I think I may be allergic to peanuts.

[OutHouse]

ive developed a melon allergy. it fricken sucks because i used to eat cantaloupe nearly everyday in the summer. If i develop a allergy to peaches ill shoot myself.

 

[SunnyD]

Washing hands/brushing teeth isn't enough to fully remove the allergen (it'll be in your saliva). I'm not sure how long that takes. Obviously if it's been working out so far for you then I guess it's ok.

Because I lick my son...

ive developed a melon allergy. it fricken sucks because i used to eat cantaloupe nearly everyday in the summer. If i develop a allergy to peaches ill shoot myself.

My wife recently found out she's allergic to strawberries, bananas and apples. Yes, the three cheapest, most common known to mankind.

 

[ponyo]

Maybe if you ate them more frequently, your system would adjust to them.

It's what I did with shrimp. I used to break out in hives when I ate or touched it. But I kept eating it because I liked it and over the years, the reaction has gotten milder and milder. Now I rarely break out and I'm safe as long as I don't touch raw shrimp.

 

[gorb]

I assumed your son was young and that you might give him a kiss.

If my fiancee eats almonds, brushes her teeth, and just kisses my cheek, I'd have a minor local reaction.

 

[ponyo]

Because I lick my son...



My wife recently found out she's allergic to strawberries, bananas and apples. Yes, the three cheapest, most common known to mankind.

I'm allergic to apples.

 

[SunnyD]

I assumed your son was young and that you might give him a kiss.

If my fiancee eats almonds, brushes her teeth, and just kisses my cheek, I'd have a minor local reaction.

You're contact sensitive. My son (at this point) is not. And your fiancee should wash her hands and face well, and then use baby wipes to wipe off afterwards. :thumbsup:

Or, obviously I assume she just doesn't eat almonds.

In my case, I rarely eat peanuts for obvious reasons. I just had a massive craving for peanuts the other day, which is why I have them... at work.

 

[Kaido]

Let me tell that to my son who is allergic to them.

Actually he's got a valid point, peanuts are one of those things that a lot of people can build up to (a lot of allergists do it these days). I think it's north of a 50% success rate. My friend's kid just graduated from the "special" table in grade school to a regular table (they have a separate lunchroom table cordoned off for kids with food allergies to minimize exposure), which was huge for him to be able to sit with his friends at lunch time. They do increased exposure over time. Granted they'll never be able to eat a bag of peanuts, but if they accidentally eat one, it won't kill them, which is a really big deal.

 

[Kaido]

ive developed a melon allergy. it fricken sucks because i used to eat cantaloupe nearly everyday in the summer. If i develop a allergy to peaches ill shoot myself.

Ouch...survey says you have a 92% chance of being allergic to other fruits:

http://foodallergies.stanford.edu/learn/food-allergy-faq-related.html

 

[Kaido]

I'm allergic to apples.

Is it apples or corn? I used to think I had an allergy to apples, but it turned out I have a corn allergy (intolerance, rather). They put a corn-based wax on apples to make them shiny. I do okay if I peel the apples, or if I pick the apples myself in season at local farms.

 

[highland145]

ive developed a melon allergy. it fricken sucks because i used to eat cantaloupe nearly everyday in the summer. If i develop a allergy to peaches ill shoot myself.

Is it apples or corn? I used to think I had an allergy to apples, but it turned out I have a corn allergy (intolerance, rather). They put a corn-based wax on apples to make them shiny. I do okay if I peel the apples, or if I pick the apples myself in season at local farms.

Wondering if something similar is going on. Or different herbicides/pesticides. Have you tried some from a local farmers market?

 

[ponyo]

Is it apples or corn? I used to think I had an allergy to apples, but it turned out I have a corn allergy (intolerance, rather). They put a corn-based wax on apples to make them shiny. I do okay if I peel the apples, or if I pick the apples myself in season at local farms.

Apple only. I can eat corn just fine. I'm ok with apples other than mild irritation and indigestion. It's nothing severe. I could probably beat it if I kept eating it but I'm indifferent towards the fruit.

