have not entertained in this new home (lived here one year) as I don't have the energy. According to the specialists I have seen this is as best as it is going to get. Maybe you want to live within 4 walls and only go to the grocery store, but I want a little more - like going out to dinner a few times a month. I will never travel again or lead a normal life. I have been handling it pretty good until I hear the tone in your posting. Live my life and see how it is. Do you go to the Mall? I can't. I order most everything by phone or online. I always try to be upbeat for the newbies and I teach my GP and his PA about Celiac as I am trying to prevent the young ones from being where I am at. All I wanted was someone to give me ideas on alternative medical treatments and maybe ideas on what I can buy at the health food store. I am out of here.

It also must be nice to be able to get shots for your enviromental allergies. I am classified in the 5% that can not take the shots.

I'm sorry Armetta. Please don't be so angry. I was just trying to help. I've had life long anaphelectic allergies and reflux disease so I thought my ideas could be valued on this topic.

It's not that I don't WANT to go into a restaurant. I can't. I can die from being in the same room as milk products cooking. I would love to go to a restaurant, but I do not feel it is worth my life. I have a small son and a disabled husband who I love very much. I would not want to jeopardize leaving them alone in this world because I wanted to eat out instead of just cooking something at home.

And I don't think this is a contest of "who is the sickest?" I understand your misery because I have been there, and I am getting better. I believe you can too. Maybe I am a bit optimistic about this all, but sometimes having a good attitude helps with your health.

I also had an anaphelectic reaction to my allergy shots at first. They just took my dose down so far that it will take years to complete the building phase. I think it is worth going to the allergist every week for years, and following their reccomendations of staying as far away from the things that make me sick as I can. If that is not the treatment for you I am not sure what will work. Maybe You could try seeing a holistic health practitioner and ask him/her what would be the best course of action for you. Check out your phone book, there may be some listed under "natural health consultants" or something similar. Massage therapy, like reflexology, has helped me as well. Plus ig gives you an excuse to treat yourself to a day spa or something like that. Just some thoughts. Good luck.

[mouse]

I am sorry shai76 that I lost my cool, but I have taken my allergies seriously for over 20 years. I have seen the best allergist in the Midwest when I lived there. I took allergy shots for over two years and never could they increase the dosage as my arm would just balloon. That is when they told me that I was in the 5% class that could not take the shots. I have been on a nebulizer since the second to last pneumonia 8 years ago. The last pneumonia was rare and almost killed me (6 years ago) and required lung surgery and cardiac intensive care. I am not trying to compete with anyone for illnesses, just want people to know that going gluten-free is not an option, but a necessary life change so that they don't end up like me. I still plan on staying totally away from my food allergens, but just want them calmed a little so that if I accidentally get any one of them in something, then I don't have to go on a Medrol Pac or use an Epi-pen. I keep finding things in the pantry and frig that have corn in them. And if my husband does not use them or want them, then they are given away. I am sorry that you can not eat in a restaurant and that your allergies are that severe. I can be around the allergen, just cannot ingest it. And luckily I have no outside allergies like many in Arizona get. My poor dog is now on allergen shots that I have to administer. The only thing I look forward to is eating out about 3 times a month and I am very careful on what I eat, which is probably why I have not reacted to my allergens. But now, I will have to email all of the restaurants that have gluten-free menu's and ask what does not have any corn substance besides the gluten.

Nancy, thank you for the NAET advice. I will check with my GP as he also believes in alternative treatments. I tried acupuncture many years ago for my fibromyaliga and it did not help at all (6 months). But, I have a brother in law that swears by it. I guess it all depends on who is doing it. May I suggest a chiro for the Scolosis. I see one weekly and he said he can't straighten the spine, but he can move it some. It has really helped to take the really bad pain away. He also found by X-ray, that the base of my cervical spine is trying to fuse together. He said no manual manipulation can be done, but he uses a gun of some sort, trying to keep them apart. I know what it is like to try and stand in the kitchen with your lower back screaming at you. It must be doubly hard with a baby that you want to hold. Good luck to you. There was a link somewhere on here about scoliosis and Celiac. I am not good about doing a search or I would find it for you.

[Judyin Philly]

1.And I don't think this is a contest of "who is the sickest?"

2. sometimes having a good attitude helps with your health.

shai76--with all respect intended...maybe as a new member you might want to try in the future not to make general sweeping assumptions--esp to a member who has been a rock of postitive information and attitude on the forum. I just saw where Armetta sent an appology to you...that shows what a great gal she is.

We welcome you and hope that you continue to find help and support in your hours of need on this very loving forum.

judy in philly

[Guest nini]

NAET might be a good option for you. I tried it briefly, and was kind of turned off by the claims, but a lot of people swear by it and say that it really really helps.

Chiropractic is also a good thing to do just to help your body help heal itself, and massage to calm your nervous system down might be good too.

