Food Allergies

[harllee]

I am 67 and have an increasing problem of food allergies. All my life I have been allergic to peanuts (break out in hives and occasionally lip swelling, no anaphylactic shock yet, thank heavens) and citrus (inside of mouth breaks out, very painful). I always carry an epi pen, so far have not had to use it. I go to a food allergy specialist at a university medical center. They are working on a vaccine for peanut allergies for children but they say it will not be available for adults like me.

About 10 years ago I started frequently breaking out in hives even though I avoided peanuts and all citrus. I went to the allergy doctor, had the prick test and was told I am allergic to dairy. A life changing diagnosis, dairy is in so many things. More recently more hives, back to the allergy doctor, this time I am also allergic to cocoa and coffee beans, told to avoid coffee and chocolate. The doctors tell me there is nothing that can be done--I just have to avoid these foods. Extremely difficult, especially diary.

There was another thread about people's worlds shrinking as they age because of health problems--I definitely feel like my world is shrinking because of these food allergies. When I am invited to someone's house for a meal it is so difficult to avoid al my allergies I usually just bring my own food. I cannot eat at Church pot lucks, etc because I don't know what is in the food. I have a very difficult time eating in restaurants--I always call ahead and explain my allergies and ask for help in determining what I can eat but still I sometimes break out in hives, I don't think many restaurants understand allergies. I often can only find a salad that is safe for me to eat. With a dairy allergy things cannot be cooked in butter! Several local restaurants have now told me that they cannot work with me on my allergies, they don't have the time or staff to make sure my food is safe. Very frustrating. My social world is shrinking by the day it seems like.

Does anyone else on this Forum suffer from food allergies? Any suggestions how to cope?

 

[Teacher Terry]

That’s terrible. I have a ton of allergies but no food ones. Couldn’t you eat something like a hamburger? That wouldn’t be fried in butter with no bun or one without butter.

 

[pacergal]

That sounds very frustrating, for sure. Are vegetarian/vegan restaurants an option? Bringing your own safe food to potlucks and meals with friends would be a choice that would allow you to have the social contact, I am sure others would understand food allergy issues.
As you mentioned, even eating a nice salad out would allow you to continue to go to restaurants. That social connection is so important as we age.
Best of luck to you and I hope you do not continue with reactions to even more foods.

 

[Rianne]

So sorry to read this. My DBI allergic to shellfish and I think that's awful. Peanut allergies are so scary. Just the hint of peanut dust can be devastating. The problem of prep areas in restaurants and machines that process or cut different foods are not always cleaned and sanitized properly. A tiny bit of the allergen could get on the plate or transfer to food. I know this is a huge problem with industrial sized cookie making machines. They typically use the same machines to make different variety/flavored cookies.

 

[jimandthom]

spouse has an issue with dairy. His face will pale out, eyes get glassy, head gets spinney and breathing gets somewhat labored.

We still go out to eat--- 1-2 times per week. The eateries we frequent are locally owned/operated and use very little premade from the can type of stuff. The kitchen and wait staffs are very knowledgeable on the ingredients and very willing to answer our questions.

Salads are a large part of our eating out.

I would love to have an ice cream sundae, or any number of things that are better with butter. However, I very seldom ever eat what he can't.


Can't give you much advise-- just wishing the best.

 

[MRG]

Tough situation. Only suggestion would be to see another doc. Hopefully there's a different answer.

We don't have any issues with food allergies, DW has issues with some antibiotics. It used to be just sulfa and penicillin that bothered her, now some others have. Fortunately it's not been life threatening, yet.

 

[Beachgrl]

quick question, is it cow dairy or all dairy (i.e. goat milk, sheep's milk)? My dh has a very specific allergy to casein in cow's milk. He may eat goat milk and sheep milk cheese. Just wondering.

Sorry to read your situation! i'm a vegetarian (ethically not for allergies) and often find it challenging to eat out or at friend's homes. Salad it is.

 

[harllee]

quick question, is it cow dairy or all dairy (i.e. goat milk, sheep's milk)? My dh has a very specific allergy to casein in cow's milk. He may eat goat milk and sheep milk cheese. Just wondering.

