Mar 1, 2017

I'm not fussy- I have an allergy!

Well, actually, it could be said I am a bit of a fussy eater, or at least my family of origin would say so. I grew up on a farm where we had our own fresh cow's milk and I absolutely hated the cream on the top of the milk. I would always strain it through a tissue or piece of muslin because it would make me sick if I drank it otherwise. Back in those days ( Yikes! I sound so old!) we used to have milk delivered to our primary school and each term my mother would write a note to excuse me from drinking it.
One day we had a fill-in teacher as our teacher was off sick. This fill-in teacher was determined to do things by the book and because she hadn't actually seen the letter from my mother (it was probably just a formality each term and looked at once and thrown out) so she stood over me and waited for me to drink the lukewarm milk. I was so upset and so SICK!  I actually vomited at her feet. The poor teacher felt awful and may well have given up doing relief teaching after that!

I'm not actually lactose intolerant as I can have dairy food without any problem, but I still don't like full cream milk and yet I love cream on apple pie or scones. Gosh, I'm making myself hungry! But last year I discovered I had an adult onset gluten intolerance so it was goodbye to the scones and apple pie.

 I actually went through a period of grieving. I found it so hard to accept I would not be able to eat a squishy white bread roll fresh from the bakery or anything from the bakery when it came to that. And get this-not even Vegemite. Did you know there is gluten in Australia's favourite spread? I missed vegemite toast the most. Oh, and cereal like oats and muesli. GF stuff is not the same and way too sweet.
The simple act of going out for coffee or dinner became a nightmare even though most places cater for gluten and nut and other allergies.
But it gave me a new insight into allergies and the difficulty it is to live with them. Even with all the awareness about allergies we have today, it is still common to run across someone who thinks you're just an attention seeking fussy eater.

But there is a happy ending to this story or at least there is for me. Just before Christmas I ate a mince pie and didn't react to the gluten. I tested my system the next day with wait for it-Vegemite toast and no reaction. I kept testing with other foods, all the glorious foods I hadn't been able to eat for the past year and not one of them upset my stomach....well, that's not entirely true. I still get a bit of bloating if I overdo it but nothing like the stabs of pain and days of fatigue and feeling off colour that I had before. My specialist has told me to enjoy it ( in small doses) while it lasts as it is sure to switch back on again as it is an autoimmune thing.

Do you have a food intolerance or allergy? Do you have any survival tips? I have a copy of my new release The Temporary Mrs Marchetti for a reader who leaves a comment. Kind of appropriate title given my allergy was temporary. 😃 Let's hope it stays that way!

Best wishes,
Melanie

33 comments:

  1. Huhs Melanie!
    I count myself lucky not to have any kind of intestinal disturbances especially as we head into hot cross bun season!

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    1. Hi Amy,
      Firstly let me congratulate you on your ARRA win. Lovely news!
      You are really lucky not to be allergic to anything. I forgot to mention I'm allergic to wine. Argh. Apparently it's the sulphites but if I put some special drops in it I can manage a glass. But I can drink champagne so all is not lost!

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  2. Hoping your reprieve lasts a long time, Melanie. And thank goodness for champagne, eh? I'm one of those lucky people who can eat anything and everything. Only have to watch the hips if overindulging.

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    1. Hi Sue,
      Ah, the hips are always a worry. I must admit I lost weight when I was gluten free but now I'm making up for it.😭
      Thanks for posting!

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  3. Hi Melanie,
    I have type 1 diabetes which is basically a sugar allergy, or at least, it should be viewed as such! The advice is to eat what you want and give yourself insulin accordingly but it's far easier to manage while avoiding the naughty foods. That's really anything from bread to pasta to carb-rich veggies, and of course, to sweets. Even certain fruits wreak havoc with my sugar levels, like watermelon, which I just absolutely adore. I go through phases where I find it hard to stick to the right diet, but it's all about balance, isn't it? At least modern medicine allows me to have slip up days (weeks!) without doing serious damage. It makes you so mindful of what we're eating, doesn't it!?

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    1. Hi Clare,
      I think type 1 diabetes must be so hard to live with. I have a couple of friends and a nephew with it and they have to be so careful. Hopefully in the not too distant future there will be genetic therapy or a cure.
      Thanks for sharing your story.

