Food related -- vent

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 09:13 AM

Food and eating, especially eating out has gotten so hard. Recently the doc told me that what I thought was just food bothering me was actually food allergies some life threatening . So there are a few I have to avoid and many more that she would prefer that I avoid, including that "can't figure out what it is something that is in some mainly Italian food".

So eating out has become not looking at the menu deciding what sounds good but looking for something that I can eat. There was very little that felt safe at the Chinese Buffet. A whole weekend of eating out during vacation was pretty hard.

Add the allergy food avoidance, higer fiber for well... restroom comfort, and now there is going to be other dietary changes because hubby passed a kidney stone Monday night (still don't know what those changes will be). Then try to do all that on a budget. Sigh

I'm so frustrated with food right now. I don't want to buy it, eat it, cook it, or think about it but we still have to eat so it have to buy it, eat it, cook it, and think about it.

Thanks for letting me vent.

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-01-2009, 11:32 AM

Would it help if you stopped thinking about it as 3 meals a day and started thinking of it as just food and nutrition you need? Instead of having "breakfast" with eggs, toast, cereal, etc, eat whatever is allowed you when you feel hungry in the morning. Have bowl of vegetables and noodles, or whatever. Have a series of snacks during the day, fitting in what you can eat, instead of trying to make your diet conform to traditional meals.

**elphie** · 07-01-2009, 11:36 AM

I don't have any words of wisdom, just (((hugs)))

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

Would it help if you stopped thinking about it as 3 meals a day and started thinking of it as just food and nutrition you need? Instead of having "breakfast" with eggs, toast, cereal, etc, eat whatever is allowed you when you feel hungry in the morning. Have bowl of vegetables and noodles, or whatever. Have a series of snacks during the day, fitting in what you can eat, instead of trying to make your diet conform to traditional meals.

Thanks for your ideas

I'm not to sure we have ever eaten traditionally. LOL

I'm just frustrated right now. Lots of food things have happened lately.

Like having to get a doc note so daughter can have something else instead of milk a school (summer and school year)

The not finding anything or very little that feels safe at the restaurants during vactation.

The doc wanting me to carry and Epi-pen me not really wanting to so she is letting me not carry one for now as long as I promise to always have bendaryl with me when we go out to eat. So I'm learning to have to carry those always.

Fiber really isn't that hard to add as I love whole wheat stuff. It was harder when we had to eat out on vacation and my tush is so sore as proof. So that has me down right now.

Have foods you can't eat especially when the list is long makes you feel strange and like others think your strange. Like having to get the doctors note for daughter and her being the odd duck because she has something different or as simple as not being able to try the sample at the store without asking tons of questions that the sample lady doesn't know.

Then add the unknown changes we will have to make for Hubby after the lab tells us what his kidney stone was made of.

I just became overwhelmed.

Causing me to have me having a pity party right now. Soon I'll have to dust myself off and figure it all out again. As far as the doctors notes and strange looks for waiters/sample ladies that don't know the answers that will always be. sigh

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by elphie

I don't have any words of wisdom, just (((hugs)))

Thanks for the hug. I needed one and a shoulder to cry on too.

**Amanda7** · 07-01-2009, 12:35 PM

Hugs.

And good thoughts coming your way.

One of my good friends was just diagnosed with gastoparesis and IBS. She is also having trouble finding things that she can eat.

Hopefully, things will sort themselves out very soon, you will find what works for you and what doesn't and get back to normal life.

**frugalfranny** · 07-01-2009, 12:56 PM

Sorry for you having to deal with this. You have a lot of changes going on right now but hang in there. I am sending hugs and good thoughts and am sure U will conquer this/learn about it.

**YankeeMom** · 07-01-2009, 01:06 PM

Is the dr an allergist?

If not, I would recommend getting a referral to an allergist and undergoing allergy testing to determine exactly what it is. "something" in Italian food could be in other things too. No need to go into anaphylactic shock or something because you didn't know you were allergic to it.

I feel your pain. I carry an epi-pen for food allergies too. (((HUGS)))

**2ndGenGranola** · 07-01-2009, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Is the dr an allergist?

If not, I would recommend getting a referral to an allergist and undergoing allergy testing to determine exactly what it is. "something" in Italian food could be in other things too. No need to go into anaphylactic shock or something because you didn't know you were allergic to it.

I agree. This lax attitude of this doc scares me. Find out exactly and you may not have to eliminate as many things as you think you do. Your brand A may have it in there but brand B may not.

(I'm an epi carrier and for the whole household I work around - shellfish, peanuts, wheat, milk, art colors...to name the tops)

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Is the dr an allergist?

If not, I would recommend getting a referral to an allergist and undergoing allergy testing to determine exactly what it is. "something" in Italian food could be in other things too. No need to go into anaphylactic shock or something because you didn't know you were allergic to it.

