How Did You -- or Someone You Know -- First Learn You Had A Certain Allergy or Sensitivity? (Share Your Stories!)

[seoulsearch]

When I was three-years-old I contracted staph pneumonia. I was given penicillin and had an allergic reaction. The had to wait until it was out of my system before they could administer a different anti-biotic. I was clinically dead for a minute or so at the worst of it, but they were able to revive me.

I'm still thankful for my aunt's fervent prayers.

I'm really sorry for what you went through but I'm glad they caught it early!!!


My story isn't nearly as dramatic.

I can remember taking penicillin as a kid and it didn't bother me; they gave me amoxicillin as an adult and I broke out in a fiery rash of tiny blisters that felt like itchy needles.

Hearing your experience now makes me very grateful my case was so mild!

 

[Lanolin]

Hayfever sufferers I can relate I'm the only one in the household that had regular sneezing attacks and I couldn't sneeze quietly enough for my sister.

My condolences we can sing the sneeze song

 

[Lanolin]

Also, God blesses you more when you sneeze.

 

[NightTwister]

When it comes to coffee, I'm the exact opposite.

I hated it -- until I realized it could be prettied up. I think I like coffee as more of a supplemental flavoring.

You had me thinking about how much this kind of thing probably rings true with a lot of people -- they think they dislike something, but they've just never had it in a way that suits them.

This is why I'm trying to be more open-minded to certain foods as I get older (possibly brussel sprouts, but still fat chance on the meatloaf!) I don't like peppers and olives -- on their own -- but my neighbor has shared casseroles with small amounts in them and I'm liking them as a complemental flavor.

Eggs are really a doozy! I've heard of some people being allergic to store eggs, but not farm-raised ones (always scary to think what's being done to our mass-produced food.)


And now I want to see a tournament in which Carrie beats everyone under the table or up to the ceiling in a Coffee Drinking Contest!!

I'm guessing it would be VERY close between @CarriePie and @NightTwister!

I would pay good money for a front-row seat!!

Coffee-flavored creamer isn't coffee.

 

[CarriePie]

It's amazing that your great-grandad knew exactly what to look for in a remedy. I love stories of home remedies and wish we had more of that.

When it comes to bugs, I find it SO frustrating trying to make people understand that I am NOT built for the Great Outdoors, beautiful as it is. I like hikes in cool weather, but not without a lot of shade or if it's going to get really hot.

I burn in the sun and EVERY insect possible will bite me (they at least bite me a little less in cooler temps.) I've worn two types of repellant -- and they just bite me in my ears, or fly up my clothes. I can even be indoors and have huge welts the next day because of flies, mosquitos, and (I'm sorry Carrie,) spiders.

But if no one else gets bitten and the welts haven't shown up yet (especially with tiny insects like fleas,) no one ever believes me and says it must be in my head. I don't want to offend people when I notice I'm getting very obvious-to-me flea bites from their pets.


Your loved one is so blessed to have you pay such special care to their needs. (That, and I'm extremely jealous of having you as a personal chef!)

And yes, I've seen that bourbon ice cream in the store and have wanted to try it, but now you have me fearing it might be a trap!!

I'm sorry the Great Outdoors hasn't been kind to you!

I really glad that everyone is different though! I think that makes everyone fit together well. If everyone was into the outdoors us outdoorsy people wouldn't have any trails to ourself! And if there were no outdoorsy people at all, then the trails would grow over. It all works out in a balanced manner!
And it's not that people being on the trails is a bad thing! It's just that solitary hikes can be very nice. It clears my head and I feel like it's the best time that I spend with the Lord. Just me, Him, and His creation.

I've had a lot of outdoor creepy crawlies attack me in my time, especially when I was child. My family is just stubborn lol. My grandmother went to the creek to unchain her boat and check her trotlines. A copperhead was hiding under her boat. It bit her on her big toe. She was getting ready to unchain the boat anyway and go check her lines, but thankfully my mother was there and insisted that she go to ER. After a long ride into town, she gets to the ER and the ER doctor said, "Ma'am, I've never seen a toe change so many colors!" Then he doctored her up and told her that she really needed to rest for a few days and sent her home. But did she rest? No, she was back at all her usual work, chores, and activities the very next day. She even kept trotlining.
This is the stubbornness I come from and I guess it's why I couldn't stop myself from heading off into the woods no matter what bit me or what mishap I might have had. The wilderness was/is calling, and I have to go!

Yes, my loved one is very much looking forward to my arrival! I take over the kitchen and the dining area and get them just how I like them to be, this helps me work efficiently. I'll be getting the fridge stocked and the shelves stocked. Then, I'll let my culinary expertise flow. Well, expertise for a country person, that is lol.