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  4. I don't have any allergies but my great nephew has a ton of them. They found out he was lactose intolerant when he was a baby so my niece nursed him for a long time. They have to read the ingredients on all food products and double check once in a while as sometimes what goes into a product may change. They always have an epi pen handy as he has adverse reactions to a lot of things. His allergies are life theatening. Right at the moment he is a vegan.

    Then a few years ago his cousin and her mother were diagnosed with celiac disease. They won't die if they get gluten but their tummies rebel. It makes taking food to family gatherings a bit of a test as food has to be labeled.

    The reat of the large extended family may have a few picky eaters but they are tolerated happily.

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    1. Hi Kaelee,
      Gosh! That sounds terrifying for your nephew and his parents. It is just so hard when the allergies are life threatening. Celiac disease can be much worse that simple gluten sensitivity as it can cause ulcerative colitis.
      I'm glad you're ok! You've dodged a bullet, that's for sure!

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  5. Hi Melanie

    No allergies for me I am lucky but I have to say I don't like full cream mils either as a kid that milk at school turned me off it forever and we also had a couple of cows on my grandparent's hobby farm and the cream had to go before I could drink it but I love cream on scones and apple pie as well :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

    Congrats on the new release it is calling to me I have been busy and away for 5 days at #ARRC2017 we did miss you

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    1. Hi Helen,
      I really missed ARRA but I'm going to the US RWA this year so had to make a choice.
      Glad you don't have allergies! I bet there are heaps of people of our generation who hate milk because of school milk!

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  6. Not so much as allergy, but did get diabetes and got rid off all pasties together, lost weight and viola no more diabetes. Love mulit breads and sour dough and pita breads which are fine so still eat as if I had diabetes. I really just did a swapping thing and not a sweet person anyway love my savoury but don't miss my pies and other pastries. I would never survive without my vegemite! Eek.

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    1. Hi Jan,
      Did you have type 2 diabetes? It's great you were able to reverse it. Well done!
      There's nothing like a good piece of bread, is there? With Vegemite, of course! 😊

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    2. Yes it was type 2 diabetes my brother has type 1 while I got RA he got diabetes both autoimmune diseases and both hit at the same age 38 two years apart.

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  7. Not me, but my daughter. The intolerance to gluten came on as an adult - after a particularly nasty virus. She has gone totally gluten free. Food wise it is getting better, but she does miss the 'nuttiness' of wholegrain wheat bread.

    (There is a gluten free 'vegemite' that she buys. She says it tastes the same.)

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    1. Hi Mary,
      What brand of Vegemite does your daughter buy? I hated the flavour of the ones I tried.
      I found a nice multigrain GF bread which I quite liked.
      Thanks for posting!

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  8. Hello Melanie, I do not have a true allergy, but they are intolerant to milk and everything that is produced with the milk, cheese, mozzarella, cream and ice cream made from milk, in this case I'm lucky because I prefer ice cream-based fruit. If I eat anything made from milk I gets me badly on the head and I struggle to digest.

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    1. Hi Franca,
      It is hard to avoid milk and milk products as it's in so many things! But at least you can eat gelato!

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  9. I am severely allergic to shellfish. have to be really careful because I live in Florida and shellfish is everywhere. I try and avoid fried food in restaurants because of the potential for crossover when they fry shrimp, etc in the same oil as fries. I always have diphenhydramine and an epipen just in case ( haven't had to use it in 10 years) My sister also developed severe allergies about 5 years ago after a severe illness. They think it triggered an autoimmune response. Here shellfish allergy is so severe that even sitting near someone eating it will set her off. She also became allergic to pineapple, strawberries, coconut and any foods that are aged, like blue cheeses and wine because of the mold and sulfates.Smoke from a fireplace or a grill will set her off, as does the smell of cut lumber; automatic hives and respiratory problems. She has to go to a University medical center monthly for injections of a medication you can't give yourself at home. I hate the thought of her ever losing insurance, the cost of her medications including the injections are aver $10,000 a month. Thank goodness her husband has excellent insurance.

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    1. Oh, Laurie! Your poor sister. That is a nightmare for her. I can't imagine how hard it must be so have to be so vigilant all the time.
      Thanks for sharing.

