Another One? Come On!

[Rowena]

So now, I'm trying to eat VERY 'cleanly' with my esophagitis, gluten intolerance, and lactose intolerance (with likely casein allergy).  But stupidly, it would appear now that I've got something ELSE I'm not responding to, and I can't figure out what it is.  I itch, and if I had white skin it'd be flaming red.  (I'm a brownie so red doesn't show up on my skin)  And then there is the fact the corners of my mouth are very cracked, and my throat feels swollen.  Faceplant.  NOW what?

 

I am SOOOOOOO frustrated now!  I want to feel good!  Is it too much to ask to figure out EVERYTHING all at once?

 

Also, I'm considering seeing an allergist, but those tests where they see if you flare, I'm afraid nothing will show up because I've got brown skin and don't turn red so they will say I don't have any, when obviously I do...  Are there other alternatives to it?

[shadowicewolf]

Food diary would help some here. Keep track of everything you eat. You might be able to find a pattern.

 

As for the allergist, it might be good to go see one anyway.

[mommy2krj]

I think with the skin scratch tests, it's not so much if you turn red as it is with the amount of swelling. At least that is what I got from it when we did my sons'. If they based it on the redness...my oldest would be allergic to everything while my little guy, not so much.

 

But since they looked more at the swelling, my oldest son has a slight (they were hesitant to even say that) allergy to cats and nothing else. My little guy? His cat reaction took over half his back. There was a good amount of swelling....though the redness wasn't as pronounced. It was there but definitely secondary to the swelling. I'm tempted actually to go back and have them do it again...but without the cat. I think the cat kind of ruined the test for those things around it....it was that bad.

[GFinDC]

An elimination diet is good way to go.  There are lots of threads about them here.  the advantage of an elimination diet is it will find food intolerances as well as allergies.  But allergy tests won't find food intolerances.

[Juliebove]

Cracking at the corners of the mouth can be a vitamin B defiency.  I have to take a B Complex vitamin or I get that.

 

Not sure what to tell you about the hives.  I get them sometimes and never know the cause.  It's not always from what I eat.  But recently I accidentally ate oats and got hives.  I have an oat intolerance.

 

I also have intolerances to various herbs and spices, including mint.  You might try switching toothpastes.  I currently use one from Greece called Korres.  It's eucalyptus and that took some getting used to.  They also make a spearmint/lime which I can not use.  I did try an unflavored that was recommended here.  I had no problems with it but the lack of flavor was odd.  I got it online at dentist.net, I think.  Might have been .com.  You can also try Closeup which is cinnamon.  If your are currently using a mint toothpaste that is.  Or you can simply try baking soda.

 

You might try eliminating seasonings except perhaps for salt.  See if that helps.  Or it could even be something wacky like lettuce.  I have read several stories recently of people having reactions to lettuce!

[Rowena]

I think with the skin scratch tests, it's not so much if you turn red as it is with the amount of swelling. At least that is what I got from it when we did my sons'. If they based it on the redness...my oldest would be allergic to everything while my little guy, not so much.

 

But since they looked more at the swelling, my oldest son has a slight (they were hesitant to even say that) allergy to cats and nothing else. My little guy? His cat reaction took over half his back. There was a good amount of swelling....though the redness wasn't as pronounced. It was there but definitely secondary to the swelling. I'm tempted actually to go back and have them do it again...but without the cat. I think the cat kind of ruined the test for those things around it....it was that bad.

 

Ah its swelling?  Didn't know that!  Thanks that makes me feel SOOO much more relaxed about seeing an allergenist.

 

An elimination diet is good way to go.  There are lots of threads about them here.  the advantage of an elimination diet is it will find food intolerances as well as allergies.  But allergy tests won't find food intolerances.

 

Yeah, I'm thinkin I might do that since eating clean doesn't seem to resolve the issue.  Though since I am eating pretty clean (which includes common allergens, I'm not sure what else to eliminate.)

 

Cracking at the corners of the mouth can be a vitamin B defiency.  I have to take a B Complex vitamin or I get that.

 

Not sure what to tell you about the hives.  I get them sometimes and never know the cause.  It's not always from what I eat.  But recently I accidentally ate oats and got hives.  I have an oat intolerance.

 

I also have intolerances to various herbs and spices, including mint.  You might try switching toothpastes.  I currently use one from Greece called Korres.  It's eucalyptus and that took some getting used to.  They also make a spearmint/lime which I can not use.  I did try an unflavored that was recommended here.  I had no problems with it but the lack of flavor was odd.  I got it online at dentist.net, I think.  Might have been .com.  You can also try Closeup which is cinnamon.  If your are currently using a mint toothpaste that is.  Or you can simply try baking soda.

 

You might try eliminating seasonings except perhaps for salt.  See if that helps.  Or it could even be something wacky like lettuce.  I have read several stories recently of people having reactions to lettuce!

 

 

Yeah the corners of the mouth isn't a B deficiency, I take a vegan B complex (I had NO clue they put lactose in medicines too!  Crazy right?) so I am pretty sure I am good there.  (My GI associates the corners of the mouth cracking with allergies/intolerances too which is why I think there is STILL something else!)

Hahaha intolerances to spices eh... I already know one I can't have... Throat swells up, lips crack and everything for rosemary.  Worst thing EVER!   But yeah, I switched recently my toothpaste to a non mint toothpaste because that is what was recommended for esophagitis since mint can make that flare apparently.  So now I use an antiplaque and whitening toothpaste from tom's made with fennel.  Tastes weird like black licorice (which I hate mind you!) but I'm getting used to it.  But yeah, I had never really heard of allergies/intolerances to spices, but apparently I have one!  (I don't even remember how I discovered it was rosemary actually!)  I know I'm okay with your basic herbs like basil for example, and cinnamon.  But not sure what else.

As for something wacky, I think it really is something wacky since I'm currently eating as clean as I can.  Don't think its lettuce, since I haven't had any rec-- actually scratch that... I did have lettuce a couple times the past week.  Wonder if it could be spinach too... That would SUCK if it was spinach frankly.... I LOVE spinach