Update: Just Wanted To Give People A Heads Up To Get Tested!

[Guest Doll]

I know I haven't been around for awhile (finally dragged myself away from the computer...I swear this board is addictive!), but I think this is important to mention. It may help someone. So here I am.

For those of you who know, I have always reacted severely to "gluten" and been very sensitive. My blood sugar and blood pressure also drop when I am glutened. I had more recently cut out casein. When I "cheated" on casein, which had never given me outward problems before, I began to have trouble breathing. Sooo....I had a suspicion that I have allergies as well.

Well, I was right. I actually almost passed out after the second test injection, which turned out to be wheat followed by "cow's milk". I turned pale and the nurse had me lie down in the ENT's office.

My allergy (IgE) testing results are in:

Must avoid 100%:

-Wheat (not much of a stretch

-"Cow's milk" (don't know if I react to casein, whey, or both).

Don't have to tell me twice!

Also reacted to:

Eggs, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, RICE (which explains why I always get low blood sugar after I eat it), yeast, soybeans, fish, beef (apparently some people allergic to cow's milk also react to beef), and chicken. I am running out of things to eat! I am also not supposed to eat mushrooms, chocolate, or peanuts. It seems like all I can eat is napkins and cardboard.

Not to mention I showed positive to all of the 9 inhalant allergens I was tested for. I am miserable, as I am always tired and have trouble breathing. That is scary, since I wake up at night breathless. I am expecting to get an asthma inhaler hopefully. Right now I am doing allergy shots, minimizing dust and mold exposure, and drinking Benadryl a la Hitch (if you've seen the movie, you understand). Heehee.

So, what I want to say is this: If you also react like me, PLEASE get tested for IgE allergies. If you have IgE food allergies, they may end up being an anaphalaytic reaction down the line. It's important to know if you have an actual food allergy on top of Celiac (or if you do not have Celiac but an IgE allergy instead). And allergies in many cases can be treated, so you can feel better.

P.S. For anyone who cares: In general, people with autoimmune diseaes (like Celiac) seem to have a LOWER risk for allergies. This is because the allergy immune response and the immune response seen in autoimmune diseases are on opposite sides of the spectrum (Th1 and Th2). BUT in a certain subgroup of people, they tend to have BOTH abnormal immune responses and a particular genetic defect. Google "IL 10" for more info.

So please, get tested if you think you may have food allergies! It may also be a reason why a lot of you are not feeling better.

[jerseyangel]

Wow--I'm glad you were tested. Thanks for the heads up

I had the allergy testing about 9 months after my Celiac diagnosis, just to make sure. Thankfully, I was negative to all foods tested, including, of course, wheat.

[Guest Doll]

Hi Patti! Glad you tested negative, Celiac Disease is hard enough! I still am freaking out because I don't know what to eat!

[mama2]

I just got my referal to the allergist ... thanks for the heads up!

P.S. your right this board is addictive!

[blueeyedmanda]

I just got my referal to the allergist ... thanks for the heads up!

P.S. your right this board is addictive!

Yes so addictive I leave it open and minimized at work and sneak in replies

[mama2]

Yes so addictive I leave it open and minimized at work and sneak in replies

I hear ya! As soon as my kids are a sleep I am back on for a few...lol

[VioletBlue]

I'm still trying to figure out why it would matter if I were allergic to wheat in addition to being Celiac? Isn't it a moot point once you're diagnosed with Celiac Disease? Celiac diagnosis means end of wheat consumption, end of gluten consumption. End of problem.

[Guest Doll]

I'm still trying to figure out why it would matter if I were allergic to wheat in addition to being Celiac? Isn't it a moot point once you're diagnosed with Celiac Disease? Celiac diagnosis means end of wheat consumption, end of gluten consumption. End of problem.

I respectfully disagree. It sounds simple but it is not. When I'm glutened (wheat gluten) my blood pressure and blood sugar drop dangerously low. This happens from CC, which sometimes happens despite my best efforts. I have never "cheated" on the diet, but have still been glutened. Many of us here have. I also have trouble breathing when exposed to casein/cow's milk. My newest symptom is that my eyes swell up.

If it turns out you have a wheat allergy, it may become more severe over time. My "cow's milk" allergy certainly has. I was never like this before! Allergic reactions can be treated with Benadryl and may need an Epipen and transport to the hospital. Food allergies can be life-threatening. If one thinks they only have Celiac, they may not be prepared to handle an anaphylactic reaction if one occurs. In addition, some who think they have "intolerances" aside from Celiac may really have allergies, which may be able to be treated. Some allergists who are well informed are even trying to use *intradermal* allergy shots for (non-anaphylactic or less severe) food allergies. They have little risk for a systemic reaction, and seem to help.

For instance, if my severe reactions are caused by my wheat allergy and NOT simply Celiac, I can reduce the severity of my glutening reactions by popping a Benadryl. For this and the above reasons, I think it is important if people know they have an IgE allergy.

I thought I had explained this in my original post so it was easy to understand, my appolgies if it was not.

[trents]

Doll,

While it may be true that in general people with autoimmune diseases are less prone to allergies, the opposite is actually true for celiacs because of the damage to small bowel muscosa/leaky gut syndrome that allows larger than normal food protein molecules to cross over into the blood and be detected as invaders by the immune system.

Steve

[num1habsfan]

I totally agree with you that having an allergy AND intollerence makes things a lot worse. I had both wheat and dairy show up when I had allergy tests done (this was even after being gluten-free). It's been years but I know that it's likely why I react to both so severely.

Have you had asthma tests done??? I found it a huge help knowing just how severe it was, and I see my asthma specialist every 3 - 6 months for checkups.

~ Lisa ~