PaulaJ

I know how you feel--I have had multiple foods allergies for about 15 years. I have finally found what I think is the answer--LDA: Low Dose Allergy Immunotherapy. My advice to anybody who has multiple food allergies and/or chemical sensitivies is to learn about LDA and then search for a doctor in your area who practices environmental medicine and employs LDA in your state -- see: Open Original Shared Link (search for doctors by state). The equivalent of this outside of the United States (mainly in UK) is EPD (enzyme potentiated desensitization). Per my doctor "LDA is the closest thing to a cure for allergies." The shots help the body build suppressor T-cells, thereby turning off allergic reactions and all the histimine and other inflammatory chemicals allergies trigger in the body. The only other way to "cure" allergies is avoidance for several months and then reintroduction on a rotated basis (most allergies are not fixed/permanent)--but, if you are allergic to many, many foods/chemicals, LDA is an easier way out because avoidance is difficult for long periods of time.

Your ND is wrong. White rice/brown rice--if you are allergic to rice, you are allergic to rice--period. Also, people who are allergic to foods should be rotating their foods so as to keep their tolerance of them by not eating the same foods day after day. You can learn about rotation and also LDA at this website:

Open Original Shared Link

Paula

Stefani--I understand your frustration and pain, believe me - food allergies suck so very bad, and I have more food allergies than I have fingers and toes combined. Tonight I had a hive in the back of my head and my back and face itches (I think I've got some hives going there too). I think I am allergic to tea (or maybe it was something else I got into), but anyway it's sucking! It's tough to cope sometimes.

I've got a thread on this site called Low Dose Allergen therapy, which is a therapy I am embarking on, if you are interested in reading it. It's one way to treat allergies, other than elimination, when you've got a lot of them.

Paula

My mom is allergic to chicken and that seemed on the surface to be an easy one to avoid, but in looking at recipes, apparently not. Chicken broth is used in all kinds of things where I wouldn't think it would be. Like Mexican rice, salsa verde and some soups. Even bean soup!

The more recipes I look at the more worried I become. I am allergic to dairy and I see dairy put in all sorts of things where I'd never dream to put dairy at home.

Sometimes I envy those people who can walk into any restaurant they want and eat whatever they want.

I hear you--I'm allergic to a lot of foods and I envy those people too.

Paula

I would agree that most allergy shots would not be useful for food allergies....that's a different animal. As I don't have any food allergies, it would be interesting to see how this helps you. How nice it would be if they could turn off the autoimmune response!

Turning off the autoimmune response is exactly the goal of LDA. From what I understand, LDA therapy helps your body make suppressor t-cells to turn off t-helper cells that are misidentifying substances (chemicals, foods, pollens, molds, danders, etc.) as foreign invaders and thereby setting off a chain of events that make the body sick.

I will keep posting here as I progress with the shots.

Paula

I have been receiving allergy shots for about 10 years now.....about once every 4-5 weeks for maintenance. They have helped tremendously for my sinus symptoms. I used to get sinus infections all the time and about 2 years into the shots, these stopped.

I still have trouble when the allergins are at high levels (I am allergic to mold, dust mites and tree stuff) but the severity is much less and no infections. I use no meds during allergy season.

Not sure how well they work on food allergies as I seem to only have intolerances for those. The shots are rarely a cure but some people get lucky and have 100% improvement. I would say mine are about 60-70% improvement......well worth the effort if you do not want to load up on meds.

My allergy doctor recently said to me before I switched from standard shots to LDA that the standard shots are more of a way to "control" allergies and that LDA is the "closest thing to a cure" for allergies. I didn't find that the shots (neutralization therapy) worked for my food allergies. Of course, I am a bad example of a neutralization patient because I didn't give it the best chance to succeed b/c I slacked off and waited four years before I had my neutralization doses retested (which was very bad on my part) so since my neutralization doses had changed in those years, I had been taking the wrong doses of antigens for God knows how long, which then didn't "turn off" my allergic reactions (I was supposed to be retested in two years). I heard from another person who does LDA and she said that neutralization shots worked well for her hayfever/pollen/mold allergies, but not so good for her food allergies, of which she was allergic to almost every food, so she switched to LDA and is living a far more comfortable life and in between shots she just forgets about it and has fun.

