Milk allergy
in [Food Allergies]
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From: cloud dreamer on 30 Nov 2007 14:15 I've read through a few posts here but can't really find an answer to my question about milk allergy. I'm in my early 40s and was recently diagnosed with most basic indoor and outdoor allergies (except pets). I told the allergist that I tend to develop pain in my hands, forearms, elbows and (when it gets bad) my ankles after I consume dairy products. His answer was that only 2 percent of the population have dairy allergies and said no more. I developed the other allergies in the last four years and never had a problem with dust, pollen, mold or dairy before then. I've been trying an elimination diet since July and have found some relief when the milk is 100% eliminated. I don't think it's lactose intolerance because I recently introduced lactose free milk as my only milk source and the pain returned. I'm just curious if it's possible to develop a milk allergy at this age...or is there another possible explanation. TIA .. -- We must change the way we live, or the climate will do it for us.
From: Beth Kevles on 30 Nov 2007 18:56 Hi -- Keep a food diary for a few weeks, with periods of milk and of no milk. In the diary write down facts about how you're feeling. Ie, rate your physical state on a 1:10 scale, temperature, anything else that makes sense. At the end of a few weeks go over the diary with a friend and see if the milk (or anything else) really is an issue. If it is, eliminate it. Yes, anyone can have an adult-onset allergy. (My grandmother started developing shellfish allergies, one fish after another, in her 60s.) Arthritic symptoms are less common, but I see no reason why they shouldn't be an allergic response. But there may be another complicating factor, allergy or otherwise. Have you been checked for celiac or Crohn's disease? I hope these thoughts help, --Beth Kevles bethkevles(a)gmail.PUT-THE-COM-HERE http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner. NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you would like me to reply.
From: Julie Bove on 30 Nov 2007 19:00 "cloud dreamer" <Stop(a)Global.Warming> wrote in message news:13l0ob17tckdhe5(a)news.supernews.com... > I've read through a few posts here but can't really find an answer to my > question about milk allergy. I'm in my early 40s and was recently > diagnosed with most basic indoor and outdoor allergies (except pets). I > told the allergist that I tend to develop pain in my hands, forearms, > elbows and (when it gets bad) my ankles after I consume dairy products. > His answer was that only 2 percent of the population have dairy allergies > and said no more. > > I developed the other allergies in the last four years and never had a > problem with dust, pollen, mold or dairy before then. I've been trying an > elimination diet since July and have found some relief when the milk is > 100% eliminated. I don't think it's lactose intolerance because I recently > introduced lactose free milk as my only milk source and the pain returned. > > I'm just curious if it's possible to develop a milk allergy at this > age...or is there another possible explanation. It's possible to develop an allergy at any time or for it to go unnoticed. My food allergies were diagnosed at age 46, although it was said as a baby I had a milk allergy. I threw up any and all milk they gave me. Then as a toddler, they started giving me milk again. Why? I don't know. I had near constant stomach troubles. I can remember looking at people who were smiling and getting angry. I would think... How can they be smiling when they are in such pain? I thought everyone always had stomach pains. My diagnosis came about after my daughter and then my mom were diagnosed with food allergies. I am allergic to dairy, eggs and almonds. I can't believe how much better I feel now. I used to go through tons of Immodium. There were days I couldn't leave the house because it was so bad. I also had chronic ear, nose and throat infections. No more! Have had only one sinus infection and that was following a cold. All my life I'd been told I had allergies. No Dr. ever suggest testing for food allergies. I was told by one Dr. I had lactose intolerance. This was back before they had lactose free milk. I stopped drinking milk. Felt some better. I still ate cheese. It never occurred to me that cheese could be causing my problems. In the case of my daughter, they would tell me her chronic infections were caused by allergies. They would tell me she didn't have food allergies, yet they never tested her for them. And they kept giving her more and more allergy meds. I was sooo happy when I finally found a Dr. who listened to me and tested her for the food allergies. I went back to him for my own allergies.
