Food Intolerance: My husband seems to have... - CLL Support

CLL Support

23,340 members40,049 posts

Food Intolerance

teragramb profile image
8 Replies

My husband seems to have developed an intolerance to fish and crustaceans in the couple of years following his FCR chemotherapy. I was wondering if anyone else has had this sort of problem.

Written by
teragramb profile image
teragramb
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

I can't help personally teraframb being untreated and whilst I've heard of people developing an aversion to certain foods during and soon after treatment, it does sound more unusual to have an 'intolerance' so long after.

How does this intolerance manifest itself? Does eating these foods actually cause an allergic reaction or illness or is it just a deep dislike now for fish and crustaceans?

A shame if he previously enjoyed these foods. Not sure if others have had similar experiences. Main thing is I hope he's keeping well now and enjoying a strong remission.

Regards,

Newdawn

teragramb profile image
teragramb in reply toNewdawn

We have never eaten a lot of fish or crustaceans but on the few occasions we have had it over the past 18 - 24 months he has vomited quite violently about 2 hours later. He used to enjoy the occasional "fish and chips", prawns with seafood sauce in avocado and has always liked lobster for example. I think we will have to avoid any seafood from now on but I would love to understand what is causing the problem.

Yes, he has been very lucky with the remission particularly as he only had 4 FCR treatments instead of the usual 6 as he was experiencing a lot of side effects from the drugs.

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator in reply toteragramb

It's one of those mysteries I think teragramb and could be due to changes in his gut flora due to the FCR. Unless of course he's on a new or different medication which could impact.

I'd mention it to his doctor but it could be that the cause of the intolerance is never known. Maybe he's developed an allergy to fish oils or something of that nature but that's just speculation on my part.

Glad to hear all is going well post treatment though.

Regards,

Newdawn

Cllcanada profile image
CllcanadaTop Poster CURE Hero

Shellfish allergies are most often the immune system’s response to a protein found in shellfish, called tropomyosin.

Antibodies trigger the release of chemicals such as histamines to attack the tropomyosin. With CLL who knows what the immune response might be...

I recommend you get a skin test to see in fact if this is an allergy, because reactions can be very severe, and shellfish can be a hidden ingredient...

Fish and molluscs don't have tropomyosin, so maybe sonething else is happening...

~chris

MsLockYourPosts profile image
MsLockYourPostsPassed Volunteer

I would definitely have your husband discuss this with his doctor. A friend, no known illness and no medications of any kind, went out on the town with friends while in San Francisco, and their exploring took them to Fisherman's wharf for a crab dinner. She remembers leaving the table to go to the restroom and coming to on the bathroom floor with paramedics attending. She had never had a problem with seafood of any kind before that incident. If your husband has developed an allergy for whatever reason I know he wouldn't want a similar experience.

teragramb profile image
teragramb

Thank you all for your comments. That must have been frightening for your friend pkenn.

I have told him to speak to the consultant at his next appointment about it. If they think there is not potential connection, I think he will speak to our GP. We would like to get to the bottom of it.

Margaret

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

This is a very interesting new post on here connected to this issue.

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Newdawn

teragramb profile image
teragramb

Thank you Newdawn, very interesting, it sounds as though there might be a connection then. Will wait until he see his consultant and see what they have to say. His next appointment is not until October but we can avoid seafood until then.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Heat intolerance

Heat Intolerance so there’s a name for it I’m in New Jersey 64 years old I have never had such...

Food!

Hi ,can anyone help ?, I’m not very clear on what I can and can’t eat on ibrutinib ,I’m told no...
Workers profile image

Food poisoning

Hi, I am on WW for 6 years. Yesterday purchased prawns from supermarket and within one hour of...
Hazel33 profile image

SEVERE HEAT INTOLERANCE, ANYONE ELSE?

Hi Everyone. I asked this question in my CLL online support group and the response was...
Joannh70 profile image

Food vs supplements

My oncologist agrees with Green tea and turmeric being beneficial for CLL but she prefers using...
CLLmoxie profile image

Moderation team

See all
CLLerinOz profile image
CLLerinOzAdministrator
AussieNeil profile image
AussieNeilAdministrator
Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.