When I was pregnant with our second daughter, my husband and I were thrilled. Little did we know that after she was born, my diet would be changed forever. Soon after her birth, I started having problems breathing, nausea, stomach pains, mouth/throat pain, and in the worst of cases, nearly landing myself in the hospital nearly every time I ate. I was going through an entire bottle of liquid Benadryl every two or three days, and eventually, stopped eating as often because I was scared to. I went to the allergist, expecting a food allergy or two, only to find that I have 18+ food allergies. More if you don’t lump certain things together. I know it’s hard to believe, but here is a list:
- peanuts
- tree nuts
- soy
- corn
- peas
- peppers (any kind)
- cucumbers
- carrots
- celery
- radishes
- avocado
- apples
- bananas
- cherries
- melon (any kind)
- kiwi
- tuna
- halibut
- mustard
I think I’m forgetting a few fruits and veggies, but I remember when I see them. Silly to say, but it’s hard to keep track.
I’m sure some of you are thinking, “She has to be exaggerating.” Unfortunately, I’m not. All of the foods I’ve listed above cause extreme respiratory distress when consumed. I’ve been told to my face that I’m just pretending because I don’t like certain foods, which is certainly untrue. Until the birth of my second child, I had no food allergies at all, and now I’m riddled with them. The allergies weren’t limited to food. Now I get hives from many scented soaps, detergents, perfumes… etc. that I used to love having around, and got slammed with the label of hay fever. The best running guess is that I had a severe immune response after my second child, and this is the result.
As awful as all this sounds, the worst is being labeled a liar. I try to avoid telling people (by avoiding eating near them) because they often think I’m making things up. I’m not trying to get attention or pity from them when they do find out either.
There is hope for people with allergies, no matter how many or how severe. Health food stores are wonderful and there are many recipes out there to help people with allergies along. It helps me to list all of the foods that I can safely eat. It may sound silly, but by listing them out, you’ll see that there is more you can eat than you previously thought. Just play it safe, don’t be afraid to ask “what’s in that?” and never EVER let someone make you feel bad about having an allergy.
<3 Bethany
Thank you, Bethany, for sharing your food allergy story. We appreciate your honesty in sharing your personal struggles. Has anyone else had an experience like Bethany that could offer encouragement?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Bethany, I completely understand what you’re talking about. My youngest son was born almost 9 years ago when I was 42. After his birth I started experiencing insomnia, actually not able to sleep at all without medication. Once the insomnia started, then depression started also. I went to several different doctors. They could only medicate me. After about 10 months I went to an alternative medicine group. There I was diagnosed with food allergies…milk, whey. almonds, and pineapple. (I know, not as long of a list as you have.) I had digestive problems because of these allergies. I also had thyroid problems. I am down to a low dose of medicine to help me sleep at night and a thyroid medicine. People don’t believe me that the food allergies were the cause of the depression/insomnia.
Please, please, do not feel alone. There is an entire community of people out there with adult onset Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Mastocyticenterocolitis and other similar disorders. I was almost 28 when I started exhibiting an allergic reaction to protein and literally hundreds of foods, dyes, medications, etc. I was diagnosed in 2009 after many unsuccessful surgeries, and went on a feeding tube in May 2010. In December, 2011 I was able to have the tube removed and begin eating around my allergies. I am on several immunosuppressants and allergy meds still, but after a year and a half with nothing by mouth, I’ll take it! There are many who don’t quite understand the diseases I have, but I have also been able to help so many find an answer to these crazy symptoms they are having. Keep your chin up, you’d be surprised at who you might see in a similar situation.
Bethany- thank you for sharing! I had the opposite experience actually. My whole life, I stuggled with neurological issues. Over the years, my health got worse and worse. Before I gave birth to my daughter at 34, I had been diagnosed with narcolepsy, fibromyalgia, add, severe bruxism and mild near sightedness. All…every one of those issue GONE. I was retested for narcolepsy so that I could get my drivers license again. Even the Dr was amazed. It has been a huge blessing but one that I’d easily trade in for the health of my little girl. She was born with severe life threatening food allergies, asthma and eczema. In her 6 years of life she’s been to the ER 34 time and has been through so much. I’m so sorry that people don’t take you seriously. I’ve learned through our health battles a few things that have helped people to take us seriously. Maybe some of these things will help you too… wear a medic alert bracelet, put the medic alert stickers that they send with the bracelet on your car window and front door. Wear your medicine at all times. Educate others about LTFA. What really opened eyes was getting an allergy alert service dog. Educate yourself about the laws that protect you under ADA. Try to share facts and not emotions. I am sure I could learn a lot from you dealing with LTFA as an adult. Most of my dealings are with schools and other parents. I too have food allergies but nothing like what my kids are dealing with. Hope that little bit of rambling helps ; ) bless you! Thanks Erin for an awesome blog!!!
I really wish there were more communities out there for adults with food allergies. I have seen tons and tons of message boards and resources for parents of children with food allergies, but the amount of “connection places” for adults with food allergies is severely limited. It is frustrating. Bethany, as someone who is right there with you, I totally understand your plight!