Yes, please be very cautious with the brown butter bourbon truffle ice cream!!! We don't have Kroger in Oklahoma, but there's one not even a mile away from where I'm heading. I hope my willpower holds out!!

 

[Lanolin]

I have a friend who is very sensitive to all kinds of things like gluten, soy, lactose...I don't know how she first learned she had this but anytime she eats any food with wheat or soy in it she says she gets an awful feeling in her tummy, and headachy and not feeling well.

So we can't really eat out with her in places that have these ingredients...she can't even have chocolate because it will have soy in it.

 

[cinder]

Kitties made me sneeze and I got scratched by a kitty and it turned into a big itchy mosquito bite like bump. So I had to become a dog person but dogs are better anyway.

 

[Karlon]

On a similar note, things like hay fever are no joke!!

It never used to bother me too badly, and then a few summers in a row, I felt like I had the flu for weeks -- but it was all hayfever.

Allergic to horses?!

How do you manage with your wife working around them all the time? (For instance, does she have to do all her laundry separately?)

I have a friend whose husband and kids love fishing -- and she's won several tournaments herself -- but she's allergic to fish!!!

Someone else has to bait and handle the hooks for her, and everything from food to clothes have to be washed separately.

yes, i am allergic to horses. she sheds her work clothes in the foyer. it doesn't effect me. very little by little, my allergy to horses is dissipating. but once, back in 2018, i promised her i would attend a horse show because her grand daughter was competing. i made sure we were upwind but it didn't do any good. good thing i brought allergy pills. i had to watch the rest of the show in the car. & i did have problem breathing. it took 2 full days for it to dissipate. yes, her horse clothes get washed separately. holy heavens: allergic to fish? never heard that 1!

 

[Lanolin]

arrgh I don't want to accidently kill my potential spouse!

 

[Karlon]

arrgh I don't want to accidently kill my potential spouse!

what pets have you?

 

[seoulsearch]

arrgh I don't want to accidently kill my potential spouse!

I'm sure your potential spouse would appreciate that too, lol.

 

[seoulsearch]

I have a friend who is very sensitive to all kinds of things like gluten, soy, lactose...I don't know how she first learned she had this but anytime she eats any food with wheat or soy in it she says she gets an awful feeling in her tummy, and headachy and not feeling well.

So we can't really eat out with her in places that have these ingredients...she can't even have chocolate because it will have soy in it.

Ooof.

That's a tough.

Poor thing -- I wonder what she finds that she can eat!!

The other thing I find complicated is that ingredient lists are a very incomplete picture.

A friend and I have very sensitive skin, so when we get together, we bring samples of what we've tried to exchange and share what has and hasn't worked.

We thought we'd narrowed down one ingredient but had different reactions to different products with the same ingredient.

It can depend on how much of something a product has -- but you usually can't tell. Even if a percentage is listed, 5% in one item might affect you differently than 5% in another (maybe there's something else in it that cancels out the effects, etc.)

I've also read that it can depend on how an ingredient is obtained -- different types of harvesting methods are used, and you might be allergic to a traces of the solvent used to separate a certain ingredient -- but it won't be listed.

So now I'm kind of back to trying something and hoping for the best. ARGH!!

It truly is a Wild West out there.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Hey Everyone,

Some posts in the "Dragon Tears" thread (and here's to EXTRA "Lambie Kisses" for @Charlesiii ) had me thinking about how I discovered my own sensitivities to caffeine, alcohol, and other substances.

Back in high school, I was cramming for some kind of exam, and begged my mother to fix me a pot of coffee (which is odd, because my parents didn't drink coffee then. I can't remember if she went out and bought it just for me.) I don't remember how much I drank -- but I do remember that I didn't really sleep for something like the next 3 nights.

Experimentation made me realize that I'm also much more sensitive to caffeine than I think others are -- I can have a bowl of coffee-flavored ice cream and it will keep me awake. I also noticed that caffeine seems to super charge my appetite (I've often wondered if cutting out caffeine completely would help some people lose weight.)

Unfortunately, I've never been able to completely cut it out of my life (I still have about a half cup of coffee a day,) but I've definitely cut back.

As for alcohol, I learned early on that my reactions to it are apparently not normal. I get the "regular" symptoms to the extreme, like flushing all over my body almost immediately, and feeling like I'm going to toss my cookies. I kept hearing how drinking made other people feel "more social," "at ease," or helped them "forget their problems," but that's not how it made me feel at all. Half a glass would hit my stomach like a trampoline and bounce right back up.

Too much alcohol-flavored ice cream (rum raisin or Irish creme,) though I love it, has me feeling nauseous as well. (I pretty much only consume alcohol in foods, if any.)

