Testimonials
Readers have been very participator to share their stories and allergies with mallergies. We have now created a new page on our website with all your comments and positive feedbacks to share with all the readers. Thank you again for your generosity and time.
If you wish to share your allery stories with us, complete the form on the Share your allergy stories >>page.
Kristy wrote about her allergies to bees, the sun,the spice paprika and her anaphylactic shock to paprika! 'I guess since this paprika allergy is new I have a few questions. I just found out that Parika is made from bell peppers. So, am I allergic to bell peppers as well? I have eaten them before and not had a reaction. What does that mean? Very confusing with medical stuff. Should I avoid all peppes or go back tohave more testing done?' |
Tim wrote about his food allergies and his anaphylactic reactions over the past 10 years! 'I am 26 years old and living in The Netherlands. When I was 6, they found out I had allergies to pollen and trees and some fruits. But I grew over my fruit allergy till my 15th or 16th. Out of the blue I was allergic to almost everything. For all raw fruits even the ones that are not growing here, for all raw vegetables (has to be cooked very very well), peanuts, nuts, soy, herbs.. But I am not allergic to gluten, which makes me lucky. I do remember in the first few years I had it. That when I eat something wrong, I would look like the Marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. My chest was swollen, from my waist till my shoulders, I had a rubber neck, my arms and legs were swollen and all glands had been swollen as well. It's a very itchy situation and you can't do anything about that. Kinda spend a whole week in the bed. My doctor told me that I would instantly die if I ever touched a raw potato. Never happened though, I worked at a grocery department in one of our local supermarkets. The last few years went much better as I thought. I paid attention to what I could eat and couldn't eat or touch or even smell. When you are at restaurants 5 days out of 7 it's pretty difficult to get some kind of replacements. So I always ended up with steaks, schnitzels and fries... Not very healthy... Which made my body condition worse.. I am now back home since November 2009 unemployed and struggling with my Thyroid. In all those years I build up a hypothyroid... And exhausted my body with the heavy stressful work I did and bad food I took. This is my story in a nut shell :) But I won't let me put down by my Allergies. I started a alternative way to get rid of them or make them less. I started to take high mineral and vitamin supplements like Green Magma, Blossom drops and powder minerals with fruit extracts. Next week I am going to start with sea weed and some more. I am gonna experiment with what I can eat and can't. If I feel itchy somewhere after taking some. I'll put my dose down to less and try it again. My body needs minerals and vitamins it didn't had enough the last 20 years. And I do believe in the end I'll get stronger and am able to eat more fruit and vegetables that I can do now. |
Anonymous wrote about his food allergies to wheat, rice, corn, ALL fruits in any form, ALL vegetables except boiled broccoli or cabbage, all dairy, oats, barley, rye, shellfish, latex, possibly soy, mung beans, and his anaphylactic reactions. 'I had minor food allergies (tomato, apple) then I had an allergic reaction to a medicine a month ago. Now I'm allergic to almost everything! I'm on a diet of meats, rotating types so it's every 4 days. I can't eat most starches, we're going to try buckwheat again. I can still eat quinoa. I developed allergies to rice and corn because they were all I could eat, so I ate them for a week (and that was that.) I have an allergist, but we still have lots of tests to do. In the meantime, i'm also allergic to pollen. I'm wearing dust masks when I go outside, or my face swells up! We don't know what to do, so for the meantime, I'm pulled out of night school and living on meats. We can't get me into a nonreactive state long enough to try new foods, but when we do, eggs and soy are next to try. We hope to add at least one ingredient to my diet. My current allergist is stumped, so we're going to see someone else soon. Just wlaking through the grocery store makes my skin swell up all over!' |
Tracey Lee wrote about her children' food allergies to eggs, peanuts, treenuts, lemons, rice, paprika and peppers. Her children experimented anaphylactic reactions in the past. Tracey Lee's daughter is allergic to eggs, peanuts, treenuts and lemon, and her son is allergic to rice, paprika and peppers. |
Maria wrote about her food allergies to wheat, gluten, dairy and casein. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'For years I had this terrible itching. It was only there in the fall and winter, but it would be so bad I wanted to tear my arms off. Nobody was helping me and I was miserable. I discovered my food allergies almost by mistake. I had gone on a diet to lose weight and the itching went away. When I went off the diet, it came back. Then through deduction I figured out which foods were the culprits. I am a chiropractor and have now made it my misssion to help others discover their food allergies. Since I have been off these foods, my moods are much better too. It is amazing the diverse symptoms caused by food allergies! I am available to consult with people no matter where they live. ' |
Molly wrote about her food intolerances to cow's milk, soy and eggs. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'My symptoms are mostly digestive - I get sharp pains about 3-4 hours up to a full day after I eat one of the allergens. Nothing too severe, in fact they are more like intolerances than full blown allergies, but they still affect my daily life in a big way! I've decided to blog about it, and hope to one day put together a cookbook!.' |
