I'm allergic to everything!

[Sam]

Hi everyone :)

I have an irritating problem (excuse the pun!) to which I dont know the answer yet. I sneeze ALOT, I get itchy skin (usually arms, legs and torso but it can strike anywhere) and I get sore throats / itchy throat / roof of mouth. I am also asthmatic. I know that I'm allergic to house dust after pulling some dusty blankets out of the airing cupboard once and I ended up with itchy spots / swelling inside my mouth and throat and had to call out the emergency doctor to fetch me a nebuliser as I couldnt breathe. I have a mildly similar reaction to cat fur. In the summer months I have hayfever type symptoms. Around Late August / early Sept my asthma really flares up and I'm really wheezy and also very tired. Ive been told that its to do with the fungal spores (sp?) in the air. My mum says that the minute I was born I breathed and then sneezed and this has been typical throughout my life. I grew up in a very damp and dusty house (not sure if this is linked ?) I've been to the doctors and she says there is no point in doing allergy tests as I will probably show up positive for everything :rolleyes: She has put it down to acute allergic rhinitus and left it at that. I take citirizine hydrochloride (i.e. benadryl) everyday to ease my symptoms and they work up to a point. It costs a fortune and I wonder what the long term implications are from taking this medication over such a long period of time. I wonder if I also have food allergies as I often feel very bloated, have a tender stomach and suffer IBS type symptoms. I have to admit my diet is very poor due to my hectic life (4 kids / just finished uni / about to start one of the most stressful jobs in the world :eek:) . Interestingly when I went on holiday to Menorca last year my symptoms eased but I'm not sure if it was the climate / change in diet / less stress or mixture of all of the above? lol

So is there any help for me or do I need putting down? :614:

[Jax]

Hi Sam
Blimey you could almost be writing about me there :eek: So so similar, I grew up thinking I suffered froms colds all year round, I thought it might be hayfever and someone suggested allergic rhinitus when I kept sneezing after going swimming! I too have asthma and have suffered with IBS (very badly in 1996/7) so badly I even passed out a couple of times. I was diagnosed with allergies to dust mites (used to sneeze every time I hoovered and dusted) and had a tiny reaction to tree pollen and animals but not that significant to worry about (that was diagnosed at the asthma research clinic with scratch tests).

The IBS was a killer, and it was at that time that I got diagnosed with wheat intolerance but wasn't given any support from GP so don't really know what to do, so tried to ignore it :o

Have sorted out the dust mite problem with Dyson hoovers and the Hepa filters, and having Tempur pillow and mattress, I did use the weird plasticky duvet covers the asthma clinic gave me, but they make you really hot so gave up.

That was all going back years, more recently 2000-05, I would have massive sneezing fits and feel really bad afterwards, weird itchy eye fits where only ice on them could calm them down and I could see again, very bad bloating (it had got better after I cut out lager), itchy patches of skin (eczema) and strange rashes, lethargy, painful periods, constant weight gain, I thought I had thyroid problems.........and basically just felt really ***** :rolleyes:

I saw a nutritionist back in Feb 2008 and she diagnosed me with candida and a few food intolerances, and although it's tricky with the elimination part and working out what you react to it's been so worth it. I don't feel 100% yet (the car accident hasn't helped in the slightest) but know that with the raw nutrition I will get there eventually.

For you I'd hazard a guess that you are definitely looking at food intolerances and possibly candida. Stress and chaos will not help in anyway unfortunately, I know myself how difficult it is but we have to give ourselves time to eat properly. Another thing that might benefit you (well everybody really!) is looking at food combining.

I reckon if you can, go and see a nutritionist, it's well worth it and you'll have a better idea of what to do and which way to go..................keep in touch ;)

[haverawcake]

I used to have allergies to lots of things including pollen, dust mites, cats etc. Since turning to raw, mainly vegan food and cutting out sugar, wheat, dairy and yeast as well as taking probiotics my allergies have disappeared. I am also not tired all the time like I used to be. It has been such a transformation that I would never go back to where I was before.

[Sam]

thanks for your replies (sorry for the delay in responding I've been away on holiday :)) I know this probably sounds pretty dumb but if you cut all of those things out of your diet what do you eat?? :confused:

Well, my allergies were non existent again while I was away (Menorca again) except for a rash on my legs from sitting out in the sun too long which went down after using moisturiser. But within an hour of landing in Manchester my nose was sniffly, and within 3 hours I was sneezing, eyes itching and wheezing like an old steam train. I had to take antihistamines the minute I got home. I didnt eat anything on the way home or at the airport so it must be an allergy to English air - it's so frustrating!!

[Jax]

Hope you had a FAB holioday Sam! Do you think your probs are down to pollution???

[Sam]

hmm possibly! I dont know how I'd solve that one other than leaving the country - although very tempting perhaps a little impractical!!

[**purpleprincess**]

How are things now Sam? Have you made any changes? I'd be really interested to see how you're getting on.