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1462810 tn?1327360449

Recovering from drug reaction - allergies gone wild

I'm just getting over a severe drug eruption from Keflex (extent and condition made dermatologists at Duke's Dermatology Acute Care Clinic gasp).  I suspect that it was eating foods new to me that I was allergic to that made the reaction happen - trying to get healthy, turns out I cannot eat seeds - sesame, sunflower, flax.  

My problem is now EVERY allergy is on high alert AND I cannot take any of the meds I have taken for years because I am having rebound symptoms that are worse than what I take the medicine for.  This includes my antihistamine (Singulair) - if I take it, within three days I am laying in bed barely able to move with my mouth uncontrollably hanging open.  Taking Benedryl (50mg) four times a day for five days resulted in a full-blown nervous breakdown (been there, done that - definitely not my first) so I won't take that again.  

I have had multiple allergies for many years - skin-test confirmed, I am allergic to almost everything I was tested for, foods and inhalents.  On the intial skin ***** challenge, before the skin tests, I hit on 30 out of 36.  Allergy shots helped a tiny bit at first, but after 1-1/2 years I was taking two shots (foods and inhalents) every two days with little effect except that I was looking and feeling like a pincushion.  Finally tried my first antihistamine (why was this not suggested first???) and it helped a lot, so quit taking shots and went through prolonged trials of several antihistamines before settling on the Singulair.  

My question is:  What can I do to quiet things down?  Seems like everything I eat causes trouble.  
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1462810 tn?1327360449
Yes, I know that pain under the left rib - it started after I had a grossly infected gallbladder removed and was quite a problem until I realized that it was aggravated by ingested iodine.  After I quit using iodized salt and started avoiding eating out (more iodized salt) it has not been a problem, just occasionally.  It is apparently not all forms of ingestible iodine, because a multi-mineral supplement I take has iodine and it does not cause the same problem.  Also, I love seafood and no problem with that.  

So, heavy metal poisoning causes immune dysfunction?  I'm just at the beginning of learning about this.  I just saw an endocrinologist who said that he thinks my problems are immune-related.  Still, he is going to test my hormones before sending me on to an immunologist.  When I was ten years old I accidently broke a small thermometer and played with the mercury in my hands for some time.  Until a few years ago I had a mouth FULL of mercury fillings - I had them removed but have not found a doctor who will take me through chelating specifically for mercury - and you read the scariest things about bad reactions to chelating agents.  Some years ago an elderly friend's house's interior paint was always peeling, regardless of repeated priming and painting.  I used a heat gun to slowly peel all that old paint off the walls.  I didn't realize that I was exposing myself heavily to inhaling the lead fumes from the very old paint.  

My best hope at the moment lies with a doctor who helped me thirty years ago.  He's a chiropractor who used that profession as a base while he dedicated his life to pursuing biochemistry and molecular medicine.  He used his knowledge to help people determine what nutritional supplements would be the most help, but it bothered him that there was too much to remember to make the most use of the blood tests he could have done.  So he bought a Radio Shack Tandy computer and hired a programmer to put his research into a program, through which he could run test results to better effect.  My company insurance at that time paid for it all.  I stopped crying and stuttering and being an anxious wreck.  He literally gave me back my sanity.  

I had heard he was dead, many years ago, but I got online this winter and searched -  and found him.  He is semi-retired in Florida, but still giving everything he's got to his research, including seminars and conferences, and to keeping the programs (re-written with each new computer OS) up-to-date.  There are now two programs - the first one takes an extensive family and personal medical history and combines it with current symptomatology to produce a list of blood tests most likely to give relevant results.  The second takes the results and produces a report of: what foods to eat, what foods NOT to eat, what supplements to take (dose, frequency), even what lifestyle changes to make.  All based on solid research through the latest studies.  He does most of his work long-distance, with the few people who know he exists.  His name is Michael Swiller, in Kenneth City, Florida.  It's expensive, there can be quite a few tests, and this time my insurance is not as good and does not cover it.  My family doctor (who has done his best to help me and knows what medicines do to me) is very interested in the results and has helped by ordering some of the tests so that they are being covered by my insurance.  I should be getting the last of the tests this month and the results by November.  (It doesn't usually take this long... I've been sick and there have been other tie-ups.)  Then I've got to get the supplements and make the dietary changes recommended and give them time to take effect.  Needless to say I am impatient for this to happen.  