I didn't understand it at the time, but many years later, I read that some Asians are missing an enzyme that processes alcohol -- I've never been tested, but I'm guessing that would be me. For simplicity, I just tell people I'm allergic (though I'm very, very rarely in any situations involving alcohol.)

And since I had such horrible reactions to what most people around me seemed to see as basic things, I never tried smoking or drugs, because I was pretty sure they would probably kill me right out of the gate!

I've come to see it as a blessing now, because even in my lowest times, I could never look to substances as a crutch. I'm also becoming more sensitive to scents, and have given up my beloved scented candles because the soot and fragrance now give me headaches.

I always find the wide variety of what people are sensitive to quite fascinating.

* How did you discover that you were allergic or sensitive to something? Did you have to go for medical care? Do you have to take something for it?

In Highschool I wanted to become a small (dogs/cats) and exotic animal veterinarian.
I went to an Allergist and asked questions about the reliability of his tests, cost, etc.
I understand why people are prejudiced against Acupuncture, but this was just a different modality of the same. Because it was considered western medicine, it has an air of credibility.
After the pin prick tests Dr Wolfe charged me over double what he said. The cat allergy was the only one I wanted to find out about and he said it was uncertain if I was allergic to them or not. In today's $s that translated to a couple thousand dollars.

Since then, I learned that those allergy tests are mostly unreliable. Even their treatments were less than useless.
Although some people find temporary reduction in symptoms, many of us have endured weekly needle stabbings and they only made us worse.

The Lord provided me solutions to multiple allergies as answers to prayers and revealing practical physiological information that supercedes medicine.
He gets the credit because His ways work.

* What do you do now to prevent exposure? (Do you need a special diet, etc.?) Is it tough in public where you might get exposed? (Nut allergies, etc.)

It would do most people good to avoid institutional foods. They are lowest quality (highest Mark up), processed for taste, and long term preservation (ie chemical preservatives). Institutions like Nursing Homes, Prisons, Hospitals, Schools have the lowest quality. Restaurants are sometimes tastier, but still in the same category. Home prepared nutrient rich whole foods that are local and in season are best.

 

[Lanolin]

what pets have you?

one cat
Yes she is furry.
But I don't hug her too much. She does moult a bit but she usually sleeps on her special place (on top of the sewing machine) and its covered with a cloth, and I have trained her not to go near the dining table or sit in the dining chairs. She has a special tray in the laundry where she eats her own cat food.

I also sweep the floors every week.

One of my cousins has allergies, to fur dander, pollen, and shellfish. She keeps a bunny in a separate house! They live in a duplex. She had to cut down some trees when she moved because the birch pollen was affecting her, and she couldn't have a garden, practically every flowering plant was removed. She can't eat or avoids crustaceans.

Another cousin has a peanut allergy, and she had eczema as a child. I think sometimes you can grow out of an allergy and it doesn't affect you anymore, or maybe you take some medicine to help you cope.

I sometimes take a nasal spray when hayfever gets bad. I used to have these quail eggs pills/tablets that were really effective but they not being made anymore.

 

[Lanolin]

I once tried this product that had niacinamide (sp?) in it thinking it might clear up my skin but it must have had some kind of alcohol in it because it made my face really red so I had to chuck it away.

I don't trust a lot of beauty products/cosmetics. Also it is expensive trying out all these things (including medicines) that won't work or has side-effects. The human body really is a complex ecosystem.

I think you meant to patch test things on your arm first, and then wait 24 hours, but its sort of silly if you can't test it in the store, dont' buy anything till you've tested it on your skin though or it will be a waste of money.

With medicines you really need to tell your doctor if you experiencing side effects, as they can be life-threatening. It will be the wrong medicine for you. It does kind of end up like you feel like you are this guinea pig for the pharmaceutical industry though.

 

[Lanolin]

Oh yea the strepsils that had alcohol in it...had to chuck those away.

I don't know how alcoholics handle their addiction I suppose its like the frog in boiling water thing. They may get a buzz at first but with me experiencing your first hangover and spew (vomitting) as the body is reacting to the alcohol as a poisons is not nice so I don't know why anyone would drink again after that experience.

People say they drink more and build up a 'tolerance' but I don't really know why they boast about how many drinks they had. plus it doesn't taste great to me.

I can understand something more like sugar addiction as its sweet to taste. But the sugar rush, mania, high etc is not unlike euphoria - a good feeling the worst thing is the crash that comes after ward. It just tires you out. But it doesn't make you vomit or cause a rash or headache. Just gives you diabetes I suppose.

(I don't have diabetes thank God) Some people lose their feet because of this or have to take insulin injections every day. I can't imagine what a pain that would be, everyday being afraid you'll collapse because your blood sugar is too high or low.