 

[SunnyD]

Actually he's got a valid point, peanuts are one of those things that a lot of people can build up to (a lot of allergists do it these days). I think it's north of a 50% success rate. My friend's kid just graduated from the "special" table in grade school to a regular table (they have a separate lunchroom table cordoned off for kids with food allergies to minimize exposure), which was huge for him to be able to sit with his friends at lunch time. They do increased exposure over time. Granted they'll never be able to eat a bag of peanuts, but if they accidentally eat one, it won't kill them, which is a really big deal.

Funny story... when my son was little and we didn't know any better we used to go to one of those restaurants that has those buckets of peanuts on the tables for you to make a huge mess with a lot. My son was funny, we'd give him a peanut, he didn't mind smashing them to bits and whatnot, but when you tried to actually get him to eat one he wanted nothing to do with it. He just wasn't interested in eating peanuts. Ever.

Then we found out he was allergic to them.

Coincidence? :hmm:

Speaking of "building up an immunity"... Another amusing thing about allergies, such as peanut allergies. Some people can be sensitive to specific foods and not have a reaction to them for years, and then one day boom... full on anaphylaxis. So north of 50% success rate? Yeah, no. Some people do outgrow allergies, it's true. But forcing intake to build up a tolerance for? Yeah... no.

 

[Kaido]

Speaking of "building up an immunity"... Another amusing thing about allergies, such as peanut allergies. Some people can be sensitive to specific foods and not have a reaction to them for years, and then one day boom... full on anaphylaxis. So north of 50% success rate? Yeah, no. Some people do outgrow allergies, it's true. But forcing intake to build up a tolerance for? Yeah... no.

Yes, it's a real program. I have a friend who did it and can eat peanuts now & my friend's son just "graduated" to the next level where he can eat a peanut without getting sick. It's not 100% successful - depends on the person's immune system, I guess. They don't start kids until they're older (I think 7 or 8 minimum). Also, it doesn't work for all allergens - I think peanuts is actually the only program I've heard of (doing a tolerance build-up). I can look up some more info if you are interested. I think it's like an oral immunotherapy or something.

 

[Kaido]

Here's the one my friend's son went to:

http://www.nefoodallergy.org/

A safe and effective treatment to desensitize patients with peanut allergy using a procedure called oral immunotherapy in which patients with peanut allergy are fed small incremental amounts of peanut protein. They are built up over the course of several months to a maintenance dose where increasing doses are given in the Center and are continued at home.

The goal is to desensitize patients so that accidental exposures should not result in clinical symptoms. This should result in reduced worry, fear, anxiety, and improved quality of life.

Oral immunotherapy has been accomplished at research centers in the US for peanut, egg and milk allergies. Studies have shown this can been done safely and effectively. This process is different from sublingual immunotherapy where drops of allergens are placed under the tongue to desensitize allergic patients. Although this is being done elsewhere, studies in this country have not proven sublingual immunotherapy works. In addition, all the dosing of peanut is done orally so no uncomfortable shots are involved.

Some more reading:

http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/08/relieving-peanut-allergies-with-peanuts/

http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/167208/peanut-allergies-allergist/

It's not a perfect science yet, but people are getting results with it. If I remember right, they started him out on peanut powder. Some discussion points from the Time & Health Central articles:

What are the problems with oral immunotherapy?

One is that the effectiveness for tolerance has not yet been scientifically proven by enough studies. That means when you give someone oral immunotherapy, your goal is to make them more tolerant if they were to eat it or have contact with it. Well, to build up to an acceptable tolerance, that means for some period of time after you’ve completed the therapy you should continue to have that tolerance. But there are no well-controlled studies that show that. So that means if your child has the therapy, and then three months later stops being fed peanuts, and then they eat them again, they could have a life-threatening reaction.

The second thing is that we don’t yet have good standards, such as how much and how often. It’s all over the map if you look at studies. And so, that’s something the FDA is really being shrewd about exploring before they will approve any kind. The third reason is safety. A number of these studies have significant fallout. Many times people don’t finish the study, often because they have some uncomfortable reactions. The most common one is an upset stomach.

There's also a sublingual method:

What is the difference between oral immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy?

