Food intolerance

[lynlovegood]

I had a very serious asthma attack after getting married its only been a month since I recovered. After taking a lot of antibiotics and other medications I experienced a lot of food intolerance. My GP actually said I can eat anything but I've been so scared. Ive heard about the leaky gut after having certain meds. Has anyone ever experienced it?

[WheezyAnne]

Not sure what you mean by leaky gut. I understand most people who have been on oral steroids for a long time suffer from acid reflux which can be controlled by usually Lanzoprazole or Omeprazol tablets. Let's put it in perspective though. Control of your Asthma, maybe with controlled acid reflux or damage to your lungs, which could end up being permanent. I know which I would go for.

Over the years you will get to know which antibiotics cause too many side effects. Clarithromycin gives me horrible diahorria (never could spell that right).

The food intolerance is a whole different ball game. Intolerance can get confused with actually allergic, which is the one you would really know about. If I eat too many satsumas which I am prone to because I like them so much, I used to start feeling a bit itchy, so just didn't eat so many. On the other hand if I touched a peanut first of all my skin would tingle, then my eyes swell up. I have antihistamines on hand and the Allergy Clinic have confirmed I am allergic to peanuts, but not tree nuts and I have an Epipen. If you suspect you are intolerant, just try a little bit and see how it goes.

Hope some of this ramble helps.

WheezyAnne

[Annista]

Hi Edelyn. You don't mention the symptoms of your food intolerances, but you would normally be aware if you had one. From childhood I have had problems with milk and milk products so that a bit of cheese in a sandwich gives me indigestion but cooked cheese of any description makes me sick.

On the other hand, I have been on antibiotics that have made me feel sick whatever I eat. It's not the food, it's the medication.

I have looked up 'Leaky Gut Syndrome' on the internet and it seems to me that it is a catch-all, held by some to blame for a range of symptoms that have as yet no recognised cause. There was no indication that it could be responsible for food intolerances, but maybe you read something different.

Talk to your GP or practice nurse if you're really worried.

[lynlovegood in reply to Annista]

I ate something that Im not allergic into before my serious asthma attack. Few hours after eating I felt so weak and dehydrated. Its not like the usual asthma attack. I'm following a hypoallergenic diet at the moment. Yes, Ive read about the leaky gut syndrome too which causes food intolerance after having a lot of antibiotics and medications.

How long did it take for you to fully recovered?

[Annista in reply to lynlovegood]

As soon as I stop taking antibiotics I stop feeling sick when I eat. The milk / cheese thing is ongoing, though.

Have you thought of looking on the Allergy UK website? You're likely to find more information about food intolerance there, and maybe a helpline so that you can ask questions directly if you can't find what you're looking for.

Good luck with it.

[Annista in reply to lynlovegood]

As soon as I stop taking antibiotics I stop feeling sick when I eat. The milk / cheese thing is ongoing, though.

Have you thought of looking on the Allergy UK website? You're likely to find more information about food intolerance there, and maybe a helpline so that you can ask questions directly if you can't find what you're looking for.

Good luck with it.

[Rachh8]

Leaky gut can just be a term where covering lots of health situations where the bowel can be more permeable. Though I still think looking into these things is helpful.

What I'm wondering is have you had a food intolerance test? I'm not sure where you live but I'm advised that Napiers the herbalists is very good for similar kinds of things if you had one near you it might be worth a visit.

You have to pay for a consultation but I've heard a lot of really good things.

Hope you get some answers soon as I know it's not nice when you're struggling to understand things. Love and prayers x x

[Pippin100]

I have been on a long course of steroids following an exacerbation and asthma attack, I always find that I struggle with an increase in gut symptoms alongside this, I find some foods trigger more reflux. I just stick to a normal diet but smaller portions until I am fully recovered. Have you had any allergy testing? If you continue to have problems maybe keep a food diary and take this back to your GP. Having said this it always takes a long time for your body to recover from a serious attack, your body might just take a little more time. Best of luck 🙂

[lynlovegood in reply to Pippin100]

That's exactly what I'm experiencing right now. I took a lot of steroids and antibiotics too when I had that serious attack.

I'm already home recovering when I ate beans which I am not allergic into before. I had an attack few hours after and the next morning I felt so weak and dehydrated. As if my whole system got crippled.

Now I am following a hypoallergenic diet. What hurts me is that my GP seems not to understand my situation when I told him what happened and my family finds me too cautious. It really feels good to know that somebody also experienced it.

Can you tell me how long did it take for you to fully recovered from food intolerance?

[WheezyAnne]

Just wondering here. I am severely allergic to peanuts. Over the years I have also suspected I could have an intolerance to beans, as they fall under the same food group, peas, beans and pulses. For some reason, Kiwi fruit are also a suspect. It really is a complete minefield. GPs have so much medical knowledge they have to retain, they will know of the existence of food allergies and intolerances, but not in depth. Have you asked your GP to refer you to an Allergy /Asthma Consultant-run clinic? They will be able to put things into perspective for you? I find that food intolerances More and go, but severe allergies generally stay. Food intolerance tests, for me, I find, are not very helpful. I think knowledge is the best thing. If you suspect a food intolerance and/or allergy, stop eating it for a few months, then, only if you are well, start re-introducing it in very small amounts slowly, over the weeks and months, and record your findings. Have you looked at the Allergy UK website?

Keep smiling, we are all your friends on here. Warm thoughts Anne

[Pippin100]

I have just had another serious attack and been in hospital, I expect that I will take up to a couple of months to recover, but I have been battling with my control for quite sometime, I am under the care of an allergy specialist which has helped massively, understanding your triggers is the key. Before I was referred I kept a diary and put down what I ate / what activity I was doing around exacerbation / attacks . I would ask your GP to refer you to allergy/ asthma clinic . Keep smiling x

[Gino39]

Hi there,

Hmmmm I seem to have similar issues. I was born with many allergies and had childhood asthma. My asthma has been under control for many years but a couple of years ago I started having unexplained serious coughing events and breathing difficulties. After getting nowhere with my doctors I managed to trace the trigger to certain types of cheese, that contained Lysozime. It takes one to two hours to effect me so does not get picked up on a toungue test. I have seen two proffesional hospital allergists and they tell me that I'm now not allergic to anything and can eat anything apart from egg white. Unfortunately now I can't eat any cheese at all without having a serious event, so bad it brings me to my knees. My doctors don't seem to be able to help with this so its litter ally trial and error when I go anywhere to eat. I have sourced some dairy free cheese at a local health food shop which helps a little... Allergies reactions are a very confusing area and each person seems to have different levels of reaction. Maybe it's something that is being added to cheese that I'm reacting too, but it's very hard to find out for sure. I have also noticed moe toungue coating in the morning if I have had dairy. I seem to be able to cope with a small amount of butter which is now an occasional treat on whole meal bread.

All the best with it.....

Gino