Food allergy testing back and It doesn't look good - Thyroid UK

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Food allergy testing back and It doesn't look good

asmile4u profile image
29 Replies

I got my food allergy testing back and I am allergic to the big ones, gliadin, casein and soy, but I am also allergic to olive (including olive oil), honey, strawberries, apples, grapes, cucumbers and tomatoes. All the things I love to eat (except I have been gf for years). I didn't even know you could be allergic to some of these. I went to our co-op and if something doesn't have one in it, it has the other (primarily casein, soy and olive oil). I left the store really frustrated. What am I going to do, if I get stuck somewhere? This makes traveling seem like an impossibility, unless I find somewhere with a full kitchen. I am so sad right now. Is anyone else dealing with this and how are you dealing with this?

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asmile4u
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29 Replies

Do you think this allergy testing is evidence based? I mean, I don't know. What does it rely on to make these claims?

If you are gluten free, a normal test will not show this up unless you take gluten before the test. You're gluten free, but they are saying they can spot that you have a reaction to it..... ???

I kinda sense that there might be fraudsters loose here. But I could be hopelessly wrong.

Do you have gut symptoms, despite being gluten free?

Have you excluded h pylori?

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

Hi Aspmama - Thanks for your response. Yes, they have excluded h pylori. Yes, I still have gut symptoms and I am not absorbing medicines and supplements and have to be on mega doses to even register. For example, I take 10,000iu of Vitamin D daily and it barely registers at the very bottom of the low scale. The same with b12 and a number of other things. So they think it is absorption issues. They did the blood test. It might be that I have been getting small amounts of gluten without realizing it.

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply to asmile4u

I guess you need to take out lined notepaper and make lists of what you can eat. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, fish, seafood, root vegetables, pulses (excluding soy), grains, herbs, spices, condiments. I think the lists will be quite long and it's a more positive way of looking at things.

When in doubt, there's always potatoes and you are not allergic to eggs. So there's a bonus right there.

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to gabkad

Yes, that is what I will have to do and everytime I come across something I can have add it to the list.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to asmile4u

I don't know... That does sound rather a lot of things to be intolerant to. Could I follow up Aspmama's question about what testing was done here? Was it organised by a doctor / hospital? Or was it one of those do it yourself kits?

I've been a bit sceptical about how good these tests are ever since I saw a TV programme about someone who sent off samples of blood to the same lab but using different names - and the results came back completely different.

As Aspmama says, if you've already cut out gluten it wouldn't show up a gluten sensitivity.

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to Jazzw

JazzW - It was ordered by my physician and done in a lab. I can't say how good the medical test are, but we seem to have tested everything and I am still having problems.

As I said, the doctor thinks since I am still eating stuff from the grocery that has been processed it might be contamination causing the gluten reaction.

Crlnfly profile image
Crlnfly in reply to

I do not believe in these tests. i basically think what you have eaten in the previous 72 hours are what shows up!!

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to Crlnfly

I would buy that except there are things on there that I have never eaten or haven't eaten in the last 6 months, let alone in the last 72 hours.

asmile4you,

Just go back to basics.

All fruits, veg & salad (except ones you are intolerant of). ... Meat, eggs, there is dairy free yogurts, etc but I haven't needed to try them ... there is loads but you will need to cook it yourself to ensure intolerant foods have not been added.

Hopefully these intolerances won't last long ( 6 months..?. ) and you will be able to reintroduce exempt foods one at a time.

I did the Array 4 Gluten Associated & Cross Reactive Foods & Food Sensitivity and had a list of foods not to eat. I have found the benefits of not eating these foods that upset my tummy far outweigh the advantage of eating them.

Have you tried Betaine HP with Pepsin for stomach absorption problems. ? ? ...

I take Betaine with all meals along with digestive enzymes and biliary support. I have seen HUGE improvements but symptoms return as soon as I stop the Betaine indicating its a long term problem.

I hope you manage to accommodate your intolerances. Remember it is a good thing that you know what they are .. as can now deal with them so hopefully they (or some of them) will go away..! ! ..

Flower

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

I have not tried betaine, but my doctor prescribed digestive enzymes with every meal. What type, dosage and brand do you use of Betaine?

in reply to asmile4u

asmile4u,

I supplement Betaine Plus HP by Biotics Research Corp supplied by my practitioner. These are very high strength pills but any Betaine HCI by a reputable supplier is fine (such as Lamberts or Biocare, etc.....) ..

I was very intolerant of many foods, smells, chemicals, etc, etc just 6 months ago and believe my intolerences to be triggered by partially undigested proteins and gut microbes that spilled over into the bloodstream causing allergic or inflammatory reactions at distal sites.

If you have gut dysbiosis, your intolerances could be a sign of a compromised immune systems (TH-1 / TH-2 imbalances) which would mean difficulties in eradicating viral, fungal and parasitic infestations. Candida is extremely common and after years can become symptomatic and difficult to eradicate. Also have you been checked for H.Pylori. ? ..

