Anyone with Hashimoto's found they are more food sensitive?

[elaine2447]

Last November I made a concerted effort to go gluten free but I have actually felt worse. I seem to have all sorts of allergies that start my eyelids itching and swelling slightly. I now find I have become allergic to bananas and have eaten one nearly every day for years because of the potassium content. I was reading an article and strangely enough there are many people who have become banana allergic and a couple of people found they are more susceptible since going gluten free.

[puncturedbicycle]

Hard to say really. We are coming into hay fever season so I'd assume that accounts for your eye issue.

I wonder if when you cut out gluten you then either introduce a number of ingredients you've never eaten (xantham gum, gf flours) or you rely more heavily on foods you may previously have eaten occasionally. Under these conditions sensitivities might be revealed.

But of course a lot of it will depend on individual circumstances. Some people's gf diet is exactly the same as before just w the gluten removed, others eat very differently than they're used to.

[elaine2447 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thanks for response. This eye thing I've had on and off for the last two months or more so it's not season related. I just seem to be more sensitive to food stuff now, things which I tolerated in the past I no longer can, broad beans and even gluten free oats, as examples.

You are right about xantham gum etc. I thought I had found the least obnoxious bread, ie Schar, but it has all the usual rubbish in it including soy. I've cut out so many things, it is becoming a problem what to eat. I don't like eating meat but have resigned myself to the fact I have to eat something so it seems to be organic chicken or fish which gets a bit boring. Mind you when I have one of my frequent manic turns I can't face eating anything. It makes me quite anxious as I have advanced osteoporosis and need calcium type foods but I also have primary hyperparathyroidism so cannot take calcium supplements. I guess lunch will have to be rice cakes until I react to them.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to elaine2447]

I do feel for you, once you've excluded a number of things on the basis of health and sensitivities you're then left w what you *feel like eating* out of what is left which may be nothing.

I used to eat prawns when there was nothing suitable on the menu, then I suddenly became allergic to crustacea, which has been a big pain in the neck.

We're eating a lot of game at the moment because of both health and humaneness issues. Don't know if that is suitable for you but I needed a change, I all but looked like a chicken after my last run of chicken-eating. Then after being unwell (fluey) this winter for a while I couldn't face anything but eggs.

They say the key is to maintain a varied diet and you may be able to avoid developing sensitivities but that's easy to say when you're not restricted.

Re your eye issues, there are several species of tree that have been in bloom for the past two months. You can have a look here and see if the timing matches up w anything: worcester.ac.uk/discover/po... Every spring I wake up one morning and feel like I have crystals or fibres in my eyes and it is always the day the birch trees in the next road have flowered. They look beautiful but they are a menace.

[elaine2447 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Ah prawns, there's a thought. I know what you mean about health and humaneness issues. The way animals are treated in our civilised country is appalling. I have never eaten beef since they used to keep showing that poor cow falling with mad cow disease on the news constantly. Ironically when I paid for a food intolerance test last November, beef was flagged up as being intolerant. Pigs, I just cant bear the thought as they are so intelligent and badly treated. Lambs, don't even go there!!

I walked up the town today, forced myself as I am having a bit of a manic day, came on all of a sudden this morning when I thought I was up for a good day. I met a neighbour up in the market square but I felt I needed to get away and sit down and felt odd and very unsociable. He is my age, late sixties and brimming with health and rides his racer etc. I said to him next time I see you I'll either be clucking like a hen or my mouth will be opening and closing like a fish. I have always had an allergy to eggs from many years back, never determined which part but I always had a feeling it was the white because of the albumen. I resorted with a benzo this afternoon as I thought I can't get through the whole weekend feeling like this. They kind of give me a lift, I guess its because it takes some of the weight off my shoulders. But what weight, all I have to worry about is my health and my four cats. The latter cause me stress I must admit and had I known I was in for osteoporosis and the subsequent ailments three years ago, I would never have taken on the two Greek kittens as a favour when I already had two cats of my own. I am inclined to panic a bit here on my own and yet I have always been a loner and mad on travelling. Would think nothing of going to Brussels for the day but that was 5 years ago, or Edinburgh. Now it's an effort to walk up to the town. My feet are buzzing as usual and have a new symptom from Monday feeling like one foot is going to sleep. So after Googling that, my mind is in overdrive, lol. Have done all my own DIY sometimes too hefty but I was widowed with a nearly four year old so used to doing everything for myself. Now I am a wreck, lol. I will look at your link about the trees. So kind of you to go to the trouble of seeking out solutions for me. Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of this lovely weather but I fear we will be freezing by next week. Elaine x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to elaine2447]

