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Help requested for multiple allergies

Posted By Vaughnie (Chicago, Illinois) on 05/20/2015

I joined this forum because I am looking for treatment for multiple allergies. To give you a background, I have always had stomach problems. As a child I was frequently constipated and had regular stomach upsets. In college I would regularly feel very sick, and I had rashes near my elbows on my arms, and my eyes would constantly be swollen. I have also always had weight problems, and I am struggling to maintain a healthy weight right now. I am also constantly exhausted, but I have just learned to sleep 10 hours a night. Finally senior year of college my friend suggested that I might have a dairy allergy when I felt ill after eating an ice cream. Also some face washes make my skin break out, but I have not quite figured out which ingredient does this.

Then a couple of years ago, and it would always happen after eating a large meal (usually out at a restaurant), I would wake up in the middle of the night with my heart POUNDING. It would last at least an hour and breathing slowly would not calm it down.

I went to an allergist a few months ago and I tested slightly positive for milk allergy, she told me that I should just avoid milk, but it should not hurt to have some. I also tested positive for mold allergy but that is not surprising. I thought I might also be allergic to almonds, since I seem to get a rash every time I eat them, but she said I was not allergic.

So I stopped eating dairy for good, and I thought my heart palpitations were over. Last night I went to the movies and I had some popcorn and peanut M&Ms with my friend. Half way through the movie I had another one of these attacks, where my heart starts beating like crazy out of the blue and I feel a bit sweaty and can't think straight. It was horrible! But I knew what it was and I knew it would pass in a bit over an hour so I just sat through it.

Any thoughts? Does this sounds like it could be a chocolate or peanut allergy (since this was in the M&Ms)? Or a corn allergy? I cannot imagine that I have lived through 25 years of my life allergic to corn...I eat it all the time and it seems fine! Should I go back to the allergist? I feel silly since when I went she basically told me I am not really allergic to anything (we did not test chocolate or peanuts though (only tree nuts...I dont know if thats different)). It is very scary to have these attacks, and I would just like to know what on earth it is!

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 05/20/2015

Dear Vaughnie,

My first thought is actually not food allergy but MSG. I don't eat out much, but on more than once, I have come home from eating out and had an issue with my heart racing. Very uncomfortable!

Now when I eat out and suspect I might get a lot of MSG, I take a few charcoal tablets. This seemed to stop the heart racing attacks if they have already begun. But I take the charcoal now to prevent it. It hasn't happened again since I started the charcoal, but I haven't had that many opportunities to try it out, either.

I am glad you have joined this forum. There is so much information about gut issues. I hope you will be able to try out some things and feel relief from lifelong gut issues.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Rose (Toronto) on 05/20/2015

Hi. I wonder if you might be dealing with anemia, since you also say you are tired. I recently had my iron levels dip below my level of tolerance, and that's exactly what happened to me- I would wake up with my heart just racing in the middle of the night. Other times I suddenly felt faint and then I'd be flushed and woozy for awhile after. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to get your blood checked.

Replied by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 05/20/2015

Hi Vaughnie! Sounds like dehydration/chronic. And getting worse. Take three deep breaths, go to the sink and try to drink down two 8 oz glasses of water.

If you're like I was, back when I found out I was chronically dehydrated, it might gag you at first. If it does, then drink it an ounce at a time but make up your mind to stay at the sink until you get two glasses of water down. It will get much easier, very quickly.

Histamine is the body's water cop. It rations water to the various parts of the body, in a drought.

When you're dehydrated, especially chronically, you will also have a low volume of blood which the heart has to work extra hard to circulate. Especially when you're upright. If you're heart's racing when you're lying down, you need to get some plain water in you. And none of that namby-pamby sipping on bottle of water all day. Drink it. Go to the sink and drink two glasses of water. Even if you don't believe it's that simple, do it anyway. See what happens.

Replied by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 05/21/2015

Vaughnie, you might not have allergies per se, but you might have strong intolerance which can make all that happen. The best way to find out is to test yourself on your reactions to separate foods.

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