Are my symptoms due to food intolernace? Should i spend out to get an intolerance test?
Posted by: admin / Category: food intolerance testHi all. Im a little confused and was wondering if anyone can help. I am contemplating doing a food intolerance test through York Test, however its quite expensive (£240) and if not even sure if i should do it. I have been suffering from IBS for over 10 years, sleep problems and now itchy skin which has become unbearable , especially at night. My doctor put the itching down to a histamine problem, however the antihistamines prescribed do little to help. They should work all day but i get relief for a maximum of 3 hours. My IBS has been quite severe for a long time, nausea, acid, diarrhea, constipation, weight gain/weight loss, gas etc…. I have tried varying pills and techniques to help with my sleep problems too, to some degree some methods have helped, however its still a reacurring problem. Does anyone know anything about food intolerances and their symptoms and if so, is the York Test woth paying for? Or do you think these symtoms are not due to food intolerances?
Thanks for all your help
Thanks for that info guys…Yes i have had a celiac test, the doctor said it was negative. So that’s a relief. He put the itching down to my histamine levels being too high. But i have read a lot of stuff about food intolerance and some foods can create high levels of histamines, so i was thinking maybe all my symptoms are related to food intolerance.
Have you been tested for celiac disease yet? With a rash that will not respond to antihistamines then you really need to look into it. Your doctor can order a blood screening test for it, so it should be covered by your health care coverage.
Once you have that done, you can try the elimination diet method to see if you can pinpoint exactly what is bothering you but it takes patience and determination. What you do is you start with one carb and one protein and eat that for one week only (say quiona and chicken) and then add one food every 5 days or so to see how you react to it (or not). Gluten intolerance is tricky though (celiac disease) because it will take MONTHS, if not years for you to feel better.. so do try to make the elimination diet gluten and wheat free for at least 5 months to see if you improve any. Add milk, soy, and casein last though as they are common food intolerances as well (though celiac is different as it is an autoimmune condition).
Honestly, if you have not been tested for celiac I would do so asap.
Go here for pictures of the rash:
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/Md/dermnet/dermatitisherpetiformis.html
Sorry for the thumbs down, but ..No! NO! NO to the above answerer..it is ok in theory, but bad advice when it comes to food allergies, etc.. especially about the oatmeal (cross contaminated with gluten, plus many people have avenin issues), and wheat (one of the top 5 allergens) and other gluten containing grains!!! Avoid the top 5 allergens plus gluten when trying to figure out dietary issues (soy, lactose, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts) gluten isn’t included as an allergen because it is usually associated with celiac which is an autoimmune disease.
August 1st, 2009 at 4:59 am
Read Dr. Fuhrman’s books, Eat to Live and Eat for Health:
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Revolutio…
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Health-Weight-…
Make vegetables the main dish of lunch and dinner and eat primarily fruit for breakfast. In all cases eat all you can and all you want to of nutrient dense raw vegetables and fruit except limit starch to one serving a day [oatmeal, whole wheat pasta or bread, potatoes, whole grain or wild rice, etc.]. Eat at least 50% raw fruits and vegetables and most of the more nutrient dense selections like dark green lettuce, romaine, Swiss chard, spinach, etc. Remember: THE SALAD IS THE MAIN DISH. For maximum effectiveness eliminate all animal foods. Don’t eat anything that is processed or that contains additives or oils of any kind. Don’t drink fruit juice - eat the whole fruit instead.
Read the books to get all the details and the motivation you need.
Make at least a 6 week commitment and then the results will give you the motivation to keep going.
It’s not just about losing weight - It’s about being healthy just as much.
References :
August 1st, 2009 at 5:37 am
Have you been tested for celiac disease yet? With a rash that will not respond to antihistamines then you really need to look into it. Your doctor can order a blood screening test for it, so it should be covered by your health care coverage.
Once you have that done, you can try the elimination diet method to see if you can pinpoint exactly what is bothering you but it takes patience and determination. What you do is you start with one carb and one protein and eat that for one week only (say quiona and chicken) and then add one food every 5 days or so to see how you react to it (or not). Gluten intolerance is tricky though (celiac disease) because it will take MONTHS, if not years for you to feel better.. so do try to make the elimination diet gluten and wheat free for at least 5 months to see if you improve any. Add milk, soy, and casein last though as they are common food intolerances as well (though celiac is different as it is an autoimmune condition).
Honestly, if you have not been tested for celiac I would do so asap.
Go here for pictures of the rash:
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/Md/dermnet/dermatitisherpetiformis.html
Sorry for the thumbs down, but ..No! NO! NO to the above answerer..it is ok in theory, but bad advice when it comes to food allergies, etc.. especially about the oatmeal (cross contaminated with gluten, plus many people have avenin issues), and wheat (one of the top 5 allergens) and other gluten containing grains!!! Avoid the top 5 allergens plus gluten when trying to figure out dietary issues (soy, lactose, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts) gluten isn’t included as an allergen because it is usually associated with celiac which is an autoimmune disease.
References :
I am a celiac who was told for 12 YEARS that she had IBS and lactose intolerance. If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone! Also, do you get canker sores, migraines, restless leg, fatigue, insomnia, epigastric pain, hair loss, weak nails, and the list goes on? It could be one, or none of these and still be celiac. Some people I know only found out b/c a sibling was diagnosed..totally asymptomatic! Celiac can be very, very tricky! Good luck and I wish you the best!