Alpha-gal

[BOBOT]

Had a recent tick bite looked at for possible Lyme disease. The doc had a bunch of blood tests done including for Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS); result was a high positive. So no mammalian meat or dairy for me, at least for a while. I'll be seeing an allergist for further evaluation, but for now I'm looking at a big change in lifestyle.
Anybody else dealing with this? It's getting more common as tick populations grow and spread. Beware!

 

[harllee]

A few years ago I started breaking out in hives and had mouth swelling for no apparent reason. Doctor tested me for many things including Alpha Gal. Fortunately I was negative for Alpha Gal but the tests show I had developed an allergy to diary (allergic to a protein in dairy). So no milk, cheese or butter for me. Avoiding dairy is very difficult --it is in so many things that you would never suspect. Eating out is very difficult (for example, McDonalds fries have diary in them). No more dinners at friends houses (unless I take my own or closely determine all ingredients), no more covered dish suppers etc. The silver lining is that I have lost weight without trying. Good luck to you Bobot, you have my sympathy.

 

[Jerry1]

DW is allergic to the protein in milk also. It is indeed difficult to eat away from home. Thankfully her allergic reaction is limited to a GI response vs anything life threatening but still a very uncomfortable next day and certainly not something one wants to deal with on a trip.

 

[wdwwildbill]

My son was tested a few years ago for Alpha Gal long before many had heard of it. He tested hi positive as well. We don't think he ever got bit by a tick so maybe from an animal that was bitten by tick. We did special diet for a couple of years and have slowly gotten away from it. He doesn't eat a lot of meat and no dairy. Mostly chicken. Not an easy diet to follow. So far so good with his limited meat intake

 

[bjorn2bwild]

There was not much interest when I started a thread about this in 2015.

Toss another veggie burger on the barbie?

A bite from the Lone-star tick leaves some people allergic to red meat, or more precisely, to the alpha-gal sugar contained in red meat. At the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, "I see two to three new cases every week," said Dr. Scott Commins, who with a colleague, Dr. Thomas...

www.early-retirement.org

 

[folivier]

Not sure if she has this or not but a 10 year old niece has been battling Lyme disease for a few years now. Last year she spent all summer and most of the fall at a clinic in Florida that specializes in Lyme treatment. She is doing better but still has a long way to go to be a normal kid again.
Her family is raising rabbits and quails and that is their main source of protein.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

Very sorry to hear that. I got bitten by two Lone Star ticks a few years ago and learned about this. Best of luck in managing this.

 

[BOBOT]

After a couple of days feeling sorry for myself (no bacon? no cheese? waahhh) I've grudgingly come to accept that this may actually be a positive thing in terms of health. But I'm taking every opportunity to be self-indulgent -more mayo on that turkey sandwich!
Thanks for your kind responses.

 

[MarieIG]

DH was bitten by a tick a few days ago and went to Urgent Care. The doctor there gave him a prescription to protect against Lyme Disease, but I don't know the extent of any blood tests. That might be something to discuss with his doctor when he comes home.

Feel better Bobot!