Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Chemical Testing For Allergies--Uck--A Rant.

L.J.

Recommended Posts

L.J. Rookie
L.J.
Posted

Hello my GFF's!

Throughout the holidays, I stayed gluten-free-- and only had my "usual" rashes. Better than before with no gluten, peanuts, citrus, etc.... Enough said about that... Here is my rant though :wacko:

I went to my Allergist yesterday. He was adamant that I take all of the chemical tests. I repeatedly told him that I was very afraid of having a severe reaction. He stated that children as well as people in their 90's do the test--I did not need to be worried. :huh: Now, I know that I have chemical allergies--because I have already self-tested i.e. the primary hair dye, and formaldehyde. He stated that I needed to do them ASAP--meaning that day...I was not prepared to do them--(for those who have followed in the past-I decided to *not* do the chemical testing on New Years Eve. I felt good about that decision.

He was very unhappy about it. I then told him about a rash on my ears that does not go away. My ears get very red, scaley, itchy and I constantly put lotion on them. I thought about what I most often have around my ears--hair (gluten-free shampoo/conditioner), cell phone--Hmmmmmm :ph34r: So I brought it up to him. Showed him my phone--and he stated that I was allergic to rubber (the case around the cell phone is made of rubber). Sure enough, right where the rubber case touches my ears is where the "itching ick" is. He gave me three handouts--because there are 3 types of rubber that people can be allergic to. He said to take off the case--(Duh <_< I think I figured that out by this point in the conversation).

He then repeated that I needed to do the chemical tests. And said to call him when I was ready to do the tests. He tried to be kind--but then gave me a spray for my nose (again) because it is "stuffy". He also said to get rid of my 3 cats--as I am allergic. I am aware of being allergic to them--but they are very old--and will be "passing soon enough" without me doing it now. He was not understanding of this issue.

He said he would see me soon. I get to the front desk, and he wanted a follow-up appt in TWO MONTHS! I almost fainted. I walked in with rashes on my arms--back--ears--but his message was clear. He basically was not going to "treat" me regularly until I did his freeeeeeking chemical test! :angry:

Aaaacchhhh! So I left his office crying--and feeling very helpless. Frantic. Does anyone have any feedback to give me? I am feeling kind of depressed :ph34r:

So I am editing a bit more...since rubber of the most common kind (i.e. cell phone case) also means all elastic, headphones, rubber bands, .... Now, this is kind of personal--but what kind of under-garments do *not* have elastic in them???? Where the elastic is in the garments is also where I have rashes. :( Any ideas about this problemo? Going without is not an option :blink:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi LJ,

I guess banana leaves are out eh? :) Sorry, not much help for the undies thing here . I am kind of partial to those ones they paint on myself, being an artist I like that painting stuff ya know. Well, I am totally useless for your situation I guess, but please take a look at this thread started by Riceguy on allergies. Especially the post he made with several links about anaphylactic reactions and quercetin. Very interesting stuff there. One thot tho, how about that skin in a bottle stuff? I think they call it Nu-skin or something? Or gloves in a bottle? Nu-skin is for healing cuts, and it is used to isolate the area from the environment for a few days while the skin heals. Might be helpful a little. I don't know if the gloves in a bottle stuff would help or not, but it might. Artists use it sometimes to protect their hands from chemicals.

http://www.celiac.co...lergy-vaccines/

L.J. Rookie
L.J.
Posted
  • Author

Hi FP!

Thanks for responding...The banana leaves are out true! :D I have tried the Nu-Skin product--might help but there appears to be a "referral response" to outward areas around the elastic. Like the cell phone cover, it was primarily on my ears, but also behind and under my ears down toward the neck. Uch.

Any thoughts about the chemical testing?