Jennifer wrote about the allergies in her family. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction, but her young daughter had experiemented several anaphylactic reactions to dairy. 'I am a mom of three children, two boys and a girl. I am allergic to dairy, wool, lanolin, and sulfa drugs. My husband is high risk allergic to anesthetics. The kids have yet to be tested. The boys have no food allergies, only bee sting allergy for the 4 year old (the almost 7 year old outgrew a spider & mosquito bite allergy a year ago.) My daughter, 2 3/4, has a laundry list of allergies. She's anaphylactic (contact and ingestion) to all dairy (including goats milk), seafood, shellfish, and chamomile; allergic to strawberry (though we hope to challenge that in March), palm oil, wool, lanolin, grass, and ragweed - that we no so far. Mandie was born with her dairy allergy. She was preemie (36 weeks) with underdeveloped lungs. She was airlifted to University of Chicago, Comer Children's Hospital when she was just over 24 hours old. I pumped for her and they added formula to "boost the calorie count" - and when she projectile vomited 1 1/2 oz of her 2 oz feeding! Up each time they attributed it to a too small stomach, though the tests weren't conclusive to this. When she came home a week later she had failure to gain weight along with the start of severe reflux, then developed mucous and blood in her stools. Luckily my IBCLC and MD suspected dairy allergy and I eliminated it from my diet. After about 8 weeks of no dairy, along with chiropractic adjustments and treatment wit dairy free acidophilus she was feeling better, but still had some issues. As she grew and I learned about trace dairy, she got better. Mandie developed eczema by about 9 months. At 11 months we discovered her seafood and shellfish allergies when I was eating seafood and touched her mouth with some on my hands. At 13 months she touched and ate some dogfood and had the first of a current total of 6 anaphylactic reactions to dairy. Last summer we discovered her grass allergy when she fell down and got immediate hives everyplace the grass touched her skin. We discovered the chamomile allergy last month when I gave her some tea to help a cold. Her throat swelled up within two hours of drinking it. Through research we discovered the connection to the ragweed allergy. In all of the testing we've had done she's been negative. Hopefully the new allergist we see this month will have some more answers. What a crazy life!' |
Kailey wrote about her food allergies to wheat, gluten, peanuts and dairy. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'I wasn't born with these allergies I got them when I was in 3rd grade now I am in 7th grade. I do not have the allergy where you can die if you eat these food products, I just get a very bad stomach ache for about 48 hours. The stomach ache feels like someone is stabbing me. Its not fun. Kids at school are like I wouldn't be able to survive if i couldn't eat all those food and I'm always like well it could be worse. It could ALWAYS be worse no matter what. So I just keep positive and I try not to complain.' |
Sue Wemett wrote about her food allergies to dairy products, yeast breads, chocolate, caffeine, maltodextrin, sucralose, malitol, and more. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'Several years ago I had the onset of what I felt was a new allergy. I was experiencing a GI reaction, extreme chronic flatulence and severe diarrhea, which, when I exercised, was so severe I was unable to control my bowels and I oozed constantly. I began to watch what I ate and what my reactions were and at first thought it was Malt, or something like that. I readily realized that my reaction to Malitol, found in dietetic candy for diabetics, was reacting quickly and excessively in me, not the "Excessive Consumption May Cause..." that the label states. In fact, now if I don't notice what I am eating is artificially sweetened, I can tell by my body reaction. After I recognized that Maltodextrin was the offending substance, I began to look for information on this. All information stated that it is perfectly safe. There were a few ppl online who were making similar complaints. I have read fairly recently, and also talked with a woman from our local Cooperative Extension with the same issue, the those who have Spastic Colon/Irritable Bowel/IBS are having this issue exacerbated by the Maltodextrin. In fact, I haven't had a problem with IBS in years as dietary changes solved the issue, but Maltodextrin exacerbated it. I talked to my pharmacist who said "Are you sure? They are adding Maltodextrin to everything!" And indeed he is correct. They ARE adding Maltodextrin to everything. Most organic foods and foods in our store's organic/natural department are free of maltodextrin and other additives. Eating out is almost impossible - I eat as whole as possible but often end up with some diarrhea from it. And I worry about the future- hospitalization, a nursing home or God forbid, jail. My diet will not be manageable and I will most likely end up with my usual Asthmatic Bronchitis and chronic diarrhea and GI issues. If my health is compromised, as in old age, it will most likely kill me. Not a pleasant picture. I'm looking for any info on Maltodextrin I can.' |
Cathrine Jansen wrote about her food allergies to casein and orange, and her eczema. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'Eczema is my principal symptom. In March of this year I developed eczema around my eyes. I've had eczema since infancy and remember having to avoid oranges as a child because I'd break out. Christmas time was really difficult for me because I loved mandarin oranges so much and if I gave in to eating them it was like I was addicted and had to eat another and another and the itching would start and the rash would come up. Earlier this year the itching and rash started around my eyes. The redness and swelling were constant. I've never had eczema in that area and it took me a while to realize that is what is was. It was months before I figured out that daily smoothies (with plain yogurt and skim milk powder) had been the trigger. A change in jobs led me to use a cafe in my building and I'd been eating cheese or having cream in my coffee daily. Avoiding anything with casein in it led to immediate improvement by slow degrees. If I'm strict in my avoidance the rash clears up entirely. If I'm not the itchiness begins and I know I better eat clean or suffer again.' |
Melissa wrote about her banana, canteloupe, strawberry and walnut allergies. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'I'm still trying to figure out what it is in salsa that causes a reaction. Raw onions and/or celery also seem to be problematic. I have issues with gastritis and acid reflux that seem to be connected to this.' |
Johnny J. wrote about his
tree nuts, olives, wheat, gluten, fish, seafood and beer allergies. Also, he is allergic to most canned, cartoned & bottled foods which usually have traces of these allergens and maybe from cross contamination or preservatives, and being anaphylactic. 'I'm Anaphylactic to tree nuts & olives, wheat & gluten, fish & seafood, beer and any trace of these things on plates, pots, counters, sinks, etc.
