View Full Version : afraid of anaphylaxis ... limited diet :(
hello everyone. my name is nikki and i'm 22.
i've had health anxieties ever since i was young, thanks to my maternal genes (i read that panic attacks have some genetic basis... both my grandmother and mother have them). unfortunately, my paternal genes have allergies, so here i am, the product = a person with hypochondria, anxiety attacks, and lots of allergies. ---___---
these past months, for some reason, i've been so afraid of having anaphylaxis from the foods i eat. based on the skin prick tests, i am allergic to chicken, shrimp, egg white, tomato, and many others. the foods i'm not allergic to include beef, pork, rice, oats, most vegetables, and most fruits.
these past weeks, i had been eating mostly pork, veggies, and rice. i had lost 9 pounds (so i'm now down to 103 pounds, my height is 5'6 btw, so i'm really underweight) and am feeling miserable.
i had read that a lot of the members here have also experienced this. can anyone please advise me?
the sad thing is that i live in a third-world country where there is no Epi-Pen. i have to go to a hospital to be injected epinephrine (if necessary), and that might take time depending on how far i am from the hospital.
any advice??
-nikki
nomorepanic
06-07-11, 09:47
Are you allergic to or sensitive to those foods?
Who did the tests?
Surely all you need to do is avoid those foods and make sure you read packaging carefully and prepare your own meals so you know what is in them?
I have never known anyone die of an allergic reaction but I do know of at least 5 people who have died of cancer :ohmy:
thank you for your reply, Nicola.
nope, i haven't had a reaction to those foods before. that's why it worried me that my tongue suddenly itched a while ago after eating those foods that i normally don't have a reaction to...
the tests were done by an allergologist in a nearby city who studied allergology and immunology in the United States...
i do read labels carefully and try to prepare my own food all the time but it's not always possible. some foods don't have labels (like foods from fastfoods, since those are supposedly 'trade secrets')...
the really scary thing for me about anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) is that you could be eating something all your life and suddenly become allergic to it. that's what scares me. :-(
i also know of more people who died from or have cancer than those who had anaphylaxis... but for some reason, i am more scared of anaphylaxis since it's sudden and could happen to anyone...
Hey Nikki allergies are horrible im allergic to all nuts, I have to carry around an epi-pen, The best advice i can give is just try not to worry about it stick to the foods you know, I know its limited but what can you do eh, Can you not get your hands on a few epi-pens? I find it so much easier eating something that ive never tried before knowing that ill be alright because i have an Epi-pen at home. Good luck
nomorepanic
06-07-11, 12:48
Hi again
You didn't answer my questions though.
thanks for your reply, toppo. i badly wish i could get an epi-pen but it's not currently available here in the Philippines...
if things get worse, i might fly to Singapore to consult an allergologist there and get prescribed with epi-pen. it's the nearest country with epi-pens.
aren't you scared that you'll develop new allergies though? i read that it's possible... i had been eating shrimps for years until one day, i felt dizzy, weak, and had difficulty breathing after eating it (that was years ago). so i know personally that you can suddenly become allergic to foods that were once okay...
Hey Nikki allergies are horrible im allergic to all nuts, I have to carry around an epi-pen, The best advice i can give is just try not to worry about it stick to the foods you know, I know its limited but what can you do eh, Can you not get your hands on a few epi-pens? I find it so much easier eating something that ive never tried before knowing that ill be alright because i have an Epi-pen at home. Good luck
nomorepanic
06-07-11, 17:30
I will just stay ignored then. Oh well
Hi Nicola. I replied to your questions in my post above. :)
Okay. I've read your concerns. It would interest you to know that actual food allergies, particularly those capable of inducing anaphylaxis, are extremely rare. When they are observed, it is typically in the very young or the very old. The food products you've mentioned, with the exception of shrimp, simply are not observed to cause the kind of reaction that concerns you.
