Fear and Allergies in the Lunchroom

I find this article and posted comments very interesting! I can understand why some one who doesn't have food allergies has no time for all of this..I had thought the same thing til recently. I had been merrily going about my life, then roughly sometime in high school I started having intestinal issues..I kept ignoring the issue since I"m not into going to the doctor. Six years later I finally decide that I'm sick of dealing with this and it is consuming my life. So I go into the doctor and they start doing blood test. food allergies come out positive! Eight different foods from the selection of foods that they tested! As soon as I started avoiding those foods there was a extreme difference with my intestinal problems! The only thing is that it's so hard trying to avoid things like corn which is in everything! Food allergies are the biggest pain!! I completely agree. Its annoying for everyone else and myself! I would love to know how to get rid of them..without starving to death or be on the toilet for the rest of my life!

Our daughter was recently diagnosed with Celiac's disease, a gluten intolerance..this also seems to be on the rise with some estimates of 1 in 200 people having Celiac's...anyone looking at this as also some environmental reaction despite a known genetic marker???

This article doesn't discuss the difference between IgE testing (for an immediate food reaction) and IgG testing (for a delayed response). Our naturopath recommended testing for both for our 4 year old daughter. The results showed no IgE reactions but IgG reactions to glutens, eggs, and dairy. We removed all of these foods from our daughter's diet (at great pain) only to have a number of new issues arise as a result. On consulting with our pediatrician and one other western medicine physician, we were told that IgG testing is not valid. I wish this story had covered this question as we are left scratching our heads.

This article doesn't discuss the difference between IgE testing (for an immediate food reaction) and IgG testing (for a delayed response). Our naturopath recommended testing for both for our 4 year old daughter. The results showed no IgE reactions but IgG reactions to glutens, eggs, and dairy. We removed all of these foods from our daughter's diet (at great pain) only to have a number of new issues arise as a result. On consulting with our pediatrician and one other western medicine physician, we were told that IgG testing is not valid. I wish this story had covered this question as we are left scratching our heads.

My son is severly allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. He has cake. There are alternatives out there. You just need to look for them. Duncan Hines yellow cake mix and a can of Sprite make a great cake. Just mix the cake mix with the Sprite and bake. Wild Oats also has wheat free, dairy free, egg free, and peanut free cake and cookie mixes.

If anyone is interested, we have an allergy support board at allergy.hyperboards.com. It's particularly good for people who have just had a child diagnosed with a food allergy.

If anyone is interested, we have a food allergy support board at allergy.hyperboards.com. It's especially good for people who have just learned their children have a food allergy.

Dearest Garn:
I understand you, I can see your anger, Wow you took some nasty hits.. So try to do as I teach my kids, learn something new each day.. Read your food lables, then 'Google' Red dye #40' When you do that you may undrestand where your anger comes from, then after you have done that go out behind the barn and do an 'Ol Yeller'
Try to deal with a Dye Allergic Child.......
Oh! wait a minute your are acting like child with a mild dye allergy..
Yayacats3

Dearest Garn:
I understand you.. You sound very angry and righty so. Please Check your food lables and see what they contain, if you find any food color or dyes, do us all a favor, go out behind the barn and do an 'Ol Yeller'
WE all can do without your kind.. My kids are allergic to any and all food dyes..
I don't expect you to understand, but try to learn something new each day and 'Google' Red Dye #40'
then the next day learn something about another food allergy.. Teach your children to be kind and caring people, as we all can see here that it is too late for you.
Yayacats3.

There's a great interview with Robyn O'Brien, founder of allergykids.com, in the September issue of Allergy Consumer Report: http://www.achooallergy.com/robyn-obrien-food-allergy-interview.asp

O'Brien points out that Genetically Modified Soy (most soy on the shelf today) contains new allergens that are similar to peanut allergen. That could be one of the reasons behind the big increase in peanut allergies.

Actually, this discussion area relates to the article about kids and the growing number of food allergies in that population. It makes sense that it would draw comments from those dealing with this situation about the challenges, fears and successes they experience, along with their opinons about the piece.

Perhaps, if Newsweek does an article about people annoyed by families dealing with food allergies, your comments will not be met with the reactions of people and their "sob stories." Your opinions become the business of others when they're posted on an open forum such as this.