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  10. My husband had a very similar experience to you too, Melanie! Got very sick and couldn't have gluten for about two years, but since we've come to Canada he's able to eat it again and we have no idea why.

    I'm lucky, no allergies. I steer clear of most dairy because it doesn't agree with me, but I can have the odd coffee or piece of cheese and be fine. Most of the time I drink coconut milk instead.

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    1. Hi Stefanie,
      That's really interesting about your husband's Gf intolerance but I've heard ( not sure of the science on this) it could have something to do with the way wheat is processed in Australia. I had no trouble while traveling in Europe but reacted at home.
      Glad he's all clear now!

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  11. I hope the days of eating easily continue, Melanie.

    I get horrible hay fever and anaphylaxis to something but we don't know what. We think it might be chilli and/or rosemary vapour! Yes, apparently you can be allergic to vapour. Have ended up in hospital twice not being able to breath - so not fun! Would be nice to know the cause. Have had all the tests and we just can't find the culprit.

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    1. Oh gosh, that sounds scary, Jen, especially as you're not entirely sure what causes it. I hope you grow out of it. Big hugs!

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  12. Hugs on the allergy, Melanie, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that your respite lasts.

    I've been fighting with a kind of hayfever allergy all summer, which is certainly not fun (but thankfully there are some good medications around). My doctor says there will simply be times in my life when it'll flare up without rhyme or reason. Yay. Ah, the joys of an aging body.

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    1. I hear you on the aging body! 😬 Hay fever is no fun. I don't get it much but one of sons does and it's awful for him. Hope next summer isn't so bad!

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  13. Melanie, I love how this story has a happy ending (even if temporary, it must be lovely to enjoy your vegemite toast while you can!) I'm one of the lucky people without food intolerances but my daughter-in-law has an autoimmune disorder and has to be very careful with gluten and dairy. She now uses this in her career, developing recipes which are gluten-free and dairy-free and sugar-free and such. Has got me eating a lot more healthily (most days!)

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    1. Hi Bronwyn,
      I know a few people who have made a career out of their allergies in order to help others. So inspiring!
      Good luck on the healthy eating. It's so hard to be good!

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  14. Just drug allergies. No food allergies. Sorry I can't help with that.

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  15. Hi Melanie, fingers crossed that your respite continues and you can enjoy Vegemite!
    I can't eat preserved meats (such as salami) and bottled fruit juices. Apparently it is the preservatives such as nitrates that give me migraine. I have learned to avoid them much as I used to like them. These days so many meals seems to involve chorizo which I don't dare eat. There was gnashing of teeth on a visit to Budapest last year as there were wonderful salamis everywhere that I couldn't sample!

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    1. Hi Kandy,
      That's probably a good allergy to have as I've heard all those nitrates aren't good for us anyway. But I would hate to not have pepperoni on my pizza!

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  16. Hi Melanie. I can't tell you how relieved I was to read you're able to indulge, even if carefully in your vegemite. When something is an absolute favourite it must be so tough to give it up. A friend of mine had gall troubles, and despite surgery can't deal with fat. She's very healthy but organising meals out can be challenging for her. As for me, I don't have any such problems though I find I tend to avoid too much bread and starch so I don't feel so full.

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    1. Hi Annie,
      Avoiding fat, especially when eating out, is so hard. Not just in wise food choices but because there is so much fat in the cooking process. Butter and oil everywhere! I'm with you on the bread and starch- if I eat the bread roll before dinner, then I don't want the dinner!

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  17. No actual known allergies other than the ones to useful medications such as morphine and penicillin, plus I react to tramadol (usually given in place of morphine) much the same way I do to morphine.

    I've never been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, but I do know that my body tells me if I've been over indulging and I was able to tolerate a lot more when I temporarily changed to lactose-free milk to see if it made a difference to my eczema flares.

    I know I'm exposed to something I'm either allergic to or intolerant to as I can't remember the last time I wasn't routinely on anti-histimines. We did allergy testing (both skin prick and blood). Outcome is the antibodies indicating allergy are high, but I'm not allergic to any of the usual suspects. Even with food diaries etc we still can't figure out the culprit.

    I think Clare's comment about seeing type 1 diabetes as a sugar allergy is a great way to think about it.

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