Paula

Wow what an interesting thread. Thanks for the info. My mom didn't remember any specifics about what they were called or how she did them, so I didn't have much to go on. But what you described sounds plausible. She did say she was injecting herself, so maybe they gave her something to do at home. Not sure.

Obviously I probably just inherited her allergies, but there are so many things they gave pregnant women in the 60's & 70's that turned out to have negavite effects on their babies, and antibodies are known to cross the placenta...unborn babies have even been shown to make antibodies of their own from exposure to various things in the womb, so who knows for sure, but I keep it open as a possibility. It sure would explain a lot for me, I think.

Anyway, thanks again!

Yeah, I did the home, inject self weekly treatment too--it's a different treatment from LDA.

I'm sorry--please pardon me for guessing about the cause of your allergies--half the time I am unsure of how I got my own! In my case, before I got allergies, I suffered from horrible anxiety for many years, took way too many rounds of antibiotics, drank too much alcohol to quell the anxiety (they didn't have good meds back then) and then eventually obtained candida (from the antibiotics and alcohol) and had a parasite, E. hytolitica (sp?). Plus my mom has some food allergies (which she ignores), so for me it could have been a combo of adrenal fatigue, the candida, and then maybe a little heredity thrown in. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out "how did this happen to me?" I'll probably never really know for sure which particular thing pushed me over the edge, so I am just chocking it up to all of the above.

Paula

My doctor has recommended LDA therapy for me because I have autoimmune thyroid disease. I haven't been tested for celiac, but it is suspected I have it. And a search for LDA and celiac is what has led me to this forum. I just wanted to interject to this comment.

My understanding of LDA, as given to me by my doctor and a lot of the research he has shown me, is that LDA actually can and often does work on autoimmune diseases. As he describes it, autoimmune diseases are very much like allergies turned inward, against your own body. You body attacks itself because it no longer recognizes that part of you and thinks it is foreign and unwanted.

I'm not saying that it does work on celiac as I have absolutely no idea. But I wouldn't discount it based on celiac being autoimmune as opposed to allergy. I read recently that the FDA in the states is currently testing LDA on an autoimmune disease with some promising results. Granted, since I personally don't believe they really want to cure anything, just make more money selling their drugs, I doubt much will come of it. But I was glad to see that they are at least giving it a shot...no pun intended.

I'd be interested to see how the LDA works on people with celiac and I intend on doing some more research into it.

That's cool that it works for autoimmune diseases-I've read that too--there's a comprehensive list of what conditions doctor's are using LDA for on Dr. Schrader's website (I listed the link in post above). Please keep me posted if you decide to go for it. If you don't have any food allergies, the diet part won't be nearly as difficult for you as it is for me, since food is my biggest problem it requires me to eat a special diet for 3 weeks post shot. Those that don't have food allergies only have to observe, I think, a 3 day diet around the shot (day before, day of and day after).

Paula

The allergist tells me I am allergic to phenols and formaldehyde. And I thought it was the cat - oops!

Can anyone recommend a good online forum for Chemical Sensitivity?

Where do those folks hang out?

I have really basic questions and my allergist wasn't a lot of help. Questions like - I got a new book for Christmas, but it smells! How can I prepare it/outgas it, so I can read it!

At least now I know why reading makes me so sleepy.....I just need to read older books!

Thank you and happy new year!

You could try curezone.com - they have a "MCS" forum there.

Paula

My mom was doing it in the 1970's because she couldn't get pregnant. (I personally think it was the gluten intolerance but she's still kind of in denial about that.) She was injecting herself with tree pollens, molds, etc. while she was pregnant with me and now I'm allergic to all those things and everything related, like profillins in fruits, etc. I don't know if that's why or if I just inherited it, but it seems related. I've been curious about this treatment ever since I learned this news...what exactly do they put in those shots? Was it materno-fetal allergen transfer?

Are you sure she was doing actual "LDA" because LDA didn't get going until 2002 and before that there was a similar therapy called EPD (Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization) which was developed 1960. For EPD, a person would get a shot which was of a cocktail of antigens (including foods, molds, chemicals, pollens, dust, etc.) in the tiniest of doses with the enzyme beta-glucuronidase every two months (and then later stretched out to every 3 months, every 6 months, once a year). They were not done at home and they were not done every week as are traditional allergy shots. Possibly she did traditional, weekly shots, where the antigen dose is much higher than in EPD or LDA.

