Food allergy?

Question

My husband developed stomach problems when he was 21(loose bowels, bloating, painful cramps). He's already been tested for parasites (which was the first guess since the problems developed while he was in South America). While I welcome any educated guess on what might be ailing him, I specifically wondered if food allergies can manifest themselves in adulthood, if that's something we should think about getting him tested for.

Answer 1

I developed similar symptoms when I was 30. I would run to the bathroom 10-12 times a day for 3 days straight. Sometimes I would be too weak to walk. For me it was a food intolerance, not a food allergy. Try keeping a food diary and also taking note of the times he gets sick. It can be 8-12 hours from eating the food to the start of symptoms. I went to an internist and he suggested the food diary. The foods that make me sick are: poultry, eggs, honey, cherries, and beets. It can be easy to eat chicken without knowing it because it is in a lot of lunch meats and hot dogs. It may be something totally different that makes him sick, but you need to keep in mind the ingredients of specific foods.

Answer 2

I'm no expert, but I'd say that absolutely it could be a food issue. Now whether or not it might be an actual allergy, I have no idea. However, I've done a bit of research on food allergies - in both the allopathic (traditional western medicine) and natural/alternative medicine realms when my newborn son began having issues. I learned that you can develop allergies at any point in life. Beyond allergies, consider the idea of "intolerances". This could be to a food or any kind of chemical or other substance that he might be ingesting.

For instance, when I was in my 20's, I jumped on the aspartame (an artificial sweetener) bandwagon without thinking about it. At some point, I developed stomach issues too (sounds similar to what your husband experiences). I assumed for a long time that I had developed an intolerance to milk. As it turned out, I found out that it was actually the aspartame (brand name: Nutrasweet) that I put in my daily coffee, drank in Diet Coke, and ate in many other foods. From what I've read, artificial sweeteners can be especially brutal on your system.

You might have him be very cognizant of what he puts into his body and try to stay away from processed foods, products with artificial colors, flavors, etc. It's my understanding that many of these types of additives can cause gastric distress in people, sometimes leading to serious problems.

You might have him talk to a naturopathic doctor and have him try a good quality papaya enzyme. You can find this at a vitamin store/department. Also, check out Mercola.com which has a bunch of credible information on the subject.

Good luck!!!

Shelley

Answer 3

I have severe allergies to all citrus fruit, oatmeal, eggs and whole wheat. As a child, I was severely allergic to cows milk. I outgrew that allergy in my 20's. Yes, you can 'outgrow' allergies. I'm 50 and my food allergies started at the age of 5. About 8 years ago, I ate some BBQ sauce that I didn't know had lemon in it. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days! A word of caution: Many commerically prepared foods may have ingredients NOT listed on the label. By law, the manufacturers do not have to list an ingredient less than 2% by volume! Lemon was not listed on the label of BBQ sauce, but after investigating it, I found out that yes indeed it did have lemon, but a very small amount..........too small to list on the label!

Answer 4

It is possible for adults to develop food allergies, lthough late onset allergies are more often due to airborn pathogens, like pollen. And these directly involve the resporatory system , but CAN include some symptoms that mimic food allergies, like nausea and swelling of the eyes and mouth (although rhinositus occurs more frequently [swelling of nose] and is specific to airborn allergies). .

With food, ongoing stomach problems are often caused by lactose intolerance in adults. So he might have developed a sensitivity to dairy products. Which would mean cutting back on one or more of them (usually milk and cheese).

Other common food allergies, for example: crustaceans (shell fish), citrus fruits (oranges, strawberries) and legumes (nuts, esp. peanuts) ... are less likely to first occur in adulthood.

Another common culprit in later years, is GERD (gastro-intestinal reflux disease), also associated with diet. This includes everything from heartburn to nausea to what amounts to a "raw" painful throat (if stomach acid has backed up into the throat). This requires cutting back on products containing caffeine in them, as well as those with high acid content, like tomatoes and citrus fruit, and mint products. Other small lifestyle adjustments would need to be made as well. It often requires drug therapy as well. But this is merely another possibility. Albeit a common one.

He should see a really good general practioner (doc) to help figure out what's going on. There are various other possibilities than what I listed, since stomache problems are indicative of so many ailments, sometimes including other systemic involvement. Less frequently, the heart. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

If upset stomach, cramping and loose stools are the complaint, then I suggest that it is not an allergy, but may be an intolerance. Some of the ideas mentioned in other answers like Chron's, and IBS should be considered, as should lactose intolerance, or intolerance of gluten, sucrose, and corn products. I would speak to an internist or gastrointerologist for further testing.

Answer 6

Symptoms of Food Allergies

In allergic individuals, as the body fights off the invasion, symptoms may begin to appear throughout the body. The most common sites are the mouth (swelling of the lips or tongue, itching lips), digestive tract (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea), the skin (hives, rashes or eczema), and the airways (wheezing or breathing problems).

Repeated exposure to allergens starts sensitizing those who are susceptible. Cow's milk, eggs, wheat, and soy are the most common food allergies in children. An early peanut allergy may be lifelong. Adults usually are most affected by nuts, fish, shellfish, and peanuts.

Answer 7

It is a possibility that allergies can develope over time, so it wouldn't hurt to have him tested. . Another thing to consider with those symptoms is IBS or irritable bowell syndrome. . . certain foods/drinks trigger that as well

Answer 8

have they checked him for Chron's Disease?