I must say, however, that your comments have been a valuable illustration of one of the many challenges families dealing with life-threatening food allergies face. Thank you.

Posted By: garn @ 11/01/2007 2:54:59 PM
Comment: Why don't you keep your sob stories to yourself? I mind my own business and expect others to do the same.

It seems that the people who have allergies and the people who are affected by people who have allergies are the ones who seem passionate about this subject. Makes sense. I don't have food allergies, but my sister just discovered an allergy to avocados. I think what the negative people about this awareness need to realize is that this is something that might be passionate to others, but not to you. That's okay, but I think they should watch their comments because something negative will happen to you and you will be passionate about that. Just a warning to all the negative people out there. We need to watch out for each other because we are affected by each other. We all share the same planet and it's getting smaller and smaller all the time.

Has anyone had expereince with allergies causing headaches and vomitting?

Can headaches be caused by allergies in an eight year old? Anyone with these expereinces?

So if it's not your problem, why don't you keep your ignorant comments to yourself! What kind of human being are you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just found out yesterday that my 5 year old son has tree nut/sesame seed allergies. I realized something was wrong when I first gave my son a teaspoon of PB when he was 2 years old and as soon as he was done licking the spoon, his lips, eyes and hands swelled up!! Do you have any idea how frightening that was? I guess not, because it doesn't affect you and those around you.


Posted By: garn @ 11/01/2007 8:37:34 AM
Comment: No, I don't need to educate myself regarding food allergies. I don't have food allergies, my wife doesn't and neither does my son. Translation, it's none of my business, nor is it my problem.

So what do you people want me to be? Oh that's right, "it takes a village" to raise a child. According to the article, there's 11 million with food allergies. 11 million out of what, 300 plus million Americans? Last I knew, that's a pretty low percentage.

No, i'm not selfish. If your kids are that damn allergic, send them to school with surgical masks so they don't have to worry about enhaling peanut butter.

Like i've said before, and i'll say it again, to the best of my knowlege NO ONE in my family (brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) has any sort of food allergy. Food allergies aren't my problem or concern. If, not when, BUT IF, my wife or son develop a food allergy, then i'll worry about it.

I'm still on the way to finishing my program before I enter the College of Medicine. I haven't even taken up biochemistry or immunology prior to making this comment so I guess it's safe to say that while I am in a college which centers its attention to science (I am a bio major myself), I won't be irrationally biased towards science in making this post.

I say this because I have done a bit of reading in the comments pane of this page and have found that some parents are feeling that the article presents nothing more than a desperate answer to parents who are already bothered. They feel that science is transferring the blame to parents in saying that the rise in allergies can be attributed to "too much cleaning up" in households. Once being an allergic kid who experiences difficulty of breathing due to reactions against the pollen of a local plant, I can feel for these parents. I know the strain that such allergies can impose on ones budget, time, and what have you... We're not exactly swimming in money. And no, back then, we couldn't afford to get sick.

However, to say that the results of such studies are "desperate" would be going too far, I think.

I am not even a doctor yet. I am just taking up my undergrad right now and I would hate to give a "desperate" answer to my would-be panel for my upcoming thesis defense which will take place in three semesters' time. I don't know exactly who, but that's just three Ph.D. holders in that panel.

For a study to reach a popularity of this magnitude, we're talking of an audience that consists of hundreds or thousands of doctors and scientists worldwide. To say that a study received some grant, zipped through panels of specialists, and ultimately gained publicity through a regular publication such as this online magazine while yielding sub-standard answers is simply absurd. Doctors and scientists aren't spending hard-earned money to study fabrication, you know. If this study was indeed trash, it would have been smothered by criticisms and ridicule before it even gained a hint of publicity.

Dear Garn, The reason you need to be careful is because that small percentage maybe friends with your child and if you invite them over for a b'day party or such, then it is your responsibility that the kids feel welcome and the parents can depend on you to take care of the kids the same way you would expect others to be considerate of your child.

Garn:
Obviously, you've never held your child wondering if they are going to live bc someone fed them or a child near them with nuts. how selfish., we can be. Every classroom in my school has a child with a nut allergy so I dont know where you getting that percentage.