I get dizzy, hot, itchy, my face swells up and asthma gets triggered. It started 21 years ago with an anaphylactic reaction to seafood at my prom landing me in the hospital. It got worse and complex over the years. Reading the label has helped a bit but it is not foolproof and I've had many deadly surprises. I now react to most canned, cartoned & bottled foods from traces of these allergens. I found that this year, many more foods I used to eat now have traces of my allergens, and I have been to the hospital many, many times earlier this year with many anaphylactic reactions. I am shocked that manufacturers recently include some DHA fish oils into some milks, juices and eggs. It's marked on the label usually, but traces may get into other foods that are produced in the same factory and this has proven to be very dangerous for me! |
Claudia wrote about her wheat, eggs and fish allergies and being anaphylactic. 'I developed food allergies about two years ago along with many environmental ones as well plus I have asthma which as of yet is not controlled. My allergist beleives I may have had this all along but didn't have any reactions until later in life. I'm in my late 20s so this has been extremely difficult because I'm a picky eater and I know what things taste like and I'm used to my favorite foods. I've tried to substitute products but it doesn't work for me so I try and eat what I can which isn't much. My other dilema is that I develop hives and reactions even by smelling or touching the stuff I'm allergic to, therefore it is even more difficult because I can't control what others are eating around me. I find this very difficult at work or in public places. When I tell people of my allergies they look at me as if I'm weird or they don't think it's a big deal or they think there's a cure for it or that I can pop a pill and everything will be fine. They don't understand that avoidance the best answer because you never know if you will have a severe reaction. I've asked people around me not to at least bring in fish because I've noticed with that allergen, I usually have a more severe reaction such as shallow breathing or asthma attacks, I've been close to having to call an ambulance. I don't really go to restaurants because of cross contamination and a lot of times, they don't know exactly what's in the food. It's hard for me at home because I live with others and they do try and understand my allergies but it's hard to see them eat foods I can't and that temptation is there. I admit I have given in but I paid the price as well. I've been working hard on my self control because I don't want to risk my life for eating foods I can't have anymore. I have noticed lately that the foods I've come to rely on, I may be developing a new allergy because I eat that food often. My allergist told me to make sure I try and rotate my diet, but again, it's been difficult and wheat is a lot of things ! |
Emily Clough-Paabo wrote about
tree nuts, peanuts, mint, onion, cinnamon, milk allergies and had anaphylactic reactions to tree nuts and apparently to bad combination of mint and onion. Her 2 years old son' has life threatening food allergies to milk and egg. Also a mild allergy to maple syrup and an as yet unidentified allergen
like hers as wheat, eggs and fish allergies and being anaphylactic. 'I have had tree nut allergy since age 5 when I had chestnuts roasted over an open fire. Later, I had a horrible reaction to Jordan almonds at a movie theater. Peanuts followed soon after when I overdosed on peanut M & M's. At age 23, after a major event in my life I suddenly developed and was diagnosed with mint, cinnamon, wheat and oat and had an anaphylactic episode after eating onions and then some mints. I outgrew the wheat and oat and eat them freely now. After the birth of my son who has life threatening milk allergy, I developed milk allergy. I was aged 33.' |
Victoria DiMuzio wrote about her gluten, cows milk, soy, rice, fish, peanuts, apples, pears, peaches, plumbs, nectarines, cherries, tomatoes, pistachios allergies. She never experimented an anaphylactic reaction. 'Soy Bean Oil- THE WORST!! My stomach gets torn apart. I vomit, or get ridiculously sick, and I get heart burn out the wazoo. I have an intolerance to gluten it makes me exhausted and my body can't process it. Rice fish and peanuts are all less severe, I can have a bite of them but if i had more than that I start getting the same symptoms as soy. I'm allergic to Birch Trees, and so I can't have the fruit that grows on them when it's fresh. I can have it once the tree protiens are broken down after being cooked or processed. If I eat them fresh I break out with hives. I have the same reaction with pistachios. Tomatoes make me throw up, end of story. Since my stomach is inflamed and I have very very severe allergies to pollen, I'm allergic to pretty much every tree out there. Finally, I don't do cows milk. First of all, the dairy inflames my stomach even more and, second of all, the cows feed on stuff that is covered in pollen so especially during peak allergy seasons I stay far away from milk.' |
If you wish to share your allery stories with us, complete the form on the Share your allergy stories >> page.
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