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Lyme and allergic reaction

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Posted 11/8/2011 12:36 PM (GMT -5)
Hi all,

I've been on this support forum for awhile, and never posted (I read a lot!), but I haven't come across this subject yet......

I have had lyme/babesiosis for at least 5 years now; could be longer, I'm not too sure on that.  That's when the majority of my symptoms showed up anyway!  Started going to a LLMD, and taking ABX last year in May.  After a month of ABX for the babesiosis, I drank a small glass of soymilk and had an immediate anaphyalatic reaction: extreme itching all over, swelling of my face and throat, drop in blood pressure, the whole thing.  After a trip to the ER and visits to an allergist, they could not figure out why I had the reaction.  I was tested for soy, which we all thought was my allergy, but it was not.  I had eaten walnuts and almonds that morning as well, so they tested me for that and came up with "tree nut allergy".  I now carry an Epi-pen with me at all times.

My question is:  I am EXTREMELY afraid of taking my alternative treatments (Chinese herbs, ByronWhite formulas, etc) because of my tree nut allergy.  My new LLMD (since last month) could not tell me whether I would have a reaction to this treatment, and I have been delaying taking these herbs because of my fear.  She recommended I take the herbs during the day, with someone near, in case of a bad reaction!  Needless to say, that did not reassure me at all! 

Has anyone else been in this situation and could give me some good advice?  I am at a loss as to what to do.....the fear is overwhelming because my allergic reaction was so horrible last year.  I need to do something about my Lyme and babs; this waiting is not helping me get better....I am doing nothing but taking vitamin supplements (and detox baths)

Sinthia

 

Posted 11/8/2011 1:05 PM (GMT -5)
HI Thia!
Welcome to the forum!! I didn't have the opportunity to welcome you until you posted!!! Have you checked out our "New to Lyme?" thread? It's got a ton of info and some really great links!

I sure don't blame you for not wanting to do a repeat performance!!! The other thing is that the stress of waiting to see if you reacted could actually bring on a reaction like that! So I don't believe the "take it and see what happens" approach is a good one for you either! Your doc doesn't know if the things that she is giving to you has any tree nuts in them or have been processed in the same area as tree nuts? That's not good. If you are getting things that are made elsewhere, like the Byron White formulas, I would call the company and ask them directly. You should be able to find the name of the company somewhere on the product and if they don't have contact info listed there as well, then google them.

You can also find out where each of the herbs that your doc is prescribing is purchased from and can get the info on how to contact them as well to ask the same thing - are those herbs a product of or processed around the same area as tree nuts are. If you explain that you have a severe allergy to them, I think most people would be very understanding and will want to help you get the info you need.

Hopefully someone else will be along shortly to give you some more ideas on some things that you can do as well!

Hang in there! That's the beauty of this group - if they can help, they will!!
Posted 11/8/2011 1:51 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the welcome, Traveler! Yes, I have been on here awhile and I read almost every day, so I don't know why it took me so long to get on here and ask for help! I have to blame the "lyme brain", I guess. Just not as sharp as I used to be, unfortunately.

I have gotten so much great information from this place. I would have never known about detoxing and how important it is!

As for my severe allergic reaction, I am 47 years old and nothing like that has ever happened to me before. My allergist had wondered if those high-dose abx, plus eating the walnuts and almonds that day triggered the reaction. So now I am also nervous about the abx as well. More than likely my immune system was just overloaded and went wacko for awhile, but that reaction scared me beyond reason. And you know us Lymies have anxiety issues already!!!!

Sinthia
Posted 11/8/2011 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
I know about those anxiety issues all too well!!! LOL! I'm 48 and just went through a really bad time with a pinched nerve that gave me the same exact symptoms of a heart attack! smhair Scared the bejeebers out of me right now!!!

I believe that it's really hard to understand some things when Lyme and other TBI's are involved - especially for those of us that have those lovely long standing chronic infections. The body has been making do for so long that it forgets how to react in a "normal" way - but that's just my thinking! LOL!

We do know that these infections all by themselves overwhelm the immune system, so your allergist was right, even though s/he may not understand much about Lyme! They are such complex infections!

I really hope that you can get some information that will enable you to feel comfortable with your treatments soon! It's pretty important that you start treatment.
Posted 10/16/2019 8:24 AM (GMT -5)
Skyehi,

ABX is the abbreviation for antibiotics. Look up MCAS. There are many posts here on that. Lyme/coinfections as well as their treatment and also mold exposure can trigger MCAS which can cause allergic type symptoms.

Has your husband been to an allergist and had a full panel of allergy testing done? If not and you have insurance, it wouldn’t be a bad idea, IMO. Allergy testing will confirm or eliminate IGe mediated allergy. MCAS is a different issue.

Ticks can also cause alpha-gal allergy. Look that up.
Posted 10/16/2019 8:51 PM (GMT -5)
Allergies aren't everything, I am highly intolerant of corn but don't have an allergy. I agree it's MCAS/histamine-related. Soy is highly inflammatory and allergenic anyway.
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