You also need to realize that in nearly all cases of fears about allergic reaction, the person has based this premise strictly upon cause-and-effect thinking patterns. In other words, you ate shrimp and felt dizzy and ill. Due to a close proximity in time between eating and the outcome, you concluded that your response was an allergic one. This is not fact, but subjective reasoning. Your reaction could have actually arose from many causes and some having no relationship whatsoever to eating shrimp.
I would also strongly urge you to use caution in the consideration of maintaining an epi-pen at hand. Anaphylactic shock is not as easily diagnosed as you might ponder and the introduction of an epinephrine bolus (adrenaline) in the absence of shock will make you think twice before ever self-administering it again.
Despite these issues, the problem you are experiencing has little to do with the premise of food allergies and the threat they pose. The underlying problem here is making decisions or taking actions that may result in an uncontrollable and irreversible outcome. Such patterns often arise in the presence of significant anxiety and those experiencing the phenomenon typically mistrust their own decisions or actions and will describe either feeling apprehensive around loved ones due to urges that they might lose control and harm them, or alternatively undertake an action such as taking a pill or eating a food that might produce an unpredictable and dangerous reaction beyond their control to reverse it.
For persons experiencing such difficulty, there is a self-imposed delicate balance in daily life that must be maintained in order to avoid potential disaster or life-threatening circumstances. Potential danger always looms. The requirements in order to maintain this balance typically grow over time in order to reduce the anxiety relating to the actual underlying cause. In this instance, it is perceived that anaphylaxis can arise at any moment with no ability to anticipate or preclude it. Only within the hope of predetermination can disaster be avoided. All foods are suspect to a certain degree, as well as making preparations to have an epi-pen on hand to save one's life.
I'll share with you here that this sort of pattern can produce more than mere weight-loss and can sometimes result in rather desperate measures to feel safe, which is actually part of the actual underlying problem. You're in no real danger and frankly, raster tests are unreliable. The human body can mount an immune response to many substances introduced intradermally but this does not suggest or conclude that you will experience an elevated response such as anaphylaxis. It doesn't even clinically prove that you're actually allergic to the product.
The pattern described here is not uncommon and people with contamination fears demonstrate similar strivings. Early in its course, people generally avoid unclean areas, but soon become suspect that the vectors or routes of contamination have penetrated realms formerly thought to be clear of germs. As efforts to avoid contamination increase, patterns of potential for contamination become far more complex, oftentimes resulting in very elaborate methods to remain free of risk. As you can see, these patterns have a familiar theme and it arises from an origin associated with factors other than those surrounding the observed and stated case.
I was a physician and specialist for more than 40 years. You're at no risk of anaphylaxis whatsoever and your compelling need to prepare for such an event, combined with avoidance behaviors, is testimony to an underlying difficulty which is driving the outward circumstances to ever-increasing levels to feel safe. Do you understand the implication here? What you're worried about and your actions to prevent it are derived from a more fundamental difficulty which you are unable to confront and effectively resolve.
My suggestion is to seek out a professional trained and experienced in dealing with this type of problem. They can help you identify faulty thinking patterns and assist you with relying upon logical facts rather than subjective interpretations and irrational beliefs.
You'll be fine. This is not an uncommon presentation and with effective insight, you can identify the actual problem and overcome it. The fears relating to anaphylaxis will subsequently dissipate to the extent that normality is restored.
Best regards,
Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)
Thank you, Dr. Rutheford Rane. It's very kind of you to share your ideas about my issue...
It's reassuring. I'll copy your post and read it regularly to remind me of the facts.
There are at least 50+ users here in NMP who have the same fear as I do (anaphylaxis from food allergies). I know because I read all their posts, copied their usernames, and sent them a message. I hope they get to read this thread too and are as inspired as I am by your post...
Best regards,
Nikki
do you know if it is true that eating something often can make you allergic to it?
this is also one of my related worries. because i am avoiding the things i'm allergic to, i tend to eat a lot of those that i tested negative for.
-Nikki
allergyphobia
07-07-11, 09:34
Hello Nikki!
A great reply as usual from RLR.
Nikki, do you have any CBT available to you?
Why are epi-pens not available?
