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anaphylaxis

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mys...@webtv.net

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Jul 2, 2001, 3:46:46 PM7/2/01
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This last week had an anaphylaxis reaction to dairy food eaten at a
cafe. It was scary! I've been allergic to dairy for years, but had
smaller reactions. This time it affected my heart, lungs, feeling
faint, severe congestion in head and chest, tingling around the mouth
and a few hives. It did happen slowly, so I could treat it.

Have any of you had a reaction go from rash/hives and congestion to
anaphylaxis? I thought my reactions would always stay about the same.
This was more serious and the E/R nurse and a doctor warned me I'm
paying with my life if I eat dairy again. They said the reactions could
continue to get more serious and sometime it could go fast enough I
would be in trouble.
JJ

Larry Preuss

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Jul 2, 2001, 6:38:38 PM7/2/01
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In article <26502-3B4...@storefull-288.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
<mys...@webtv.net> wrote:

I think this would be a very good time to see a specialist: an
allergist. As an adult, and with a history of stable allergy to milk
for many years, it seems at least a good possibility that your severe
reaction was due to a totally different substance. Assuming that it was
due to milk, as did the ER nurse and the doctor, leaves you free to eat
everything else that you may have consumed at the cafe, some part of
which might cause the severe reaction again. It is certainly possible
for an established food allergy to suddenly change in intensity, but is
not the usual course of events, and other factors must be suspected. I
would agree with the need for you to avoid milk for the present, but
while you are waiting for your allergy appointment I suggest you return
to that cafe and reconstruct your meal, speaking with the chef about
the recipes and cooking techniques.
Larry

Marigold

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Jul 2, 2001, 7:09:10 PM7/2/01
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As you have been warned, from this point on you are playing with your life
if you continue to ingest dairy products. It is not at all unusual for an
allergy to kick into high gear like this, which is why food allergies have
the potential to become life threatening. I had the misfortune to watch my
partner go into anaphylaxis while eating seafood at a restaurant. Scared
the wits out of the young kid waiting on us - thought he had killed a
customer his first week on the job. Anyway, find yourself a really good
calcium supplement and/or do a web search for other food sources of calcium.
Of course, it may not have been a reaction to dairy food in general. It is
possible that you were reacting to a specific cheese mold rather than to the
milk. For example, Cheddar makes me wheeze and I get hives from Provolone,
but I can eat yogurt, sour cream, and Havarti cheese with no problem. Were
you eating a cheese that you do not usually eat.
You are going to eat whatever you choose regardless of what doctors or
anyone here has to say about it (I speak from experience). At least keep in
mind the possible seriousness of your food choices.
Best of luck,
Marigold

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mys...@webtv.net

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Jul 3, 2001, 3:28:39 PM7/3/01
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I have been tested both rast and skin for dairy allergy and have been
identified. I am usually careful, but the cafe "dressed" the salad with
a special dressing they made and it was creamy, and had some grated
cheese, Parmeasan I think. I didn't think about what I was eating I was
into the conversation with a friend. I will be much more careful in the
future and will see my allergist again. I just scared me to have such a
violent reaction. They also say I'm allergic to egg whites, but have
never seen any reaction when I eat them. I do get sick from milk and
dairy products and have for years.

It's so hard to eat out, you can't always trust what the wait staff
says. Sometimes I also get side tracted and forget and have a bite of
something wrong. I don't use dairy at home at all. I will always be
more careful from now on!!!
JJ

Larry Preuss

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Jul 3, 2001, 4:34:57 PM7/3/01
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In article <2682-3B4...@storefull-286.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
<mys...@webtv.net> wrote:

Once again, before you see your allergist go to the restaurant,
reconstruct your meal, talk with the chef, ask to see the packages of
the components of your meal, make a list - your allergist will want all
this information. If you do it now it may save a second visit with the
allergist (after you have gone back to the restaurant), and the sooner
you do it the more likely you are to be able to collect full
information.

signed,
an allergist who has been through this many times.

Pieter Brons

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Jul 7, 2001, 8:25:09 AM7/7/01
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I advise you to THINK hard before you put it in your mouth.
We lost a 10 year old boy this week who had a anaphylaxis reaction.
Not my boy but the friens(best) of my son.

P
<mys...@webtv.net> schreef in bericht
news:2682-3B4...@storefull-286.iap.bryant.webtv.net...

Larry Preuss

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Jul 7, 2001, 8:40:39 AM7/7/01
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In article <9i6v0d$iekf$1...@reader03.wxs.nl>, Pieter Brons
<pjb...@planet.nl> wrote:

> I advise you to THINK hard before you put it in your mouth.
> We lost a 10 year old boy this week who had a anaphylaxis reaction.
> Not my boy but the friens(best) of my son.
>
> P

This is a terrible event. What was the causative agent?
Larry

mys...@webtv.net

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Jul 8, 2001, 5:02:43 PM7/8/01
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I'm amazed at how resistant the cafe is to giving out the ingredients of
a meal!!! Just asking if it contained dairy, got me angry glares, and
they didn't want to talk. I did force the issue to see what was in the
food. I live in small town America and they seem years behind the rest
of the world. I am asking about everything now.
I've seen 3 allergist over the last several years. Their responses to
food allergies is amazing. One said never eat another dairy product as
long as your live. The next said "I don't deal with it, if you're not
anaphylaxis, I don't care what you do." But never explained what an
anaphylaxis reaction would be. The next said, "if you are anaphylaxis,
then don't eat the food, otherwise splurge a little." He encourages all
his patients to not be too strict, if they don't end up in the hospital.
Sometimes it's confusing to me, each doctor has said something else. I'm
learning for my self. I have had several E/R visits for asthma,
systemic allergic reactions, etc. My doctor doesn't seem too concerned.
I live 75 miles from the nearest city with an allergist.
JJ

Larry Preuss

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Jul 8, 2001, 7:58:56 PM7/8/01
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In article <6043-3B4...@storefull-287.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
<mys...@webtv.net> wrote:

> I'm amazed at how resistant the cafe is to giving out the ingredients of
> a meal!!! Just asking if it contained dairy, got me angry glares, and
> they didn't want to talk. I did force the issue to see what was in the
> food.

For our interest, please tell us what was in what you ate on that
eventful day. I am sorry to hear that you had difficulty with your
contacts at the restaurant. I hope you spoke with the manager. If you
did not get full satisfaction, you might go back and say, "I hope we
can get this done without involving my lawyer and the Health
Department."
Larry

Arlyn Grant

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Jul 9, 2001, 9:54:34 AM7/9/01
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I am always amazed at what my allergists and doctors have told me. My
GP told me that it is impossible to be allergic to something that is
good for you and your body needs. One allergist told me I had to get
rid of my cats or else I could die (I'm not allergic to cats and I
fired that doctor). Etc, etc. Some people feel that allergies change
over time (mine have) and if you have a mild reaction now, one day it
could turn around and bite you in the butt, so you have to eliminate
the food. Others feel that if you rotate your foods then you will be
fine with your allergy. Of course, if you are truly anaphylactic,
then you do have to eliminate the food.

ar

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