Food Allergy Support

Discussion Boards => Adults with Food Allergies => Topic started by: cammiec on June 18, 2014, 11:32:59 AM

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Title: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: cammiec on June 18, 2014, 11:32:59 AM
My allergies began becoming severe about a year ago, and I'm developing new allergies.  People keep suggesting I try eating Quinoa, which I have never had.  With the other foods I am allergic too (listed below) do you think I would be allergic to Quinoa?  How do you try out new foods?
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: rebekahc on June 18, 2014, 02:11:20 PM
What has your doctor said about trying new foods?  Since (s)he's most familiar with your allergies and how they've been rapidly developing, it might be best to ask there.

For my family, when DS was little, we introduced new foods in the typical fashion.  However, we were extra careful with foods related to those he was allergic to.  You can research which foods are related to your allergens, too.
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: lakeswimr on June 18, 2014, 06:32:24 PM
Have you had reactions to all the foods in your sig line?  What type of reaction? 

It is very unusual to develop a bunch of new food allergies. People can develop them at any age but the chance of an adult developing a lot of them is very, very low.  I would discuss this with your allergist.
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: cammiec on June 19, 2014, 09:02:29 AM
Now that I understand, I know I have had allergies since I was a child.  I never had an anaphylactic reaction, however, until last year.  I have reacted to everything in that list, as well as had positive test results.  After my first set of testing, I also developed a new severe reaction to pistachios (which was later backed up by a new positive test.)  To me, and minor reaction involves burning lips and mouth, indigestion, and sometimes minor skin itching.  A major reaction (anaphylaxis) involves throat closing and a trip to the ER.

I guess I should ask my doctor how to try things.  Reading about quinoa, it doesn't seem like it is in family of any of my allergens.

Is there such a thing as a false positive with skin and/or blood testing?
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: rebekahc on June 19, 2014, 10:39:06 AM
Yes, with both skin and blood testing the false positive rate is greater than 50%.  Recent data suggests it could be as high as 80-90%.
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: cammiec on June 19, 2014, 02:02:26 PM
I'm sorry, I meant false negative.  Is a false negative possible?

I know false positives are possible, I reacted positively to the control in venom testing. Lol
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: rebekahc on June 19, 2014, 03:03:17 PM
False negatives are rare.  I've heard 90% accuracy on negative results.
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: cammiec on June 20, 2014, 01:32:45 PM
Then that means that I am continually developing new allergies =( Its been very scary.  Did not start happening until I quit taking an awful medication, always wondered if there was a relation.

Haven't had a chance to contact my doctor yet, but I decided to forgo the quinoa.  I read several different opinions of it, but one said not to try it if allergic to other grains.  So pooh =( Lol
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: CMdeux on June 20, 2014, 01:59:12 PM
Well, quinoa is very definitely NOT a grain-- and it's not in the same family as grasses, which give rise to things like rice, wheat, etc.

It's actually a great choice (usually) for those with multiple food allergies because it is unrelated (and therefore not likely to be cross-reactive) with so many other seeds/grains.  The only thing in your list that even seems (to me) to be a possible concern is flax.  I do not know how closely related flax and quinoa are-- that would be one to check on.

If you're concerned about nutrition in light of your lengthy allergen list, it makes sense to have a protocol for trying new things, though--  definitely ask your doctor!
Title: Re: How Should I Try New Foods???
Post by: rewgs on May 10, 2021, 10:00:20 PM
Then that means that I am continually developing new allergies =( Its been very scary.  Did not start happening until I quit taking an awful medication, always wondered if there was a relation.

Sorry to bump such an old thread, but I'm doing some research and this is the first time I've come across someone with a situation similar to mine: food allergies appearing after ceasing a medication, and new allergies continuing to develop.

What was the medication you were taking?