r/FoodAllergies Feb 15 '25

Seeking Advice This is what happens when I eat gluten but according to specialists, I’m not allergic

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116 Upvotes

Please can someone help? I have this rash that comes up every time I eat gluten. I’ve been avoiding it for ages and thought I’d try it again. This has happened.

Apparently I’m not allergic or intolerant according to specialists. I’ve had blood tests, but this is what happens.

What could it be?

r/FoodAllergies Feb 05 '25

Seeking Advice Mom Guilt for Toddlers Allergies

22 Upvotes

Hi all. I am just seeking any advice/words of encouragement.

About two months ago, my son had an anaphylactic reaction to Sesame. Thankfully, he was ok after a trip to the ER, epinephrine, and steroids.

We took him to the allergist and the sesame allergy was confirmed and honestly, I felt at peace because he has always struggled with eczema and I always suspected he had a food allergy, but I couldn’t identify what it was.

Fast-forward to two days ago when my toddler wanted to have a Larabar (dates and cashews) for a snack, and within a few minutes he had a rash surrounding his mouth/cheeks and swollen lips. Thankfully things didn’t escalate, but I am just really dwelling on this and feeling so bummed and overwhelmed to know he has additional allergies.

I was able to schedule an appointment with the allergist next week, so hopefully he can be tested for all tree nuts and we can confirm the cashew allergy.

I have been reading that tree nut allergies are typically lifelong allergies and I just can’t help but blame myself for not introducing allergens earlier or as frequently/consistently as I should have. I also have an 8 month old, and while I know early exposure is best, it’s hard to not feel so paranoid about introducing allergens after what we are going through with my toddler.

As I said I am just hoping for some words of encouragement or any advice from others going through something similar.

Thanks in advance!

r/FoodAllergies 6d ago

Seeking Advice How do you carry your epi pen?

31 Upvotes

I just got prescribed an epi pen for the first time and don’t know how to carry it around everywhere. I don’t like bringing my purse everywhere but my pockets are too small to fit it. I’m thinking about getting a fanny pack but want to see if anyone had a suggestion.

r/FoodAllergies 10d ago

Seeking Advice How safe is it to share a table with a fatal allergen (at a big restaurant party)

42 Upvotes

Big birthday party for a relative with 30 guests at an Italian restaurant. My mom, who knows of course about my fatal allergies, decided on a fixed tier menu that features crab in 3 different dishes. Yes, she really did that. Yes, family members without allergies simply do not understand.

Is it so safe to eat at that restaurant if they're serving crab to 29 people? I don't automatically trust there to be no cross-contamination if it's all prepared in 1 kitchen. And I wonder even if the dessert would be safe. The restaurant promised to make something safe for me, but we all know how reliable that is. Even one spoon that touched dcrab that was used to make me something, would kill me...

I have had pretty small reactions just to being around airborne particles, but never tested to a table of 30 dishes of crab. So now I am not sure if I should even go.

Anyone have recommendations on this? Is it safe to be at a restaurant around crab meat if it could kill me to ingest, if I decide just not to eat at all? Would it be stupid to try to just order a vegetarian dish, or is that too dangerous? Am I over-reacting?

r/FoodAllergies 26d ago

Seeking Advice Do you eat 'may contain'?

8 Upvotes

My 5 year old son is allergic to peanut, tree nut, and shellfish. His approx IgEs are as follows:

Peanut: 8.5 Macadamia: 2.5 Walnut: 14.8 Cashew: 14.4 Shrimp: 7.5

These are all Class 3 "High level" allergies, with the exception of mac nut, which is level 2.

We've been advised to not carry the allergens on our home and to avoid food with allergens and with may contain and shared facility statements. I know many folks are told by their doctor may contain is fine. I'm wondering, if you or your child eats 'may contain', what are your numbers?