Two of the problems I have are menopausal hot flashes (with concommittant chills) and urinary frequency, both of which (in combination with aches and pains) cost me most of my sleep.  Oddly enough, I recently found by accident that apples help with the hot flashes/chills, and that pears help with the urinary frequency.  Unfortunately, I don't like apples or pears - I just force them down.  

As for the allergies, I was losing weight way too fast, so I had to resume eating things even though they bother.  I try to rotate foods, eating as little of the things that bother most as possible.  I have a rough idea of which foods give the most and worst symptoms.  

When I feel up to sitting here for a while I am going to check this website for their immunology forum, if there is one.  

Hope something here helps you.  
God bless.  
Helpful - 0
1476867 tn?1287477799
you are the first person i have found who seems as intollerant as me, i have only been able to eat about 5 things for about two and a half years, if i try the slightest variation i get a range of nasty effects,i am now finding it hard to keep weight on as i just cant eat, ive begged the doctors for her but they dont ever seem to suggest anything helpful im going to have a gastroendoscapy (hope i spelt it right) this month as i have bad pains under my left lower rib too, i reprted this about 3 years ago but was just told im worrying about nothing...my life is reduced to avoiding everything its so depressing and scary, i cant tolerate any drugs to help myself, i even had to perform a small operation at home to remove a lump from my arm which the hospital wouldnt touch without anaesthetic...there must be more people out there suffering from what seems to be some sort of degenerative immunity disorder, i have been proactive in trying to find help, i have been writing studies on the subjects of allergy/auto immune problems and mental illness as personality (i feel) may have an underlying link to immunity and allergic conditions, i pray that one day we solve the riddle of health in the human body as chronic ill health and pain are a heavy burden for so many...i know its not just me living in discomfort, it seems to me to always happen to the nicest people too...:o( from sarz

if anyone wants to email me with solutions, theories and ideas please do ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I dont know how to find a allergist who is also an immunologist but Im seeing one right now for my extremely rare disease and she helped me alote, Im trying different types of meds right now.
Helpful - 0
1462810 tn?1327360449
Thank you.  You mentioned cyclosporine - it was the cyclosporine Keflex that I reacted to.  

After my experience with the first allergist I haven't been keen to try again.  I thought all they dealt with was allergy shots!  At least, he never suggested anything else - not even an antihistamine, that was my idea.  My husband was happy when I quit seeing him because he didn't like the way the doctor spent most of the few moments he spent with me looking at his gold-Kugerand-faced watch and trying to get up to leave.  

Allergies are a terrible fact of life for me.  Last night I finally yielded to craving for something crunchy and carbohydrate, and ate a couple of my housemate's graham crackers.  I spent the entire night suffering from hip joint pain.  Won't do that again.  Chips and crackers are out, I react to corn, potatoes, wheat and, so far, most if not all vegetable oils.  Also, salt causes increased craving for sugar.  

In addition I am chemically sensitive to so many things - I can't get near bleach without feeling terribly ill - also gasoline, household cleansers, anything of new construction (paint, carpets, furniture) and many hygiene products.  

I guess there's another allergist in my future.  Thanks for the spur to action.  

How do I find an allergist who is also an immunologist?  

Kathryn
Helpful - 0
1355118 tn?1298564879
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi, your symptoms are suggestive of allergic reaction secondary to food allergy.  There are has been no cure for the recurrent allergic reaction but with some precautions and medications it can be prevented. Your body is known to hypersensitive to certain foods. I suggest you to identify external triggers like food, also with concomitant medication, or topical allergen.

Medications like H1 receptor blockers, H2 receptor blockers, Glucocorticoids and Cyclosporine after consultation from immunologist/physician will help to alleviate the relapse. Avoiding the food you are allergic to, will be one of the greatest challenges you need to go through. The anti histamines is known to cause sedation hence minimum effective dose and less frequent dosing (effective) should be employed. I suggest you to consult allergy specialist. Take care and regards.

Helpful - 0
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