I do like the link you referred me to....Very interesting. I am going to re-read it. It fits me to a tee from what I can see! ;)

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi LJ,

I guess it depends on how you feel about the testing. It might be a quick way to figure out other triggers. So that would be good. If you don't get the testing, you may get surprised some day by a reaction. Are you prepared for that now? Since the cell phone thing didn't become obvious until he asked you about it, maybe it makes sense to go ahead and get tested. You would be in his office for the first hour or two right? So if you did react you could get help right away or have the test patches removed. Maybe it's better than wondering what unexpected things might cause a reaction?

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

I feel like "Horshack" ---

LJ....histamines - took me for freaking ever to understand -- I will pm you some links - on my cell cuz kids killed my computer today - if you don't hear from me - a gentle nudge is always welcome ;)

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

I think that 100% cotton elastic is available at the fabric store. It might be installed in some garments which are for sale.

L.J. Rookie
L.J.
Posted
  • Author

Hi FP, I don't know...I am feeling a better about the rubber allergy today--not so gloomy :D Now I am figuring out where all of the rubber is in my house.... I don't know about the testing. (Although he did say If I had strong reactions I could take them off)...I will keep thinking about it! I know that I hate surprises that pop up on me--but I would like to clear out the elastic issue/rubber problem first! Thanks for the feedback--as always!!!! :D

Hi LJ,

I guess it depends on how you feel about the testing. It might be a quick way to figure out other triggers. So that would be good. If you don't get the testing, you may get surprised some day by a reaction. Are you prepared for that now? Since the cell phone thing didn't become obvious until he asked you about it, maybe it makes sense to go ahead and get tested. You would be in his office for the first hour or two right? So if you did react you could get help right away or have the test patches removed. Maybe it's better than wondering what unexpected things might cause a reaction?

I feel like "Horshack" ---

LJ....histamines - took me for freaking ever to understand -- I will pm you some links - on my cell cuz kids killed my computer today - if you don't hear from me - a gentle nudge is always welcome ;)

GottaSki, Are you feeling like Horshack (meaning itshay) now???? I would love the links--so I will look forward to getting them (if I can find them! Thank you! :D

I think that 100% cotton elastic is available at the fabric store. It might be installed in some garments which are for sale.

Hi--Diane? 1desperateladysaved! I tried to find your blog--but couldn't -- (I am IT challenged)... Ohhhhh, 100% cotton elastic to be sewn in all my undies???? :wacko: I am still working on the easy ones! :lol:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


L.J. Rookie
L.J.
Posted
  • Author

Oops, my first try at multiquotes--It did not turn out so well! I hope you all can make sense out of it!

On the up side--I have found that the shower cap is causing the rash on my forehead--My brush has rubber on it--and every time I use it have been itching--Time to find replacements for those two things....

The undies problem that 1desperatesaved lady suggested is a good one--Just overwhelming to think about it. As in how do one go about doing that for bras? :(

Anyway, I am feeling better--and problem solving my way through this maze of allergy gunk!

FP is right in that I probably have more lurking around--but right now I am feeling a bit overwhelmed just by the rubber allergy. (Do you know it's on rubber kitchen utensils???? B) Those I can avoid--but it is amazing where all the rubber is....including my one small make-up applicator for eye shadow!!! Forward and onward...at least I know of one source that has been bombarding my skin! :rolleyes::D :D

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi LJ,

Shadowicewolf has a latex allergy I think. She mentioned it recently in the funny pages. She might have some idears for ya.

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

I don't know how much help this will be but...

My allergy is no where near as bad as what your discribing. It rears its head when i use normal bandaids or if i wear gloves made of latex. From the bandaids, I get hives that last for about a week, and the gloves cause my hands to itch and turn red.

I have no issues with elastic in the underware or any other garment. You can, however, find undies without the elastic in them, as well as other clothes.

For bandaids i use the Nexcare brand. They mainly use latex free items. For the gloves, i have found a pair of lined rubber gloves, however, i am unsure of them as of right now.

From my understanding, different rubbers are used for different things. I have no issues with say, the rubber on a basketball.

L.J. Rookie
L.J.
Posted
  • Author

I don't know how much help this will be but...