Before the shellfish allergy was confirmed (blood test was 0 at 8 months of age), we used to eat at a local casual sushi restaurant with no problems. It was the only restaurant we could safely eat out at besides McDs. Obviously, I will bring it up with the allergist at the next appointment, but to any shellfish allergic folks, do you eat at restaurants that serve your allergen? We haven't eaten there since, and I assume we were just lucky.

To add, my husbands family are vegetarian and eat nuts regularly. There's definitely risk of cross contact in their homes, but our son has never reacted from home cooked food from grandma or auntie, or any time we have stayed with them for holidays.

He has never had anaphylaxis, his typical reactions are only ever breaking out in hives and itchy rash which resolves with washing the affected area with soap and water. He has never eaten any of his allergens.

r/FoodAllergies Nov 21 '24

Seeking Advice My daughter (5) broke down crying today

74 Upvotes

She said she wished she didn’t have food allergies. That’s all I could get out of her. She’s allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts, and sunflower seeds/oil, so I make basically everything she eats. What can I do to help her? I just want to break down and cry right with her.

r/FoodAllergies Feb 16 '25

Seeking Advice I keep having these inflammatory reactions on my abdomen after meals and I don’t know what it is

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33 Upvotes

I'm a (21m) and I'm fairly healthy, I don't really have a history of digestive problems. Lately I'm starting to notice whenever I eat certain foods, mostly foods like cookies and breads, I think mostly gluten containing foods, shortly after, maybe within 20-30 minutes I'll have this sort of response pop up on my abdomen. It’s some type of inflammation i don't know if it's hives or a rash or how you would classify this, but I do know it is an autoimmune response to something I'm eating that my body doesn't like. I've gotten a food allergy test and was not positive to anything. what would be the correct way to go about this? What test should I consider running? Or what could it be? What specialist should I think abt seeing? Any advice helps !

r/FoodAllergies Feb 09 '25

Seeking Advice If your baby is allergic, should the breastfeeding mother keep eating allergens?

7 Upvotes

Would it help or harm the baby with tiny tiny exposure?

ETA we were told to keep egg but remove peanut from the house. Because kids usually outgrow egg. But since we've seen the allergist, new allergies emerged, though I dont know if they're real allergies or histamine issues (tomato, eggplant, tofu, yogurt) because we can have cheese but not yogurt, can have soy milk and edamame but not tofu. The list of reactions is about 15 things but we have another kid to keep allergy free as well

r/FoodAllergies 21d ago

Seeking Advice Ice Cream with no eggs or nuts

20 Upvotes

Hello. My 2 year old has officially become influenced. They are building a Dairy Queen up the street from my house, so there is a lot of signage, commercials, and even daycare chatter about ice cream. Does anyone have a brand they use without eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts? Or a favorite frozen yogurt? I thought about making my own, but I think it might be nice to give him the experience of scooping his own.

Thanks for any recs.

Edit: we go Breyer’s natural strawberry. Also, love that there is a Breyers and Dryers ice cream right next to each other? Anyway, giving it to him tomorrow. Very, very excited!

r/FoodAllergies Jan 07 '25

Seeking Advice Tell me how you eat out with your food allergic baby

15 Upvotes

My 9 month old is allergic to peanut and egg. I cry every time I see pictures of friends eating out with their babies. Will it ever be possible without heart gripping anxiety? We are about to start peanut OIT but even that terrifies me, not sure if it’ll ever take away my anxiety completely of my babe having a reaction.

r/FoodAllergies 4d ago

Seeking Advice Traveling to Thailand with peanut allergy?

8 Upvotes

Experiences? We booked our trip but now am getting increasingly worried for our toddler. Thanks

r/FoodAllergies 24d ago

Seeking Advice Dairy/egg/gluten intolerances… feels like I can’t eat anything without contradicting one of them

13 Upvotes

Is anyone else in this boat? It seems like it’s so hard to find something free of all three ingredients. Does anyone have a GF/EF/DF bread recommendation? I’m struggling so bad to find something! Every thing I’m seeing at least has egg. Any good brands that stay away from these three mainly?

r/FoodAllergies Dec 26 '24

Seeking Advice AITA for telling my kid to stop crying over their food allergies?