From: cloud dreamer on 30 Nov 2007 22:02 Beth Kevles wrote: > Hi -- > > Keep a food diary for a few weeks, with periods of milk and of no milk. > In the diary write down facts about how you're feeling. Ie, rate your > physical state on a 1:10 scale, temperature, anything else that makes > sense. At the end of a few weeks go over the diary with a friend and > see if the milk (or anything else) really is an issue. If it is, > eliminate it. Yes, anyone can have an adult-onset allergy. (My > grandmother started developing shellfish allergies, one fish after > another, in her 60s.) > > Arthritic symptoms are less common, but I see no reason why they > shouldn't be an allergic response. But there may be another > complicating factor, allergy or otherwise. Have you been checked for > celiac or Crohn's disease? While I've been careful to keep an eye on when I have milk products and when I don't, I think the diary is a great idea. I guess it'll be best to have that in hand before I go back to see my doc and she if she has any recommendations. I don't think it's Celiac or Crohn's...I don't have any of the other major symptoms. My digestion isn't a real problem...a little reflux from time to time and soft stool...but no cramps or weight loss (I wish! :) I'll try the diary...I know that will help. Thanks! .. -- We must change the way we live, or the climate will do it for us.
From: cloud dreamer on 30 Nov 2007 22:06
Julie Bove wrote: > "cloud dreamer" <Stop(a)Global.Warming> wrote in message > news:13l0ob17tckdhe5(a)news.supernews.com... >> I've read through a few posts here but can't really find an answer to my >> question about milk allergy. I'm in my early 40s and was recently >> diagnosed with most basic indoor and outdoor allergies (except pets). I >> told the allergist that I tend to develop pain in my hands, forearms, >> elbows and (when it gets bad) my ankles after I consume dairy products. >> His answer was that only 2 percent of the population have dairy allergies >> and said no more. >> >> I developed the other allergies in the last four years and never had a >> problem with dust, pollen, mold or dairy before then. I've been trying an >> elimination diet since July and have found some relief when the milk is >> 100% eliminated. I don't think it's lactose intolerance because I recently >> introduced lactose free milk as my only milk source and the pain returned. >> >> I'm just curious if it's possible to develop a milk allergy at this >> age...or is there another possible explanation. > > It's possible to develop an allergy at any time or for it to go unnoticed. > My food allergies were diagnosed at age 46, although it was said as a baby I > had a milk allergy. > > I threw up any and all milk they gave me. > > Then as a toddler, they started giving me milk again. Why? I don't know. > I had near constant stomach troubles. I can remember looking at people who > were smiling and getting angry. I would think... How can they be smiling > when they are in such pain? I thought everyone always had stomach pains. > > My diagnosis came about after my daughter and then my mom were diagnosed > with food allergies. I am allergic to dairy, eggs and almonds. > > I can't believe how much better I feel now. I used to go through tons of > Immodium. There were days I couldn't leave the house because it was so bad. > I also had chronic ear, nose and throat infections. No more! Have had only > one sinus infection and that was following a cold. > > All my life I'd been told I had allergies. No Dr. ever suggest testing for > food allergies. I was told by one Dr. I had lactose intolerance. This was > back before they had lactose free milk. I stopped drinking milk. Felt some > better. I still ate cheese. It never occurred to me that cheese could be > causing my problems. > > In the case of my daughter, they would tell me her chronic infections were > caused by allergies. They would tell me she didn't have food allergies, yet > they never tested her for them. And they kept giving her more and more > allergy meds. I was sooo happy when I finally found a Dr. who listened to > me and tested her for the food allergies. I went back to him for my own > allergies. > > Is there a reliable test for food allergies? I imagine there is for shellfish (my niece was positive for that) but everything I've read said elimination diet was the only real test for a milk allergy. Is that the case or is there a test I can ask for? Thanks! .. -- We must change the way we live, or the climate will do it for us. |