New Food Intolerance?

[lucia]

I've already cut dairy and soy out of my diet. In both cases, it was pretty obvious I was having gastro reactions to them. At least I wasn't reacting with an increase in depression, neuropathic pain, or any of the rest of my neurological symptoms.

All of a sudden now I'm coming down again with gastro symptoms without the neurological stuff. I don't think it's a gluten reaction, because I'm only having the gastro symptoms. The only thing I can think is that I'm reacting to something else. I think it must be corn. In the past two days, I've happily consumed corn chips, corn on the cob, and popcorn.

Is this how it happens for other people? One day, you're fine eating corn, then the next, you eat it and suddenly you can't be more than ten yards from a bathroom for a couple of days???

Argh - I don't think I can go on without popcorn. I know it sounds crazy, but it's my #1 comfort food. It wasn't that hard for me to give up cakes and cookies, since I had done that mostly years ago when I had fibromyalgia, but popcorn is one of my indulgences. I eat it with kelp powder, brewer's yeast, garlic salt, and it still feels indulgent. And there's no replacement for popcorn, no "corn-free" popcorn.

Sometimes I feel like Job from the bible. The universe just keeps taking things away. I think it may be time to count my blessings ... besides my husband and being born into one of the richest counties in the world, there's grilled salmon, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatos, coconut ice milk ...

[skigirlchar]

to answer your initial question of "Is this how it happens for other people? One day, you're fine eating corn, then the next, you eat it and suddenly you can't "

- yes.

is it the corn? unfortunately, that could possibly be the issue. many people on the boards note that they have had to give up corn products too

it COULD also just be what you are putting ON the pop corn. yeast (in all forms) is one of my big issues. it's why, so far, i have yet to find a good gluten-free bread replacement because they all use yeast. it could be the salt in the garlic salt. have you tried just garlic powder?

it could be that the popcorn is made in a factory w/ soy oil, or one of the spices is cross contaminated.

good luck and know that you have support here

[burdee]

I've already cut dairy and soy out of my diet. In both cases, it was pretty obvious I was having gastro reactions to them. At least I wasn't reacting with an increase in depression, neuropathic pain, or any of the rest of my neurological symptoms.

All of a sudden now I'm coming down again with gastro symptoms without the neurological stuff. I don't think it's a gluten reaction, because I'm only having the gastro symptoms. The only thing I can think is that I'm reacting to something else. I think it must be corn. In the past two days, I've happily consumed corn chips, corn on the cob, and popcorn.

Is this how it happens for other people? One day, you're fine eating corn, then the next, you eat it and suddenly you can't be more than ten yards from a bathroom for a couple of days???

Argh - I don't think I can go on without popcorn. I know it sounds crazy, but it's my #1 comfort food. It wasn't that hard for me to give up cakes and cookies, since I had done that mostly years ago when I had fibromyalgia, but popcorn is one of my indulgences. I eat it with kelp powder, brewer's yeast, garlic salt, and it still feels indulgent. And there's no replacement for popcorn, no "corn-free" popcorn.

Sometimes I feel like Job from the bible. The universe just keeps taking things away. I think it may be time to count my blessings ... besides my husband and being born into one of the richest counties in the world, there's grilled salmon, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatos, coconut ice milk ...

I can totally relate to feeling like Job. After I was diagnosed with celiac disease and casein allergy, my gastrointestinal symptoms continued despite obsessive abstinence from gluten and dairy. During the next 2-1/2 years I took 3 different forms of the ELISA (blood test for food allergies) and another Enterolab stool test to diagnose 5 more food allergies which all cause painful gastrointestinal reactions. However my gastro symptoms continued to flare up as I was diagnosed with and treated for 5 different intestinal pathogenic bacteria, 2 different parasites and candida. The battle continues, because I'm still treating H. Pylori bacteria and Dientamoeba fragilis parasite. However, I finally found a doc who will seek and treat the CAUSE of my ongoing infections, rather than just treat them as they appear or discount my symptoms as 'stress'.

I'd suggest you get blood (not skin) tests for additional food allergies to eliminate that source of gastro symptoms. Also get a stool test for pathogenic bacteria, parasites and/or candida. Eliminating various foods or trying various herbal treatments w/o diagnostic tests is so inaccurate and time consuming. Look for a naturopath or holistic doc who will test for food allergies and gastro 'bugs', rather than just try this or that to see what happens.