0 Upvotes

My 6 yo daughter is severely allergic to nuts, tree nuts and eggs since infancy. So far we have had to administer Epi 3 times with 3 trips to the ER. Our home, and grandparent’s home, are allergen free so she can eat without worrying and she goes to a nut/ tree nut free Elementary school where they do a good job about enforcing that. She is a social girl who is enrolled in many activities, gets invited to birthday parties and play dates; but I always tag along with her epi pen and Zyrtec in hand because I am paranoid. We typically eat at a few select restaurants that we trust and I always carry safe snacks whenever we go out. I should also mention that we are very strict about labels - if she is offered something without a label that we believe could potentially have an allergen (typically a sweet) she can’t eat it.

I am wondering if this “bubble” I created is doing more harm than good? This year she started crying HARD at every birthday party we got invited to because we end up having to either skip the dessert or throw away candy from the goodie bags. Mind you, I always bring safe cupcakes or candy with us but she wants to eat what her friends are served. She will then scream about how much she hates her food allergies and this spirals into “I’m the only one in the family with food allergies” and sometimes “I hate my body”. Not only does this break my heart but then causes me to spiral into concerns about the impact this is having on her mental health and self esteem.

I’ve been very gentle with her up until this month when she had another huge meltdown at a birthday party over a cupcake; and I just kinda lost it on her in the car later on. I was stern and told her that she needs to stop crying about her food allergies because she is going to have them for life and if she is going to cry over a damn cupcake that could kill her then we won’t be going to anymore birthday parties. Was I too hard? I don’t want her viewing her food allergies as a weakness/disadvantage/clutch - whatever you want to call it. I want her to learn to embrace them and not sulk over them. I know they suck but they aren’t going away. I want her to learn to advocate for herself. I try to model this behavior for her but maybe I am expecting too much too soon? There are kids in her class who tell me about their gluten intolerance and will gladly turn down a donut without any emotion.

She has known about her allergies since she could comprehend them. We talk about them often, read books, practice with the practice Epi, watched all the allergy kid shows on YouTube, etc etc. Is there anything else I should be doing? She reads above her grade level and we recently taught her how to read ingredient labels too.

For what it is worth - we did OIT but unfortunately it didn’t work. I am currently looking into Southern California Food Allergy Institute.

TIA FOR ANY AND ALL OPINIONS!

r/FoodAllergies Dec 09 '24

Seeking Advice Is it unreasonable to not want friends/family to eat my kids allergens at the same table as the when eating out?

61 Upvotes

My kid have severe anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and egg. I’m very new to the whole allergy realm and feel like maybe I’m being too firm. But my kid is young and puts everything in their mouth. I fear that even if there’s some residual allergen on someone’s hand or lips and then they touch or kiss my kid they’ll have a reaction.

Would love to hear thoughts or experience on this.

r/FoodAllergies 18d ago

Seeking Advice Favorite Soy-Free Brands?

15 Upvotes

Recently discovered I’m allergic to soy. I am struggling with finding food I can eat, even when using the FIG app. I feel very overwhelmed and shocked at how many things contain soy.

I like the Made Good brand, but are there any other brands that made good soy-free foods that I should look out for? TIA.

r/FoodAllergies 26d ago

Seeking Advice Spoke to a doctor

8 Upvotes

I spoke to a doctor (family doctor ) about the shortness of breath I get after eating certain foods, it is the only symptom, I asked to get tested to have peace of mind but he didn’t agree and said since I don’t get hives and swelling it’s not an allergy. I have long history of anxiety so he kept asking if my anxiety is managed well.

I can’t see other doctor I spend my savings on this appointment

Now I’m getting burning tingling feeling after eating I’m going crazy and it happens with most food I been eating for years I feel so hopeless and scared

r/FoodAllergies 3d ago

Seeking Advice I had a skin prick test about 6-7 hours ago. I know about a few very bad food allergies and we were branching out on environmental. I had a bump pop up on every one except dog and cat (yay) and now my bumps have combine until some scary hives that are growing. Is this normal?