It can be complicated and hard. I wish you all the best and yes, you enjoy the weather too. xx

[elaine2447 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thanks. I bought some frozen prawns yesterday after your mention although I checked thoroughly to see where they came from, also some Cornish sardines, but felt a bit churned up after the latter, lol. I do have a yew tree at the bottom of the garden but I only go by it each morning when I'm feeding the birds but you never know, that might be enough to start my allergies off. xx

[dang in reply to puncturedbicycle]

You might want to check out the reply I made to elaine2447.

It sounds like both of you are describing histaminosis. Shellfish are incredibly high in histamine, and people with gut issues are often low in enzymes needed to break down histamines.

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

Oops, at that rate will probably react to the prawns I bought yesterday. Going back to bananas I read they are from the latex family and avocados are the same, but I seem okay with them.

[dang]

I have Hashimoto's and I am incredibly sensitive to foods. I also react to Bananas if I have too many. How are tomatoes for you, do they cause problems? How about fermented things? Red wine?

You might be histamine intolerant, or possible you've over-done yourself with histamine containing foods lately and you are experiencing histaminosis.

It causes all sorts of symptoms from digestive issues, to skin reactions like eczema, runny nose, fullness in throat, phlegm, heart palpitations... "allergy like" symptoms.

Every one has a limit to how much histamine they can handle, we have enzymes that break down histamines, some people are deficient and can't break down much histamine at all. But other people become Histamine Intolerant by consuming foods on a regular basis that are either high in histamine, or things that block the enzymes from breaking down histamine.

The enzyme blockers are things like coffee, alcohol, certain teas, chocolate, and certain medications.

If this sounds familiar let me know and I can certainly give you more information.

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

Actually you could be right about being sensitive to histamines. I remember when I had that horrendous 3 month bout of nausea with the heart palps (nobody seemed to know what was wrong but I subsequently had a scan and that Dr thought I had Graves, but it has since gone to Hashimotos or both if that's possible and knowing me, anything is possible. I was given every kind of anti nausea pill but they made me worse and one GP said it was probably the histamines in them. Tomatoes are an absolute killer for me, can hardly move the next day which I put down to arthritis on top of everything else, so I avoid the nightshade group. I don't drink coffee and only organic 3 ginger tea, no chocs or wine. I only get the itchy throat or running nose if Ive come in contact with dust and no eczema. I haven't tried anything fermented, am not good with cabbage and the mere thought makes me feel a bit queasy. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[dang in reply to elaine2447]

I only listed a few foods and reactions. I'm on my phone at the moment, but when I get home later tonight I will post some links for you to go over. Not everyone reacts to all foods, and symptoms can vary a lot between individuals. With histaminosis they refer to what's called a "histamine bucket", everyone can only fill up their bucket so much with histamines until it fills over, once you reach that point then the reactions begin, and they persist if you keep adding more histamines and overflowing your bucket.

If you're low in DAO enzyme then your body has a hard time breaking down histamines and it's much easier to overflow your bucket. If your bucket is low and you ate tomatoes or another high histamine food you wouldn't necessarily react until you added another food later in the day or the next day, makes it hard to know which foods cause reactions.

I personally can't ever eat tomatoes, but I could stomach a banana once or twice a week without much reaction. I avoid avocados as those are incredibly high in histamine. (Before I was diagnosed I was eating a banana every morning with at least 1-2 avocados, I was in pure hell and didn't know what I was doing wrong as I was eating so "healthy")

Histamine levels also rise drastically as foods degrade, so if I eat a green banana I'm ok, but once the banana gets old and bruised I'm sure to react. Same goes for any meats, fruits, vegetables. I have to eat everything fresh as possible, I dig in the back of the freezers at the grocery store to get the latest possible expiration date for meat and I cook it the same day.

[dang in reply to dang]

I couldn't resist but at least give you this link for the meantime:

histaminintoleranz.ch/

It's from a Swiss group and they're information is great. You'll have to choose English as the default language is german.

Lots of information there from introductory material all the way to in depth PDF food lists showing Histamine levels and other factors that can damper histamine breakdown in the gut.

[Babette in reply to dang]

Thanks Dang. You might have found the cause of a few symptoms my GP said were too generic.