SUE

[Skylark]

What a bummer. The good news is that non-celiac intolerances can come and go.

I can relate too. I had a snack today of Ener-G crackers, goat cheese, and diet coke. One of them got me. I'm praying it was the Diet Coke but suspecting lactose. Like you, I'll be very upset if I have to go off dairy as cheese is a big favorite of mine.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Oh, I'm so sad for you if that's the case. I love popcorn too. Is it possible that you just ate too much corn over a two day period? It's not exactly an easy food for the body to digest. Lay off it for a couple weeks and then try some plain whole corn and see if you have the symptoms again.

[lucia]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I don't know what I'd do without my forum friends! It's so hard to get so sick from food that other people take for granted. I watch tv and see people taking eating dinner at a restaurant for granted, and I feel so jealous. I'm feeling somewhat better today, although I had a rough night that interrupted our 4th of July plans. : ( That I feel better - and still don't have any neuro symptoms - makes me think it's not gluten and is something else, probably corn.

GlutenFreeManna, I think you're right and it's possible I've been eating too much corn. Right now though I feel no desire to eat it, so I will just avoid it for awhile.

Skylark, it's good to be reminded that these recent intolerances aren't forever, even if avoiding gluten is something I know I'll have to do for the rest of my life.

skigirlchar, thanks for confirming that yeah, food intolerances can develop seemingly out of nowhere.

And Sue, I'm sorry you're still so sick after so much time! Because I got sick with gastro symptoms after a trip to India, I was tested for all kinds of bacteria and parasites so at least I know I'm clear of those. Sounds like I may need to think about getting my blood tested, if this continues. It's ironic that, as we get better on the gluten free diet, we start to get sick from other things.

I was thinking about the Book of Job, and I think Job may have learned something from all his suffering. I don't remember that part at all. Maybe it's time to review ...

[Metalman]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I don't know what I'd do without my forum friends! It's so hard to get so sick from food that other people take for granted. I watch tv and see people taking eating dinner at a restaurant for granted, and I feel so jealous. I'm feeling somewhat better today, although I had a rough night that interrupted our 4th of July plans. : ( That I feel better - and still don't have any neuro symptoms - makes me think it's not gluten and is something else, probably corn.

GlutenFreeManna, I think you're right and it's possible I've been eating too much corn. Right now though I feel no desire to eat it, so I will just avoid it for awhile.

Skylark, it's good to be reminded that these recent intolerances aren't forever, even if avoiding gluten is something I know I'll have to do for the rest of my life.

skigirlchar, thanks for confirming that yeah, food intolerances can develop seemingly out of nowhere.

And Sue, I'm sorry you're still so sick after so much time! Because I got sick with gastro symptoms after a trip to India, I was tested for all kinds of bacteria and parasites so at least I know I'm clear of those. Sounds like I may need to think about getting my blood tested, if this continues. It's ironic that, as we get better on the gluten free diet, we start to get sick from other things.

I was thinking about the Book of Job, and I think Job may have learned something from all his suffering. I don't remember that part at all. Maybe it's time to review ...

Dear Lucia,

You mentioned that you have been tested for parasites. For many parasites to be successfully detected (esp. dientamoeba fragilis) if you test using microscopy from stool samples you need to submit at least three stool samples in a special fixative otherwise you can guarantee a false negative. Even this is not that accurate. My family and I are infected with df and my daughter was tested five times (3 samples per test) and came back negative each time. We finally got a test on our stool samples called polymerase chain reaction, which detects and amplifies df DNA segments and she came up positive.

Please check out this website:

Www.badbugs.org

Kind regards

[burdee]

Dear Lucia,

You mentioned that you have been tested for parasites. For many parasites to be successfully detected (esp. dientamoeba fragilis) if you test using microscopy from stool samples you need to submit at least three stool samples in a special fixative otherwise you can guarantee a false negative. Even this is not that accurate. My family and I are infected with df and my daughter was tested five times (3 samples per test) and came back negative each time. We finally got a test on our stool samples called polymerase chain reaction, which detects and amplifies df DNA segments and she came up positive.