My allergy is no where near as bad as what your discribing. It rears its head when i use normal bandaids or if i wear gloves made of latex. From the bandaids, I get hives that last for about a week, and the gloves cause my hands to itch and turn red.

I have no issues with elastic in the underware or any other garment. You can, however, find undies without the elastic in them, as well as other clothes.

For bandaids i use the Nexcare brand. They mainly use latex free items. For the gloves, i have found a pair of lined rubber gloves, however, i am unsure of them as of right now.

From my understanding, different rubbers are used for different things. I have no issues with say, the rubber on a basketball.

Yes, I am having to be pretty careful with the elastic. Any rubber I am leery of...(You are right--there are 3 different "rubbers" that we can react to. Most common--elastic, rubber gloves, goggles & of course, my fav: the cell phone cover! ;)

I have some very heavy duty rubber gloves that are lined too--then, I wear my little white 100% cotton gloves inside of them with the tops of the gloves over long sleeves. In an pinch, this has worked, and it has not caused me problems! :D I am guessing if you have similar high quality gloves with a lining--that you might be ok!!! (I hope) :rolleyes: Thank you for the input--I will be looking for 100% cotton everythings! :lol: :lol: :lol:

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi LJ,

I ran across some of these Latex free bandages in my local organic market today. It looks like they make a line of latex free products. the company is called "All Terrain".

Open Original Shared Link

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium. A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake. With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones. Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 1...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it. Gluten is the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part. Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein. Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      50

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3. Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C. Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine. Weight...
    4. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free. I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
    5. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      highly unlikely NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,355
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Amy Immerman
    Newest Member
    Amy Immerman
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Raising you vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium automatically without supplementation of calcium.  A high PTH can be caused by low D causing poor calcium absorption; not insuffient calcium intake.  With low D your body is not absorbing calcium from your food so it steals it from your bones.  Heart has priority over bone. I've been taking 10,000 IU D3 a day since 2015.  My doctor says to continue. To fix my lactose intolerance, lots of lactobacillus from yogurts, and brine fermented pickles and saurkraut and olives.  We lose much of our ability to make lactase endogenosly with maturity but a healthy colony of lactobacillus in our gut excretes lactase in exchange for room and board. The milk protein in grass fed milk does not bother me. It tastes like the milk I grew up on.  If I drink commercial milk I get heartburn at night. Some experts estimate that 90% of us do not eat Adequite Intake of choline.  Beef and eggs are the principle source. Iodine deficiency is a growing concern.  I take 600 mcg a day of Liquid Iodine.  It and NAC have accelerated my healing all over.  Virtually blind in my right eye after starting antihypertensive medication and vision is slowly coming back.  I had to cut out starches because they drove my glucose up into the 200+ range.  I replaced them with Red Bull for the glucose intake with the vitamins, minerals and Taurine needed to process through the mitochodria Krebs Cycle to create ATP.  Went from A1c 13 down to 7.9.  Work in progress. Also take B1,B2,B3,B5,B6. Liquid Iodine, Phosphatidyl Choline, Q10, Selenium, D and DHEA.     Choline supplemented as phosphatidylcholine decreases fasting and postmethionine-loading plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy men +    
    • knitty kitty
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @catnapt, Wheat germ has very little gluten in it.  Gluten is  the carbohydrate storage protein, what the flour is made from, the fluffy part.  Just like with beans, there's the baby plant that will germinate  ("germ"-inate) if sprouted, and the bean part is the carbohydrate storage protein.   Wheat germ is the baby plant inside a kernel of wheat, and bran is the protective covering of the kernel.   Little to no gluten there.   Large amounts of lectins are in wheat germ and can cause digestive upsets, but not enough Gluten to provoke antibody production in the small intestines. Luckily you still have time to do a proper gluten challenge (10 grams of gluten per day for a minimum of two weeks) before your next appointment when you can be retested.    
    • knitty kitty
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @asaT, I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.   Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.   When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.   One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.   Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well.   I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA.  I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.   Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.