 

[seoulsearch]

I once tried this product that had niacinamide (sp?) in it thinking it might clear up my skin but it must have had some kind of alcohol in it because it made my face really red so I had to chuck it away.

I don't trust a lot of beauty products/cosmetics. Also it is expensive trying out all these things (including medicines) that won't work or has side-effects. The human body really is a complex ecosystem.

I think you meant to patch test things on your arm first, and then wait 24 hours, but its sort of silly if you can't test it in the store, dont' buy anything till you've tested it on your skin though or it will be a waste of money.

With medicines you really need to tell your doctor if you experiencing side effects, as they can be life-threatening. It will be the wrong medicine for you. It does kind of end up like you feel like you are this guinea pig for the pharmaceutical industry though.

It took me a while to realize I'm sensitive to niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which they put in EVERYTHING now as the "sliced bread" (miracle cure) of skincare. These ingredients burn my skin. I didn't understand at first because they were said to improve every skin ailment under the sun.

I finally found someone on YouTube who was sensitive as well, but that was before this reaction was well-known.

I'm finding I can tolerate them in SOME things, but I'm guessing the percentage in them must be very weak (which I'm also guessing means people aren't really getting much of what they pay for.)

I have an even worse reaction to Vitamin C and most other citrus ingredients as well (on the skin; fortunately, not when consumed,) which is also pushed as an "essential" product.

I know the patch test on the arm has been touted for year, but I personally find it worthless.

The skin on my arm is MUCH more resilient than the skin on my face or neck. I can put things on my arms and not blink twice that have my face burning in 2 minutes.

I agree with you that when it comes down to it, we're all just guinea pigs trying to survive the maze.

 

[Lanolin]

Sometimes when I chop onions the stronger ones make me cry, but I now chop them pretty quick before I get to the tears stage

Is this an allergy/sensitivity?

I am very ticklish also, I was having some acupuncture (or dry needling) on my shoulder the other day and I was laughing when I got poked in certain place. It is a little bit painful at first. It does make things. a. bit better though. I think I strained it by lifting something heavy (possibly compost bag?) and had an ultrasound but physio wants to have a 2nd opinion from orthopaedic .

sorry TMI, its just like I feel like. guinea pig again being poked with needles and having all these responses - tears, laughter, pain...

Some people go through life impervious to anything they must have super thick skin, or maybe even leather/scales. They probably don't show any emotion either. It is not the case with me. I'm always either laughing or crying. No stiff upper lip or poker face.

 

[Tall_Timbers]

My first allergy occurred when I was living in Omaha NE for the 2nd 4 year military tour. I started getting sneezy and itchy eyes in the fall. I pretty much just ignored it. When I moved away the symptoms didn't come back... until I moved to Wyoming. Now I'm experiencing the same allergy, not sure what it's too, but I take allergy medicine now to try and minimize the symptoms.

 

[enril]

Do you have a hard time finding things to eat?

And is it only raw spinach that bothers you, not cooked? (This interests me because spinach is on the few veggies I eat willingly and not begrudgingly.)

I really feel sorry for lots of sensitivities, as I know it can make it really hard just to socialize with others, since almost all gatherings revolve around food.

I can't imagine how hard it is for parents with small children (school, birthday parties, etc.)

I have problems with acid reflux too and I've noticed coffee and/or sugar REALLY set it off. Too much of both and I'll be lying on the couch for an hour, trying to get the burning to stop.

I admire your discipline for staying away from/limiting the things that are problematic for you -- I wish I were better at that myself.

No, I can eat most things, just some of them feel really bad.

Yeah, apparently there is an acid or something in the spinach. I love spinach cooked though, it's one of the best things, especially w/ a little butter.

Nah, I just don't eat as much of certain things as others. usually I can manage/balance it. And I've developed a very good ability to tell when enough is enough, so I rarely overeat. Although I avoid anything that looks like walnuts, and if I don't know what is in it, sometimes I get bit by chilis. (bean chilis, I don't eat peppers) sometimes, even though I hate wasting food, I even throw something away, if it is too bad, I can usually tell if it'll be a bad night. I had a bit of coffee recently to see (a tablespoon in a glass of sugary milk) and it was still bad. I can detect it even just a teaspoon of liquid coffee in a whole cake.

Yeah, that would suck, although I think you just adapt your diet to theirs and soon it gets normal.

Yeah. Reflux sucks.

Oh, I wouldn't say I stay away from it, but my body has learned when enough is too much. I often get the fat sickness, and the sugar sickness, like at get togethers and whatnot, but I usually don't get it too bad, unless something was really cheap at the grocery outlet. I don't know how @Lynx can not eat it all. Maybe someday I will learn.
But for now I will lay on the couch on 3 days a year plus parties. (christmas, thanksgiving, and easter feasts)