Oral immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy are different. Sublingual immunotherapy is where people get a smaller dose of an extract of an allergen, that’s placed under the tongue and is held under there for a couple minutes and then swallowed. What they have in common is you deal with very small amounts that you gradually increase over time. But with oral immunotherapy, there is more risk than with sublingual, and neither one has been shown to have long-term tolerance yet, when it comes to foods.

 

[gorb]

Here's the one my friend's son went to:

http://www.nefoodallergy.org/



Some more reading:

http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/08/relieving-peanut-allergies-with-peanuts/

http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/906496/167208/peanut-allergies-allergist/

It's not a perfect science yet, but people are getting results with it. If I remember right, they started him out on peanut powder. Some discussion points from the Time & Health Central articles:



There's also a sublingual method:

Yeah, I've read about immunotherapy for food allergies. Unfortunately they are just trials or studies and not considered an actual treatment by most insurance companies (the only acceptable treatment for food allergies is avoidance).

http://www.foodallergy.org/research/overview



Immunotherapy definitely works for enviromental allergies though. I've been getting shots for ~2 years and they've helped a great deal.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah, I've read about immunotherapy for food allergies. Unfortunately they are just trials or studies and not considered an actual treatment by most insurance companies (the only acceptable treatment for food allergies is avoidance).

http://www.foodallergy.org/research/overview

Immunotherapy definitely works for enviromental allergies though. I've been getting shots for ~2 years and they've helped a great deal.

I'm reading through the New England one, apparently they have have some updated information:

2. Q. What age does my child need to be to participate.
A. We are enrolling children 4 years of age and older.

16. Q. What is the goal of this process?
A. The goal of therapy is to desensitize patients to peanut. That means creating a safety net if there is an accidental ingestion. Safety is our number one concern. We have shown how oral immunotherapy to peanut improves quality of life in those treated patients and their families.

18. Q. What is the success rate in desensitizing patients?
A. We have been able to desensitize 95% of patients who enroll in the program.

19. Q. What is the cost of the procedure?
A. Most commercial insurances cover the procedures of the desensitization. Patients are responsible for co-pays and deductibles just as they are at any physician’s office.

So it looks like you can start as young as 4 years old now, and that a lot of insurances cover the process now. And again, the goal isn't making you immune to the peanut allergy, it's more to make it so you don't die if you accidentally come in contact with it. iirc you work up to eating a few peanut M&M candies over the course of half a year.

 

[gorb]

That's pretty cool. Unfortunately it appears they only do peanuts and the studies done have only covered peanuts, milk, and eggs :/

I hope treatments can be developed for all food allergies and intolerances.

I'm allergic to tree nuts, have severe lactose intolerance, and IBS (probably related to my lactose intolerance ).

 

[Printer Bandit]

ban allergies

 

[lxskllr]

Washing hands/brushing teeth isn't enough to fully remove the allergen (it'll be in your saliva).

Hear that Sunny? No tongue when you kiss your son.

 

[bradley]

I know this information might make some angry, but I believe peanut allergies date back to when peanut and cottonseed oil started being used as excipients in vaccinations.

Excipients act to prolong the effect of vaccines. Except suddenly the body's immune system now unnecessarily views dietary peanuts (and other vaccine excipients) as hostile invaders and ramps up a condition of severe autoimmunity, sometimes to dire consequences.

 

[highland145]

Hear that Sunny? No tongue when you kiss your son.

But your daughter is OK

:biggrin:

 

[highland145]

I know this information might make some angry, but I believe peanut allergies date back to when peanut and cottonseed oil started being used as excipients in vaccinations.

Excipients act to prolong the effect of vaccines. Except suddenly the body's immune system now unnecessarily views dietary peanuts (and other vaccine excipients) as hostile invaders and ramps up a condition of severe autoimmunity, sometimes to dire consequences.

Any links? That's an interesting tidbit.

 

[zinfamous]

Any idea what the cause is?

Must be soy beans.

Probably a multifactorial thing, but the key to a lot of this might very well be found in our poops

http://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp/index

 

[highland145]

Probably a multifactorial thing, but the key to a lot of this might very well be found in our poops

http://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp/index

So the microorganisms don't like peanuts and want to kill their host for eating them.

That's some psyco microbes, right there.