Sorry to read your situation! i'm a vegetarian (ethically not for allergies) and often find it challenging to eat out or at friend's homes. Salad it is.

Beachgirl, so far it is all dairy including goats milk. I have not been tested for sheep or bison milk but the doctor says he thinks I would be allergic to all diary from any animal.

Someone suggested hamburgers, I can eat a hamburger so long as not fried in butter or peanut oil. Most hamburger buns have dairy in them so I can eat a plain hamburger with no bun. I avoid most all fast food places.

Traveling is a big problem. We use to travel to Europe quite a bit but the last time I went I had difficulty finding food I could eat and even got sick on a couple of occasions. I think part of the problem was I could not make the waiters, etc understand what my problem is.

As to the suggestion to find another doctor, what kind of doctor could I go to? I go to one of the #1 allergy clinics in the U.S. My research indicates that there is nothing that can be done for an adult food allergy other than avoidance.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I just need to buck up and eat salads. Yesterday we went to a fancy catered birthday party for a friend and there was nothing I could eat so I went home hungry. In addition we are planning a driving trip for several days this summer and I am trying to figure out how to take my own food, it is all making me depressed. I have actually lost quite a bit of weight and did not really need to.

 

[Walt34]

I've been fortunate in that the only food allergy I have is gluten, a protein found in wheat, oats, and barley. That showed up almost 30 years ago and I found out how hard it is to avoid - seemingly it was in almost everything. Every Campbells soup can I have ever looked at has wheat in it. At the time gluten-free foods could be found but they were generally very expensive (still are) and had to be special ordered if you didn't live near a health food store. And I was looking at spending the rest of my live with no beer and no pizza - very depressing! Well, not seriously, but a major downer.

On the plus side avoiding gluten eliminates a lot of carbs, and I eat a lot of salads. And I've grown adept at reading labels on food containers. With just that one allergy it is relatively easy to adjust to, and it helps that I'm not overly sensitive to it - eating a very small portion, such as a small bite of bread, does not create a reaction but I do try to not tempt fate as sensitivity can change and quickly. Some people go into anaphylactic shock with any contact and fortunately I'm not one of those. Not yet anyway.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Walt, there is rice beer and gluten free pizza.

 

[Walt34]

Walt, there is rice beer and gluten free pizza.

Oh yes, and thankfully! But at the time I learned of the allergy there was no such thing and my options for enjoyable food had shrunk dismally. Betty Crocker even makes a pretty good chocolate cake mix. When I found that I hadn't eaten chocolate cake for ~25 years.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Food is a huge thing and I would be bummed too. Can’t you find a place that would make you a piece of meat with a salad? It doesn’t seem to me that most places would use butter or peanut oil to cook meat but maybe I am clueless to what I am eating.

 

[harllee]

Terry, you would be surprised how many places cook with butter/ peanut oil. There are many restaurants (especially fast food places) where there is nothing I can eat. There are several places in town I can get a full meal (meat grilled with no butter or with just olive oil) but they are the more expensive places to eat. Once I find something I can eat I usually just get that every time but it does get boring. We don't go out to eat very much anymore because it is so much trouble to get something I can eat. One problem I have is that some restaurants assure me that they cook with no diary or peanut oil but then I break out in hives so I know they were not truthful. Sometimes the problem is they don't clean the grill or pan before they grill my food.

I also notice I am not getting invited to some peoples homes for parties, etc. I have been told it is that some people are afraid to let me eat anything they have cooked--it is just too much trouble to cook for an allergic person. I guess those people weren't very good friends anyway but I do miss the social event.

 

[harllee]

OP here, foods I really miss that I cannot eat because of my allergies:
Chocolate (especially M&Ms)
Cheese (especially brie). Fake cheese is just awful
Ice Cream (sorbet is OK but not really ice creme, same for ice cream made from coconut milk or almond milk)
Creme Cheese on a bagel
a cup of coffee
Biscuits with butter
Carrot cake
Lobster with butter
Corn on the cob with real butter
a good steak grilled with butter
baked potato with sour creme and butter

I could go on and on. Thanks for letting me complain.