Have you been told the cause behind your allergies? Are they allergies, or intolerances? Did you get various symptoms which made you panic and then you had tests... how did you get diagnosed etc?
I have a condition called oral allergy syndrome, which is where certain raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts make my lips swell and tongue and roof of mouth itch. It has taken me a long time to realise I do not have the most serious version of this condition, and have previously only reacted to cherries, apples, onions and tomato raw. However when my anxiety started to flare up, I went to the extreme, thinking I was allergic to everything, living only on bread and water and losing a lot of weight.
You can look back over my threads to see how I slowly tackled my fears... I still have slip ups, worries and challenges but I am getting there one step at a time.
Allergies are not to be messed around with, but many people eat out with allergies and lead a normal life. I do not have an epi-pen either which unnerved me for a long time. But i carry benedryl round with me now which reassures me a lot.
I hope you find some great support in this site. Speak soon x
thanks for your reply, allergyphobia...
last year, i was able to get a copy of "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" by Lucinda Bassett. it's a CBT program and it helped me a lot in tackling my panic attacks.
epi-pens are not available here where i'm currently living (in the Philippines). the nearest country that offers it is Singapore (3 hours away by plane... but i'm scared of airplanes...)
i was not told the cause of my allergies besides the possibility of it being hereditary (most of my relatives from my father's side have allergies).
i will read your threads and hope to learn from them...
thanks again...
Hello Nikki!
A great reply as usual from RLR.
Nikki, do you have any CBT available to you?
Why are epi-pens not available?
Have you been told the cause behind your allergies? Are they allergies, or intolerances? Did you get various symptoms which made you panic and then you had tests... how did you get diagnosed etc?
I have a condition called oral allergy syndrome, which is where certain raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts make my lips swell and tongue and roof of mouth itch. It has taken me a long time to realise I do not have the most serious version of this condition, and have previously only reacted to cherries, apples, onions and tomato raw. However when my anxiety started to flare up, I went to the extreme, thinking I was allergic to everything, living only on bread and water and losing a lot of weight.
You can look back over my threads to see how I slowly tackled my fears... I still have slip ups, worries and challenges but I am getting there one step at a time.
Allergies are not to be messed around with, but many people eat out with allergies and lead a normal life. I do not have an epi-pen either which unnerved me for a long time. But i carry benedryl round with me now which reassures me a lot.
I hope you find some great support in this site. Speak soon x
anxiousjedi
26-03-15, 02:57
Interestingly enough I have gone over multiple forum posts with the same problem. All of which start with more or less the same thing. I absolutely hate this fear. It was developed for no reason. I've eaten every food without issue for years. Mine has gotten so bad that there aren't even any consistencies anymore. I've always suffered from anxiety, anywhere from cancer to brain tumors to heart problems and even appendicitis. This is the only one I can't kick. This is the only one that has eaten away at so many parts of my life.
I'm afraid of my favorite foods. I get just one (yes one) random hive for absolutely no reason. I've researched contradiction after contradiction after contradiction and I have even been to a GP. My GP said to my face, it is not food allergies. I asked over and over again and she confirmed. I've eaten all of the major 8 for years. The two that I'm even worried about the most (insert relative statistic site here) were thought impossible for a long time to develop after a young age.
This morning I got a hive on my face after eating macaroni and cheese(I can actually still feel it, so I'm trying to convince myself it's a bug bite.) My girlfriend had 3! (both getting allergic to food at the same time? /sarcasm) I have another hive on my arm now. Why? I don't know. It is truly driving me crazy. I think this is one thing that cannot be kicked until I just don't care enough. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that's possible.
When I say I get a hive for no reason. I truly mean no reason. I've tested. I get hive(again, almost never plural, if plural at max 4) when:
I shower (water source and duration irrelevant, warm or cold, only shows after drying)
I roughhouse
I wash my hands (water source and duration irrelevant, only shows after drying)
During the day before I've eaten anything at all (I've tested morning, noon, and night)
It is 100% inconsistent with food too.
The only common denominator is being stressed out during all these times.