[dang in reply to Babette]

Histamine Intolerance is quite new to the medical field. Testing is seldomly done, and a number of doctors I've spoken to actually never even heard of it (DAO deficiency). It's unfortunately more common to hear of someone suffering a lifetime with it rather than being diagnosed. Hopefully times are changing.

If you want to seek diagnosis you might need to see a Gastroenterologist, as I think most GPs wouldn't know. But if you can get a GP to test your DAO it's a really simple blood test.

I don't wish this diagnosis on you, but if it is your problem too then I really hope I could help!

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

"as I think most GPs wouldn't know" doesn't that apply to almost anything that is not obvious like a boil on the btm, lol.

[dang in reply to elaine2447]

Haha absolutely

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

many thanks will have a proper look tomorrow on laptop.

[dang in reply to elaine2447]

You're welcome! I didn't end up adding the extra links tonight, came home late.

Tomorrow I'll add some links with basic info that might help you compare your symptoms and see if you notice some patterns or similarities.

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

That's fine, only when you have the time.

[dang in reply to elaine2447]

Sorry it's taken me so long, I'm having quite a hectic week with little personal time.

So I've got a couple of good links here which explain the causes of Histamine intolerance, common symptoms and reactions, and just good information to start with.

There's a little bit of incorrect info about the foods in this link, be warned (they say pure peanut butter is safe, from my experience it's not):

mindbodygreen.com/0-11175/e...

And this one is a good read, it explains some things that are lacking in the first link: theceliacmd.com/2014/03/his...

Now as I mentioned about the first link, you'll find a lot of incorrect information about which foods are high in histamine when you search online. There are fad low histamine diets out there which are just totally wrong, and other food lists which contain old information. Here is a link to the most complete and correct list I know of:

mastzellaktivierung.info/do...

That list a pretty huge, but it's amazing as it includes even additives, ingredients, supplements, medications. Please read both of the other links first before looking at this list, as the links will explain the difference between histamine liberators, DAO blockers, etc. Not everyone reacts to each category.

I would say if you can look up all the foods you react to on this list and find that they are all checked off as medium or high on the "danger" scale, then it's quite likely that you have some Histamine Intolerance. Luckily unless it is genetic, it can usually be improved and even reversed.

[dang in reply to dang]

One more link, since that food list I gave you can be quite overloading. Here is another, easier one to read:

histaminintoleranz.ch/downl...

It also includes some good information at the bottom to explain the difference between foods which are high in histamine, foods that block DAO, foods that liberate histamine from mast cells, and other amines which have an affect on Histamine break-down.

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

many thanks for both replies and all the links. Will look at them tomorrow onwards on phone tonight and too small to read properly.

[elaine2447 in reply to dang]

Oh boy, it's given me a headache, am going to print that off. Seems the only thing I am okay with are the two brazil nuts per day, lol. It's strange as I remember now looking at the meat section (I don't eat meat any more) but my mother used to occasionally have a massive flare up where face would swell up, could hardly see and then the face would die down and start peeling off. She had various tests and can you believe it was found that if she ate pork and happened to sit near a plant we had a primula, it would spark off this reaction. Primulas are known to be dodgy if you touch them but Mum was an avid gardener. Thanks for all the effort you have put in. I am assuming my thing with tomatoes is due to the lectins. Speaking of which Dr Grundy who was a heart surgeon but now devotes his time to the gut etc. says the three things to avoid at all costs are soya, grasses and goji berries. He has done some quite interesting youtube videos but inclined to waffle on a bit and mostly ends up advertising his Vital Reds. I did send away for some which cost me an arm and a leg as customs slapped on their fee. It was quite a pleasant drink but even one scoop sent me running off to the toilet. Having had colitis many years ago due to huge doses of antibiotics (contracted brucellosis as some kind Italian hotel gave me unpasteurised milk) I still have to be careful.

[dang in reply to elaine2447]

I'm with you on that. I also have colitis was diagnosed in January along with the Histamine intolerance, I don't touch soy or goji berries, I don't have grasses either but didn't know they could be bad.

I also stopped eating meat when I was 20 because I noticed it causes reactions. Only recently did I try eating chicken again, I think mostly my reactions were caused by cold cuts, salami, hot dogs, etc... whereas fresh cooked meat should be ok.

You're welcome! I hope you get down to the source of your problems! If there is anything else I can help with feel free to ask or PM me I'm happy to help.