From what I understand if your folks have allergies to various things like molds, pollens, cats, etc., its very likely you will have them too. I think with the traditional allergy shots they give you just enough antigen to try to turn off the reaction, so I am doubting that you experienced some kind of materno-fetal allergen transfer from the shots (but I'm not saying that I know for sure that that's not possible--it's just my hunch that that's probably not the case), but that also the gluten intolerance caused some of your food/chemical sensitivies (the chemical in fruit) like I know it did with me and a lot of others that come to this particular forum since it is a contributing factor to leaky gut.

Paula

You're right - it won't cure gluten intolerance. It is a treatment for allergies only (food, inhalants, molds, pollens, chemicals, etc.--I think there's 300 or more subtances/foods in the shots if I am recalling correctly). From what I understand, LDA is the closest thing to a cure for allergies that's out there. It helps your body build suppressor T-cells to your allergens so you will quit getting reactions when you eat something/inhale something that would normally cause a reaction.

I was worried too and scared that it may make things worse, but I have never heard of it making anybody worse, only better. Also--I have so many allergies that I'm too miserable not to try it; I don't want to live like I have been living the past 15 years for the next 15 years or more (probably less b/c I would probably shoot myself at some point because it's a miserable existence).

I will come back here and report on my progress, but it's a process and will take at least 6 shots (from what I am told) to start really feeling better. I will be getting an LDA shot every 2 months for the first 6 shots and my second shot is scheduled for 2/16. It won't be until at least January of 2010 when I hit my 6th shot. But, Nickie Dumke, a seasoned LDA patient said I might start noticing good changes sooner than that. We shall see (and I will come back and report). This therapy might be the answer I (and maybe others) have been searching for. I tried the neutralization drops/shots and didn't get anywhere with it.

Anybody wanting to know more about LDA can read about it at this link:

Open Original Shared Link

and then also Nickie Dumke's website:

Open Original Shared Link

Paula

I've just started LDA (Low Dose Allergen) Immunotherapy--I had my first shot on 12/22 and am just about done with the 3 weeks of careful post-shot dieting. Besides having gluten intolerance, I have many food allergies and this, I understand, is the closest thing to a cure for allergies. Anybody else doing it, and if so, how are you coming along--what differences are you noticing?

Paula

Hi Robin - I don't know of any docs in your area (I'm not from there) but I do know that you can get the test done through enterolab.com.

Jessica--I see something suspect--in your signature/statement, you say you are allergic to "whole" milk. Cow's milk is cow's milk--it doesn't matter if it is whole milk or 2% milk, nonfat milk, etc. It is the protein in cow's milk that is the allergen, not the fat content, so if you are allergic to cow's milk it will make you sick. So both the 2% milk and the breakfast drink you drank are most likely the reason why you feel ill. Don't be confused by the word "whole" infront of the word milk from your allergy test results. You may want to try some of the other non-cow's milk "milks" for awhile. In addition to this, if you are newly diagnosed for celiac/gluten intolerance your intestines would mostly likely need time to heal before being able to digest the lactose in milk.

This one time at cake camp....

Open Original Shared Link

I followed Nancym's link to the Gluten file (thanks Nancy) and read this article - it touches on pancreatic insufficiency "which often accompanies celiac disease, especially in its early stages of treatment." So, as I said, it is possible your pancreas has some resting to do yet and could probably use some help in the form of digestive enzymes to help ease its load, rest up, and get back to normal.

Also, an allergy nurse I know (who also suffers from GI/celiac and has poor pancreatic function so she takes enzymes) said that one thing our pancreas does to help the body get rid of gluten and other foods we are allergic/intolerant to is to put out tons and tons of enzymes to help the body get rid of the antigen or intolerant food. At some point, the pancreas is just tired and cannot keep up with the demands.