My GP says she sporadically breaks out in certain spots for no reason too. And all of that being said, all the reasoning and research I have applied and repeated to myself again and again and again are not enough to kick this. Nothing feels like enough. The golden standard for a food allergy test is an oral challenge. (LOL the most effective way to see if you're truly allergic is to eat it). At least according to a few years old study. This is truly getting ridiculous. I don't know what to do or where to turn. Forum after forum after forum. Google has become a catalyst for my terror. Nobody (other than those who are all going through the same thing of course) understands, which is fine. I actually don't need someone to understand. I don't even think I need someone to even read this. I just need to type this out, I need to relay how helpless I feel to someone, or even something that hasn't heard it a million times before. This is simply the worst fear I've ever had. And the worst part to me, is that I feel as though it is my inferiority as a human being that is keeping me from moving past it. In a, only the strong survive type way. Like ultimately, deep down, there is nothing I can do but sit and suffer because I'm not strong enough to fight it.
I sincerely hope everyone in this thread kicks this. I'm not even sure why I picked this thread, but it's got just as many people parading the same ridiculous fear as any other, so why not. Here's to being tired of being scared, and tired. I think now I'm going to go have a beer. Someone mentioned to me today that they'd be afraid if I went and got an allergy panel done and something came back positive that I'd let it ruin my life. Even if menial. Of course, wheat was the example that they used. So wheat is my current fear. And dairy of course, because it's my absolute favorite. Okay, I think I'm done now. Thanks for reading.
TL;DR - I'm crazy. Needed to write it all down. Friends and family irritated about hearing this so much. Relates to this subject. Had to vent, sorry.
Edit 2: Also, aware this is old. Sorry for bringing it back.
hi, anxiousjedi. believe it or not, i understand how you feel. :-)
it's been four years. wow. my diet has expanded compared to before, but i am still afraid of my allergies; hence, i have not eaten out (restaurants) for around 5 years now except for 4 fastfood chains (Wendy's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and a local fastfood) and even in those 4 places, i can eat only 1 or 2 types of food. oh well.
i try to look at it in a positive light. i am quite healthier and leaner compared to most people around my age, and i think it's because i cook my meals nearly all of the time. i also get to save a lot of money. :-)
in your case, it sounds like you are anxious of your hive/s yet you eat foods without any fear. besides hives, you've got no other symptoms? lucky you.
my throat feels tight, my heart races, and i feel short of breath whenever i eat certain foods (which i've avoided like the plague since years ago). sounds like anaphylaxis to me. at least you're not as unfortunate as i. :-)
Hi Nikki,
This was literally my life five years ago. I do still have some minimal anxiety around particular 'high risk' foods (things that I am actually allergic to), but otherwise I am able to eat anything and everything without anxiety and panic. I don't know if you've been in the phobia section and read the allergy phobia thread, but there have been quite a few members on here over the years dealing with similar anxieties. There may be some helpful advice/tips in there. I haven't looked for a while so I'm not entirely sure. http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=72538
My advice would be to seek some more support for this, although I know that might be hard given where you live. The best thing would be to talk to your doctor and see if there is anything they can do to help you out. Maybe they can refer you for counselling or CBT with a therapist?
anxiousjedi
03-04-15, 03:23
Well Nikki_8, yeah those are my only symptoms now. Though, what bothers me is that before I was significantly more terrified of everything yet there were no symptoms or evidence. Now I've got my research all mixed up. For example if I don't touch dairy or wheat for a day or so, I have no hives but I also am significantly less stressed as I am aware I am safe. Though I can eat an entire pan of macaroni and cheese and get a hive or two the next day (all within a 48 hour time frame). It is driving me more crazy than it is making sense. Admittedly though, with how inaccurate medical information is on adult onset allergies (notably because of how rare it is) there isn't much information out there that I can form a confident understanding of, which is allowing me to remain calm. One of the biggest things for me is that I don't always have a reaction after eating, but sometimes can have a hive or two show up on days I haven't eaten for 19+ hours. It feels so debilitating. Almost like my body is messing with me. Three cheers for losing weight though I suppose...
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