If you take Betaine HCI & suffer heartburn, you have either taken too much or don't require it. I eat protein at every meal with 1400 mg Hydrochloride and 20 mg Pepsin ( these are very high doses but I have never suffered heartburn.) It is hoped that by supplementing Betaine HCI, it will encourage the stomach to produce its own as conditions become more favourably.

That is why the digestive enzymes and biliary support is are so important as is optimal B Vits as gastric acid is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach. Also the stomach must be acid for Vit B12 to be absorbed in the first place.

Since taking Betaine HCI my gut issues & intolerences have improved hugely. However I have also started medicating on T3 and supplement all nutrients heavily so my good results could be multifactoral.

(Note Betaine HCI is NOT the same as Betaine Trimethylglycine & should not be taken with NSAIDS. )

Flower

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

Thanks Flower - From what she has said, my doctor is thinking along the same lines as what you were suffering with being "triggered by partially undigested proteins and gut microbes that spilled over into the bloodstream causing allergic or inflammatory reactions at distal sites."

She has checked for Candida and h.Pylori and it came back negative.

I will email her information on the Betaine HCI and see what she says.

Daffers123 profile image
Daffers123

well I totally agree with you as to the impossibility of finding any food without the stuff in it. when I found I couldn't have soy - and started checking labels - it's in everything. soya flour in almost all bread and bakery products, soya lecithin in all chic biscuits and products, gravy thickeners etc. it's a nightmare and when we eat out I don't know what to chose. it's also v boring! !

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply to Daffers123

Hardly. We should not rely on Industrial Food for our 'nutrition'.

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to gabkad

Agreed gabkad, but it will make things difficult if I get stuck somewhere and don't want to get sick.

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply to asmile4u

When in doubt, eat bananas. Lots of people carry bananas who have dietary restrictions, like Hindus, Muslims, etc. It's a well packaged fruit. ;)

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to gabkad

I love bananas and they have been a staple of mine since finding out about all this. My husband teased that I will have to pack baby food of rice and bananas when I travel. I wonder if they would stop them at TSA. ;)

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply to asmile4u

If I am someplace where there's nothing I can eat, I just fast. Mind you, even a tablespoon of sunflower seeds works to tide a person over. I see people eating peanuts on the transit. They carry them in a tiny plastic 'box' container. Can't be more than 2 tablespoons of peanuts in one of them.

it's not that difficult to carry something 'edible'.

I just find it annoying when someone opens a styro clam full of take away on the train. Should be illegal. it is in Chicago.

in reply to gabkad

Lol... Especially when it smells so good ....

but fasting ?.? .... Noooooo.! ! ..

Fasting suppresses ( or at least down regulates) deodinase type I (D1) which means decreased thyroid hormone conversion..! ..

U bad girl gabkad.. Lol.

Flower

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply to

Maybe so but it's temporary. The fasting is.

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to Daffers123

I have found that I can use coconut, rice, almond, oat and corn flour, so maybe I can whip something up for special occasions. I was shocked at how many things have soy, especially soy lecithin. I was told it is used as an anti-caking agent. Some companies are starting to switch to safflower lecithin instead of soy, but it is very limited.

in reply to asmile4u

Asmile4u,

I avoid soy lecithin as much as possible.

However it is worth bearing in mind that many who are soy intolerant can actually tolerate soy lecithin & soy oil.

This is because they do not contain enough soy protein to cause the reaction.

Good explainations in article - link below

F

chriskresser.com/harmful-or...

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

Thanks Flower007 - I was thinking that there wasn't any difference. Soy was soy was soy. Maybe after the 3 months of elimination, I can add back some soy oil or lecithin and see what happens.

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u

I also had to go through all my supplements. My meds are from a compound pharmacy, so I know they are clean. Some of the supplements have olive oil in them.

Hypo101 profile image
Hypo101

What tests though and just how accurate are they? I read somewhere (can't remember where) about people who had various food allergys based on tests so cut them out but then tried them later and had no problems.

in reply to Hypo101

That would be the desired result Hypo.

By removing the intolerated foods, it gives the body a rest.

The whole point is to calm the immune responses that have gone into overdrive making us intolerant of foods we have eaten for years.

Often the culprit foods are the ones we eat most of (& therefore miss the most when having to eliminate them.)

However by eliminating them, it is hoped that we can introduce them back into our diet at a later stage without the negative side effects.

Of course people will severe allergies would not be able to reintroduce.

That is the difference between an intolerance and an allergy.

Flower.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

Yes, there are things on my severe list that my doctor does not want me adding back at all. I am lucky that that list is very short.

Smile. if I may call you that, you clearly do have major absorption issues, I think identifying what is causing them is the most important thing rather than avoidance of foods because you are going to end up v v hungry. (Though I have no medical qualification so what I think may not matter at all.....)

H pylori is ruled out.

Has autoimmune gastritis been checked - serum gastrim, antibodies against parietal cells etc?

Active B12 test?

Celiac ruled out before you went g free?

SIBO?

Lactose breath test?

asmile4u profile image
asmile4u in reply to

Aspmama - Yes, I have had all those test done, except the lactose breath test. I will have to look into that one.

Jennifer

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