Open Original Shared Link

Until not long ago, I used to notice a lot of undigested foods in my stools--it was quite frightening really. For me, I think going gluten-free was a big step in helping turn things around. Some other things I have done to help my digestion, is take HCL (hydrocholric acid) with any meals containing protein (any meal or snack that was more than just a piece of fruit or some vegetables). I sometimes take digestive enzymes as well. If you haven't been gluten-free very long, that could be part of the problem--your intestines need more time to heal. Some other possibilities: your pancreas may be tired and not putting out enough digestive enzymes. You might see some difference by taking digestive enzymes with your meals while continuing to be gluten-free. Also you may need some good bacteria--such as acidolphilus and bifidus. Another thing--I recently found out from my GI test is that I was "borderline" for h. pylori, a stomach bug that can cause stomach ulcers and survives the stomach environment by creating a low stomach acid environment for itself so it can live and thrive. Ulcers aside (I didn't have one)--we need that stomach acid help us digest our food and set off the other chains of events for digestion--such as the release of enzymes in the small intestine by the pancreas, etc. I treated with 4 weeks of mastic gum 1 g 2x day. From what I have read, at least 50% of the population has this bug. Hope these ideas help.

Hi--I didn't realize the original post was from 7/15 at first when I wrote my reply, but here it is anyway!

What about fruit? What about fruit juice with no sugar? Some people even say to stay off vegetables with a lot of sugar, like carrots.

What about fermented things, like vinegar or pickles? Cheese isn't a problem since I'm off dairy and soy.

What about complex carbohydrates--beans, brown rice, yams? What about bread or pasta made from brown rice or sorghum or whatever?

I'm hungry and frustrated. I'd sure appreciate knowing your experiences.

Hi--I think the drastic "cave man" diet (mostly meat and veggies) is meant to be strictly followed only for a short period of time--like 6 weeks. Since all food eventually turns into glucose in the blood, the point of the Candida diet is to not give big surges of sugar for the Candida to feast on, thereby weakening it, and then killing it with antifungals and replacing it with probiotics so it can't grow back--you probably know all this.

The problem with being on the "cave man" diet longer than 6 weeks is that eventually a high-protein diet will weaken your kidneys and a severely low carb diet will cause muscle atrophy (meaning your body will "eat" it's own muscle, including internal organs and, as a lesser problem, less muscle=less calorie burning) and basically make you a crazy person (we need carbs to think rationally). Don't worry about the carrot thing - carrots actually have antifungal properties :-) see www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com.

The reason for vinegar avoidance is that if you are sensitive or have a yeast allergy/sensitivity, consuming vinegar would stir up symptoms/tear the body down (all allergies tear down the body). If you are not allergic to vinegar then I would say you could add it back in (of course, assuming it is gluten-free vinegar).

I'm going to venture to say it's time for you to start eating some complex carbs, my dear. Starving your body of carbs for weeks on end will not help in the fight with Candida. Our immune systems need fuel. Start slowly adding back in carbs, maybe 1/2 cup with your meals and then gradually increasing to meet your hunger. Possibly choose high-fiber*, low sugar fruit such as berries and apples to start with. I would avoid fruit juices for the most part--there's no fiber so it may as well be just sugar--if you must have it, dilute it with large amounts of water, but again, whole fruit is better because of the fiber factor. Unfortunately, some of the "whens" to add things back into the diet, such as honey, sugar, desserts, etc. are not clearly defined but you would be safe to keep a limit on consuming them. You will have to basically gauge and guess for yourself on these things as it seems nobody has a clear-cut answer on all of it.

*Fiber is our good bugs' (probiotics) favorite food--keeps them happy and replicating.

Hi Hacilar - I am from Seattle, WA. Good to know that there are at least two of us in WA that have this problem How long have you been at this and how are you getting along? I've only been "confirmed" since June of this year, so I have some mental adjusting to this to do yet.

I have been shedding quite a bit for about 3 years and I'm pretty sure the gluten/gut issues contributed to it, but I also had very very low progesterone levels, which can also be an issue with hair loss (currently supplementing with natural P--I am 41). I have been gluten-free and on natural P since June of this year and the hair loss seems to have slowed down a little bit but not enough yet--I still shed easily and too much. I have recently started back up on b-complex to see if that helps, and I suppose I should probably should toss the multi back into my diet too. I understand that every day, under normal circumstances, we lose 50-100 hairs a day. I'd say I'm probably losing at least that every day. I never noticed hair all over the bathroom floor (in such a large amount) until about 3 years ago. I also didn't notice hair on my shirt, chest and arms that much like I have the past coupld of years. I'm looking forward to that stopping as I would not be excited to have to wear a wig or get a weave or something to cover bald spots. I don't have much more to loose before needing a cover up!

Paula