Allergic To Everything?

[Justace]

Hi there.

Please help me. I was diagnosed with Celiac 4 months ago and in the past month have suddenly been having allergic reactions to Dairy, soy, corn, eggs, nuts, herbs, honey, rice, potato. I came across the SCD (sepecific carbohydrates diet) and have been on this for 3 weeks now and its helping but have to be so careful. If eating any of the abovementioned products I get instant pain through my legs, joint pain all over, tiredness, extreme headache and nausious feeling over a 24 hr period. It's horrible. I'm off to the docs tomorrow to find out whats happening. But I really want to know if there is anyone else with these symptoms or is it just me??? Also some fruits give me headaches also. I have already lost 20 kilos since going gluten free.

Please help !!

I currently eat NOT MUCH - just fruit, veg and some meats - :(

[krystynycole]

Some fruits are dusted with corn. Maybe this is causing your head aches when eating some fruit? Some fruits or brands may have more than another.

[mushroom]

Wow, I am so sorry you are having problems with all those foods. I don't think I would call it an allergy -- but it is not unusual to develop some additional intolerances after quitting gluten, just not normally so many and so quickly. Your body is obviously in a hyperreactive phase from the gluten, and these intolerances may not be permanent, just to give you some encouragement. Many of us are able to eat things later that we don't tolerate during the initial gluten free period.

The SCD is good for people like you - I am glad you found it and that it is helpful. Try washing or peeling all your fruits and see if the skins are contaminated or if it is the fructose that you are having problems with. Once your intestines heal you should be able to handle dairy again unless casein is the problem. Soy and corn are biggies for a lot of us, also the nightshade family of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

Can you handle olive oil and avocadoes for good quality fats? Agave syrup for sweetening? Are you keeping a food diary to ferret out the bad actors?

I hope things start looking up for you soon

[shadowicewolf]

I don't think that is an allergy. Allergy normally means a histiminal responce (ie: hives, swelling). Sounds like you have intolerences. From what i've read thats fairly normal

[IrishHeart]

These may be temporary food intolerances, secondary to Celiac. It is best to avoid them for a while and try adding them back in--one at a time . My doctor has suggested staying off dairy, especially, for "as long as I can stand it" LOL

I have tried having cheese and I bloat right up, get the big C, feel awful and my already horrible joint pain increases ten-fold. I am guessing my 8 months gluten-free is not enough to heal the extensive damage in my intestines. I have been sick for a long time---went undiagnosed for years, so My situation may be different from yours. I have had IgG testing done, so I know I am not intolerant to casein or any other foods, except soy, which I avoid. But I still have moments of nausea, bloating, feeling "ill" still and I can relate to your frustration!

I have to think it is not an "allergy" you are dealing with but an intolerance--as the "Shroom" suggests above.

This is from an article I read--including quotes from Dr. Stefano Guandalini, Director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. It explains why we often have so much trouble digesting the foods you list here in your post:

When you have celiac disease, the villi become blunted, shortened or even completely flattened. This results in a decrease in brush border enzymes. Brush border enzymes include lactase which helps digest the sugar lactose found in milk; sucrase which helps digest the sugar sucrose found in varying amounts in all plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, and sugar cane; and maltase which helps digest the sugar maltose found in cereal grains.

“Since these intolerances are by definition transient, the most logical option is to substantially reduce the intake of these sugars for a period of time adequate to allow for reconstitution of the normal enzyme activity. This time may be different from person to person, but if the gluten-free diet is strict, I would assume that in the majority of cases a few weeks should be more than sufficient.”

In general how long does it take for lactose intolerance secondary to celiac disease to resolve?

“Lactose intolerance (if present: in many patients, and particularly those who come to the diagnosis with minimal GI symptoms, even lactose can be fully digested) would persist until an adequate intestinal absorptive surface is reconstituted; again, this is variable between different patients, but typically 2-3 months should be enough to allow for regeneration of adequate amounts of lactase.

“I would like to add however that a substantial portion of adults present the so-called “adult-type hypolactasia”; a genetically pre-programmed loss of lactase activity that begins sometimes in mid-childhood. In these cases, obviously the intolerance won’t regress. We have today the possibility to test for the existence of this genetic condition via a simple blood test.”

I notice other articles and some books written by "authorities on the subject" also say "a few months" but most REAL LIVE CELIACS--and REAL LIVE people with leaky guts and other food intolerance on here will tell you it takes much longer. I say it takes "as long as it takes". Every body is different! Do not despair. Healing takes time.

After anguishing for months over every single morsel I put in my mouth, "Is it corn? is it eggs? Pork? the air I breathe??"" blah blah blah....doing rotation diets, eliminations diets, practically starving myself so I wouldn't feel nauseous and in pain.......I talked it over with my doctor and came to the conclusion that it just "Is what it is"--until it isn't.... meaning, I am healing as fast as I can and when I can eat those foods again, I'll celebrate!

It is possible that you are intolerant of all those foods right NOW, but in time, you may well likely be able to enjoy them once again. I always hope for the best.

Take out the ones you suspect are problem foods for a week and add them in ONE at a time...and see.

Best wishes. You are not in this alone!