Please check out this website:

Www.badbugs.org

Kind regards

I was recently diagnosed with D-frag by a DNA microbial stool test. The Metametrix lab's DNA stool test only requires one sample. However Doctors' Data lab required 3 tests.

I really want to ask you: How are your family members treating d-frag? I've taken Alinia (unsuccessfully) and Humatin (unsuccessfully). I'm finally taking Iodoquinol, which the 'Bad Bugs' site reports more successfuly than other drugs. I had to get that compounded WITHOUT lactose, because I have casein allergy and lactose intolerance. I seem to be doing better with Iodo. Though I'm only halfway through treatment, my parasite symptoms (cramping intestinal pain) have decreased somewhat. I hope your family has found an antiparasitic treatment that works to eradicate those d-frag critters.

SUE

[T.H.]

Re: a replacement for popcorn...I may be able to help with that!

Well, sorta.

If you google popped amaranth, that might help in a pinch if get a popcorn craving and you do find that corn is bad all over. The grain is teeny tiny, but you can pop it a Tablespoon at a time in a hot pan or skillet. I haven't tried it with butter, but the taste is pretty close to popcorn. Texture is the biggest difference.

Burnt popped amaranth pretty much smells like burnt popcorn, though, too, blech.

[lucia]

Re: a replacement for popcorn...I may be able to help with that!

Well, sorta.

If you google popped amaranth, that might help in a pinch if get a popcorn craving and you do find that corn is bad all over. The grain is teeny tiny, but you can pop it a Tablespoon at a time in a hot pan or skillet. I haven't tried it with butter, but the taste is pretty close to popcorn. Texture is the biggest difference.

Burnt popped amaranth pretty much smells like burnt popcorn, though, too, blech.

Oh, thank-you so much! I'll try it. I've never cooked with amaranth before, so this is good inspiration to go get some.

[Juliebove]

Have you tried popped sorghum? I got some for popping at American Spice, online. It's tiny. When popped it looks like dollhouse popcorn. But it tastes just like popcorn.

[sa1937]

Does anyone know if millet will pop? I just happen to have some in the fridge that I haven't even tried yet.

I love popcorn but haven't tried it for ages. Last time I liked it but it did not like me.

[lucia]

Uh, I had a relapse into corn. I'm eating a "no processed foods" diet and have been feeling so much better, but having cravings! Oh, such cravings! I thought, "oh, how bad can a little popcorn be?" (just a little, mind you).

I'm so sick again today.

I'm admitting my sins to you all. I'm kind of embarrassed.

[skigirlchar]

that's why we're here lucia!!

[WKD]

I've already cut dairy and soy out of my diet. In both cases, it was pretty obvious I was having gastro reactions to them. At least I wasn't reacting with an increase in depression, neuropathic pain, or any of the rest of my neurological symptoms.

All of a sudden now I'm coming down again with gastro symptoms without the neurological stuff. I don't think it's a gluten reaction, because I'm only having the gastro symptoms. The only thing I can think is that I'm reacting to something else. I think it must be corn. In the past two days, I've happily consumed corn chips, corn on the cob, and popcorn.

Is this how it happens for other people? One day, you're fine eating corn, then the next, you eat it and suddenly you can't be more than ten yards from a bathroom for a couple of days???

Argh - I don't think I can go on without popcorn. I know it sounds crazy, but it's my #1 comfort food. It wasn't that hard for me to give up cakes and cookies, since I had done that mostly years ago when I had fibromyalgia, but popcorn is one of my indulgences. I eat it with kelp powder, brewer's yeast, garlic salt, and it still feels indulgent. And there's no replacement for popcorn, no "corn-free" popcorn.

Sometimes I feel like Job from the bible. The universe just keeps taking things away. I think it may be time to count my blessings ... besides my husband and being born into one of the richest counties in the world, there's grilled salmon, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatos, coconut ice milk ...

Your reference to Job caught my eye. Exactly the way I have felt...since Christmas of '09. Up till then I've had virtually no problems. Since then...wow...what can I say. No more cookies and cake, etc, etc, etc. I'm retired and spend most of my time at the computer...working on projects for the church. Then, suddenly, I had to share my time with the white throne.