For baked potatoes, I like to put steamed broccoli on mine, load it up with any steamed veggies... that is a good choice. Also, if you are at home, you can make a homemade chili and smother your spud with chili!

As far as smashed taters go, I like them with milk, but have also had them with chicken broth... add some garlic and salt and pepper to that and yummmmmm

I do a lot of cooking with either olive oil or canola oil, you can get creative with your spices and that is where the flavor comes in!

Good luck with it all.

[shai76]

armetta, no need to apologize. I understand your frustrations. It's hard living like that. I really hope you find something to help youf eel better.

[ajay]

My problem is that I use more margarine in mashed potatoes instead of a lot of milk. I also might have figured out why I reacted so bad on Friday. Besides putting margerine on my baked potato (ate out), I also had a Jack Daniels and coke. Does anyone know if rum has corn in it? I can't live on prednizone and have to figure this out quickly.

Thank you Tarnelberry for the advice, but I already cook with Canola and Olive oil. But, I can't eat a plain baked potato as I hate them. I also like sandwiches every so often, which I suppose I can leave the marg. off.

Hi Armetta,

Even diet soda (alas!) usually has caramel coloring in it. Caramel coloring is often grain derived (wheat or corn-- choose your poison). I don't know what your sugar tolerances are, but I don't react to Whole Foods 365 Cola [ingredients: filtered carbonated water, pure cane sugar, caramel color (from cane sugar) tartaric acid, natural cola nut flavor and citric acid] I think others have reacted to citric acid & cream of tartar, though. I'm sure you could bring your own cola to the bartender, especially if you go to the same places when you go out. I have found that my dining out options vary. I have no trouble at expensive restaurants, mixed results at places where the food is cooked to order, and I don't even bother with chain restaurants. I usually try to go just a bit earlier than the dinner hour, in hopes that the waitstaff isn't totally fried yet & can take the time to check on eveything. Strangely, even when I'm not getting drinks, I usually have very good luck when I order dinner at the bar. Could be that since bartenders don't deal with as many dinner orders?

Generally speaking though, when someone says "let's just order lunch" or "why don't we go out to eat?" I have to stifle a moment of panic.

I'm dreaming of the day when I can have a cosmo. I may end up just bringing my own cranberry juice (sans corn syrup) to a bar sometime when I'm feeling particularly gutsy.

Oh, and for reasons I don't understand, I have trouble with annatto. I don't know why, but I figured I'd pass that along.

Potatoes...I really like chives on potatoes. and fresh ground pepper & kosher salt. And I heartily second the homemade chili option!

Good luck with everything. I find it very challenging to avoid corn BUT not impossible. There's a few other threads on the board about corn allergies, too.

Cheers!

[mouse]

ajay, thank you for all the advice. I am going to email Pepsi tomorrow and ask about their carmel color. I know it is not wheat as it is on the gluten free list. I wrote down the Whole Foods soda. But what is a Cosmo and annatto? At least here I can ask dumb questions .

[mouse]

Another corn question. I emailed Pepsi and have yet to hear back from them, but I am not drinking any diet Pepsi until I find out. MY QUESTION is does anyone know if there is corn of anysort in the Toll House Morsels? Since this corn allergy has hit the roof, I have lost 4 pounds and cannot afford to. I cannot eat enough calories in the day and when I before lost a couple of pounds I would eat gluten-free candy and cookies. Now I can't as they all have corn in them - at least the ones I have researched. My cleaning ladies love me as they are getting all of my pantry items that have corn in them. I am going to go broke replacing this stuff. I just made the gluten free choc. chip cookies, yesterday and am afraid to eat them until I know. My wheezing has been bad today which I assume is because of the prior days I drank Pepsi. I just never thought of the carmel coloring as I know that anytime it was listed it was wheat free as I follow all the gluten-free lists. I feel like a Newbie again, but with a different problem. Thank you for anymore advice.

[Judyin Philly]

armetta'

I don't know about corn as i'm questioning it myself but 2 tips.

diet Pepsi--corn or no corn--I can't use any aspertaine (?)sp or any kind of artificial sweetners so could you have a problem with that. think i mentioned that i only drink soda coke or 7-up in stead of the 'real drinks' i used to love....now drink northern cranberry juice and seltcer water low sodium.

it is refereshing and pretty natural.

I just made my choc chip cookies fianlly....couldn't stand it any more it was so easy and tasted 1/2 if one and it was good..not gritty .will see which recipe i used. know i used the 'Gluten-Free Flour Mix rom Good Eatz..hadn't tried it before. since i have all the flours, think i'll make up some bags of it to put in freezer.

i have the bag down stairs and will ck for you.

judy--i don't think there is as i THINK PATTI USES THEM and she can't do corn.

maybe she'll see this or you could eamil her.