I feel your pain. I carry an epi-pen for food allergies too. (((HUGS)))

No my doc is not a allergist but is the best doc in the town at handling allergies. Many people like them better the the local allergist. She said that she could give me a referral to the allergist if I wanted to do allergy shots. I'm nervous about going to the allergist for testing as the doc I had growing up said that testing wouldn't be accurate because of my sensitive eczema skin. Aothough we don't hink this one is a life threatening reaction she has asked me to treat it as if it is.

The other docs have been trying to figure out the "something in italian food for years". Even the allergist say that can't test until they have an idea what to test for. Pizza Hut where it first happened 21 years ago said that they couldn't tell us what was in it but a doc cold ask if something you were allergic to was in it. So I've been caught in a catch twenty two.

Here is when the reaction has happened Pizza hut all there stuff, but doesn't happen at other's Pizza/italian places like our local place or the true Italian grocery store. It also also happened with Kraft Ranch but not other ranch dressing and with a chicken and mushroom sandwich at Applebees and with their garlic potatoes.

My life threating never eat avoid at all cost, tell hopsital/EMS reactions are to shellfish and bananas.

The rest just make my lips, tongue, throat, and ears itch sometime my lips, tounge, swell. She would like me to avoid those if at all possible

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

I agree. This lax attitude of this doc scares me. Find out exactly and you may not have to eliminate as many things as you think you do. Your brand A may have it in there but brand B may not.

(I'm an epi carrier and for the whole household I work around - shellfish, peanuts, wheat, milk, art colors...to name the tops)

This doc is the best I have ever had in the allergy area. They are known locally for being very good at handling allergies. Some like them better then the local allergist.

Here is my list

Avoid at all cost (breathing issues, weakness, itching, swelling):

Shellfish and bananas

Please avoid (as they cause itching of the lips, throat, ears, and tongue some times swelling but that normally doesn't happen if I wash it down quick and/or take benadryl. Also some of these I can have cooked so they think it is related to environmental allergies.

All melons (honey dew, cantaloupe, watermelon)
carrots
celery
cucumbers
avocados
hazelnuts
walnuts
Cherries (these cause puss pockets on the roof of my mouth)

And then the pesky unknown maybe a spice: at one time we thought it was garlic salt. This one does have me concerned and I might ask the doc if the allergist could help us figure that one out. But even if we knew would it help with eating out as most don't seem to know what spices are in their stuff. Even store bought things don't have to list all the spices on the ingredients list. This reaction has never happened with me making stuff from scratch.

**frugal.lass** · 07-01-2009, 04:27 PM

I knew a girl who couldn't eat raw fruits but could eat *most* of them if they had been cooked because her body was unable to process some of the enzymes in the fruits. The heat from cooking caused those enzymes to break down and she was able to digest them after that. Her reactions to raw fruit were similar to what you have mentioned...maybe that's something to look into??

As far as you not wanting to carry an epi-pen, why not?!?! I lost a friend because she thought carrying her epi-pen was being overly cautious. I'm trained in first aid and did first responder work for a few years I've seen many people suffering from allergic reactions, both those who had their epi-pens and those who didn't. I realize they're expensive but Epi-pens (and ana-kits) save lives.

**imagine** · 07-01-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by frugal.lass

I knew a girl who couldn't eat raw fruits but could eat *most* of them if they had been cooked because her body was unable to process some of the enzymes in the fruits. The heat from cooking caused those enzymes to break down and she was able to digest them after that. Her reactions to raw fruit were similar to what you have mentioned...maybe that's something to look into??

As far as you not wanting to carry an epi-pen, why not?!?! I lost a friend because she thought carrying her epi-pen was being overly cautious. I'm trained in first aid and did first responder work for a few years I've seen many people suffering from allergic reactions, both those who had their epi-pens and those who didn't. I realize they're expensive but Epi-pens (and ana-kits) save lives.

I'm giving it so serious consideration.

**rowdy35** · 07-01-2009, 05:02 PM

sorry to hear about this, it must be very frustrating but hope you can hang in there and you get some answers soon !

**champagnium** · 07-01-2009, 05:03 PM

Learning to eat in a whole new way can be frustrating, I know. I went thru a period when I became allergic to all dairy, sugar, all artifiical food dyes, MSG, something in toothpaste, AND...THE SUN! That wasa fun summer :S And in case you wondered, brushing your teeth with salt and baking soda is NOT fun

Neither is not being allowed sugar

The only thing I could drink was water...or goats milk, which I hated.

The internet is a gold mine of alternative recipes, and there are lots of other foods out there outside your list. It may not be convenient at first, but just eat at home for a while, and then you dn't have to worry about people looking at you funny. You'll be fine, when I used to feel bad I would remember there are many people out there with a lot worse medical problems than food allergies, and I could walk, talk and go outside, so that helped make the food allergies not seem so bad. Now that my system isn't so sensitive I am a lot better, and have been able to re-introduce most thinks, and am not nearly as bad in the sun, so can finally wear normal clothes in summer.

Educating yourself will empower you and give you back control. Having an epi pen is important for you..if your child needed it, you would carry one, so make sure to place that same importance on yourself

Take care, and have fun learning new ways. One recipe book that helped me was "There IS a Way"!!