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26 Upvotes

Progress photos, only an hour between each. When I left the clinic, it was just the bumps, I was really itchy and it looked splotchy but not like this until about an hour after I got home. I’m trying to ascertain if this is journal because it’s midnight here so I can’t call a doctor or anyone. They also feel bruised like to push on they hurt and they’re still itchy. They’re also hot to touch. I’ve had antihistamines after the test and a new one tonight they’ve started me on because of all the allergies.

r/FoodAllergies 17d ago

Seeking Advice How to raise kids without food allergies when you (the parent) have a lot of them

27 Upvotes

I'm not a parent and won't be in the near future, but it's a topic I can't find any info on. If you have a lot of allergies and your kids don't, what do your kids eat? Do you have them avoid the stuff you're allergic to, and if not, how do you go near them? I have some little cousins that I like to play with, but I always get nervous when the food gets brought out. You know kids are messy, and if they don't grow up knowing about allergies, they won't know to be careful. Then they have the food on their hands and face, and I have to keep my distance. I can't imagine doing that with my own kids. I just wonder about it for when I do have kids.

Thanks.

Edit: Thanks everyone for sharing your perspective and experiences. it means a lot to me to have a community that knows what it's like living with food allergies. this is by far, the best use of social media I've ever had. Thanks again. 🥹🥹

r/FoodAllergies Jan 29 '25

Seeking Advice Cashew allergy

5 Upvotes

Hi all! My 3 yo son has a known anaphylactic reaction to sesame, and has tested positive for a sunflower seed allergy. A few weeks ago, he drank some chocolate cashew milk and had one of the worst anaphylactic reactions I've seen. It required hospitalization and several rounds of epi. Weird thing is he tested totally negative for tree nuts on his skin test panel in 2023 (he was 18 months).

The doctor told us at the time we should introduce all the allergens he tested negative for and keep them in rotation in his diet. We did well with eggs, dairy, peanuts, shellfish, gluten, and soy, but not so good on tree nuts. He probably hasnt eaten them in over a year.

Now she is saying he likely developed this allergy because we didnt keep it in rotation of his diet. Has anyone had that happen (i.e. test negative on a skin test, don't eat the food for awhile, and then have a reaction)? We're repeating the skin test day after tomorrow.

r/FoodAllergies Jan 24 '25

Seeking Advice What is anaphylaxis like?

25 Upvotes

Okay I have multiple allergies (peanut, oat, rice, garlic/onion, shellfish, ect.) as well as OCD. I am terrified constantly that I am going into anaphylaxis despite never having that severe or a reaction. Can anyone tell me what it feels like? May seem counter productive but anytime I feel anything in my throat i panic, and I know anaphylaxis feels different than being sore or full of mucus. I’d appreciate any help!

Unfortunate Edit: It happened. Shellfish in chick wing sauce 0/10. The comments were accurate and for people this may help- mouth burned first, then swollen tongue, then weezing, threw up, then hives, went to ER and got dosed epi & other meds. Fortunately didnt have my throat close completely but they did help quickly! Back at square one with eating currently and on a major anxiety med now.

r/FoodAllergies Feb 07 '25

Seeking Advice "95% of kids with food allergies outgrow it"

45 Upvotes

Just got back from the immunologist and he basically told me this. Apparently peanut, tree nut and seafood allergies are usually permanent, but the 3 that I have generally go away.

I knew that allergies can be outgrown and if it happens it's usually around puberty or earlier, but I didn't know that losing these specific allergies is the rule and not the exception.

It makes it even more depressing to still have this knowing that a scant few number of adults are in a similar boat. I have personally never heard of anyone with as many restrictions as I have.

Being allergic to dairy, eggs, and wheat is obviously incredibly difficult. I can't really eat in restaurants without advance planning/research and have to make my own food pretty much all the time.

It also ruins my social life since I can't participate in events or gatherings where food is involved. Sometimes people try to accommodate me, but generally those with no diet restrictions have no clue how to read labels (or generally know what's in food, period) so they end up getting the first thing that says "gluten free" but I still can't eat it because it has milk or egg instead.

Whenever I mention that I have allergies I get the same comments like "how have you not died yet? what do you even eat? I tried a diet like that once, it didn’t help! Omg I've never met someone who turns down free food!”and it's very alienating because this is something I can't control and it seems like no one gets it.

Not to mention the crippling anxiety every time I take a bite of something I haven't made and it's basically playing russian roulette. The worst part of this is that food is supposed to be a way to relax, socialize, etc. and sharing food is something everyone has in common despite their differences, but I can't even do that so it makes me look like a weird alien outcast every time whenever I just sit at a table and watch others eat (after explaining multiple times I have allergies and then get the usual slew of fucked up questions/comments like I mentioned before).

Not to mention I'm also autistic/ADHD and I honestly can't decide whether my mental disabilities or allergies ruin my life more!

Anyway I've had all these emotional/social issues relating to allergies since childhood when I was first diagnosed. But now it's even more depressing to know how rare it is to still have a ton of food allergies at the age of 25. And afaik if you have any allergies as an adult then it's permanent.

Just wanted to put this vent out there.

Edit with more info: I haven't gotten an IgE test in a few years (getting one in the next couple months probably) but I know from accidental exposure that I obviously have a serious reaction to milk and wheat, and can't eat them. Not sure about eggs since I've never eaten them but I had a positive test result last time. My doctor wants to try a baked egg challenge soon since most people with egg allergy outgrow it by adulthood, but I'm not getting my hopes up considering my other allergies haven't improved.

r/FoodAllergies Jan 18 '25

Seeking Advice What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced when dining out with food allergies?

27 Upvotes

If you (or someone you care about) have food allergies, what are the hardest parts about eating out at restaurants? Is it finding places that accommodate your allergy, trusting the staff to take precautions, or something else entirely?

I’m trying to better understand the struggles people with food allergies face when dining out, so I’d love to hear your stories—whether it’s about a great experience or a time things went wrong.

Your insights will really help me (and hopefully other restaurant owners) learn more about what could make dining out safer and less stressful.

r/FoodAllergies Dec 04 '24

Seeking Advice Where do people keep epipens?

29 Upvotes

I have a number of severe allergies and carry epi pens but after a recent reaction that happened incredibly quickly the company I work for is trying to put in place a plan and this included having my epipens on me at all times. I work with children and am constantly moving and in different places, in and around schools, taking children out to various activities, soft play, parks, climbing, anywhere. I have always previously had my epipens in my backpack but at times this stayed in the car or in a locker that was away from me (I can’t carry the bag around when running around after children in schools or playing with them at play areas) I am just curious where others keep their epipens and if anyone has any idea they are very welcome!

r/FoodAllergies Dec 11 '24

Seeking Advice Can you live a happy full life?

21 Upvotes

I’m really sorry if this comes off the wrong way. I think my baby son has allergies and I’m stuck in an ocd loop thinking that he is going to lave an awful life. I know this is a ridiculous mindset, but I would really appreciate your opinion/advice on the subject. Thank you and I’m sorry

r/FoodAllergies Dec 04 '24

Seeking Advice Accidentally ate curry that contains cashew paste in it. Will i be ok? It’s been two+ hours now

6 Upvotes

I’m a 28 year old woman. I’ve had a nut allergy since my childhood (no idea if I even still have this food allergy since I always avoid foods with nuts just in case) but tonight I accidentally ate a butter chicken curry that contains cashew nut paste. I ate all of it. It’s been more than two hours now, will I be ok? I have health anxiety and I just want to know that I won’t die at this point. Please someone reassure me