If you have MS: Do you have any food allergies? (leave specifics in comment)

I'm allergic to cats, and also seem to be developing seasonal allergies. I'm also allergic to housework :-)

got allergy shot until high school when my allergist said there was nothing else he could do for me. (He was also a cousin.) I lived on antihistamines growing up. I had to rely on them 'til I began to use an inhaled steroid, a precusor to the Flonase I now use. My airborne allegies haven't bothered me since then. ELISA tests I had done after my dx with MS indicated I was allergic to almost every food in our western diet. (The only beverage I was not allergic to was aloe vera juice!) For some time I tried to live by the indications of the ELISA tests but since I continued to have relapses I try to keep as varied a diet as possible. For me, Betaseron seemed to have stabilized my MS. I did have an attack after beginning this therapy but Dr. Coyle explained it hadn't had time to reach a therapeutic dosage by th time the attack was already brewing so I persevered until I changed to Copaxone a year ago last November. I had also changed MS docs, from Dr. Coyle to Dr. Macaluso who was nearer to my home but I switched back to Dr. Coyle because she'd ben my doctor for so long & pretty much let me guide my therapy and the specter of PML frightened me so much that I wasn't willing to chance it. I plan to stay on Copaxone and have my stabilty or progress measure by MRI.

With classic food allergy, there's an autoimmune reaction that can show in bloodwork. I have recently developed that type of reaction to soy, eggs, gluten. Apart from that I have a variety of symptoms in response to quite a number of other foods. In Spring 2004, the food intolerance spiked, and then I developed for the first time, some intense reactions to a variety of airborne chemicals. And borderline low thyroid became very low thyroid. In Summer 2005, first MS symptoms appeared. followed by optic neuritis and MS diagnosis Sept 2005. (I realize this is a bit off topic, but only if you think these things are unrelated!)

None to any food that I know of. But, I was allergic to certain types of grasses when I was young. I 'grew out of it' though. I used to react pretty awfully when I would do yardwork--stuffed up, sneezing, throat tightened, got very lethargic. Nowadays . . . no reaction at all. Read this next part carefully. Some foods SEEM like an allergic reaction (for ME)--itchy tongue and mouth, throat a little sore or inflamed--but it's actually a reaction to the potassium in some types of fruit.

I've never been allergic to anything in my life. One day while walking around the pesticide section of Home Depot I have an allergic reaction to something and end up in the hospital. That started a chain reaction of events that led up to the diagnosis of MS about a year later.

I do not have allergies but do have sensitivity to smells. (allergic rhinitis) Anything can cause sneezing, running nose, coughing or watery eyes. I was checked for allergies and don't have any.

In retrospect, since my original diagnosis I have started having some allergic (minor) reactions to meds. I had taken both amoxicillin and percocet before with no problems, but in the past 2 years have been having serious itching ( no hives). Amoxicillin was hives and itching ( and generally feeling as though I had been hit by a bus). Haven't taken amoxycillin in 4 yrs but the percocet/vicodin thing is kind of annoying. I have had a few ( 2 in a year an a half) incidents with copaxone. The first was when I first started, I had a big welt on the injection site ( my butt). It was red and itchy as hell. I traced it in lip liner ( yes I threw the lip liner away after), took a benadryl and watched it for an hr. It didn't get worse, so I went to bed. The second was worse, it involved a great deal of itching, and I took more benadryl- but I realized that it was because my shot went IM instead of sub Q. I could tell by the soreness. It was deep and it lasted for days. I hope I never have a problem with copaxone, but it is not surprising, given that it is designed to elicit an immune response.

Never allergic to anything while growing up in the Northeast. Had terrible reaction to red ant bite required hospitalization (throat closed) in 1989 as an adult living in Southeast.Thinking back I believe I had MS without formal diagnosis due to numbness and leg problems that couldn't be explained. MS diagnosis 10 years later after ant bite presented with optic problem.Was given IV drugs to correct my eye problem, but had a terrible reaction to that... ending up with needing surgery for stomach bleed and required 10 days in the hospital! Tried Betaseron shortly after being told I had MS for one year couldn't tolerate site injections and didn't see much difference, been off maintance for @ seven years. I have some problems with MS issues but I try very hard to think positive and not let anything get in my way!

Up until two and half years ago (when I was diagnosed), I was very happy that I remained "allergy-free".

Since diagnosis in Sept. 2004, none of my suspected food allergies are confirmed by traditional testing, however the subtle language of the body speaks for itself... Running nose, stuffiness, and sometimes sneezing along with a "groggy" feeling after eating certain foods are alerts to possible food allergies.

I've been reading as much material as possible and consult with naturopathic/homeopathic experts. Findings indicate there are certain foods which irritate and even exacerbate autoimmune conditions (my personal conclusions are that MS is one big "kick-ass" allergy).

Foods I avoid: ALL dairy, ALL foods made with or containing Gluten, ALL foods made with or containing Hydrogenated Fats, Iodized Salt

Foods I limit and/or avoid: Meat (excluding Fish), eggs,
and sugar.

Why?

Dairy is a common cause of allergies, otherwise named Inflammation.

Gluten compromises the digestive system, particularly the intestinal tract where the immune system is most affected. The immune system in all people with MS is already waging war internally without further weakening it "intentionally".

Hydrogenated Fats & Oils are just plain "evil" and NO ONE should consume them.

Meat & Eggs are mostly avoided because of the toxins and hormones injected into livestock to "pump up" growth or productivity. These toxins again compromise the immune system. "Organic Meat" although not the best choice for regular diet options is "okay" occasionally.

Table Salt or iodized salt has been over-processed, leaving it devoid of minerals and fraught with unnecessary additives. To insure my body receives Iodine, I take Kelp supplements each day and use only Sea Salt for flavouring when desired.

Sugar is "over-refined" empty calories and there are adequate sugars available naturally from fruits and vegetables.

There are also some schools of thought which recommend an "Anti-Inflammatory" Diet, which limits or eliminates entirely foods belonging to the "Nightshade" group. Two Nightshade foods I limit but sometimes enjoy are Tomatoes and Potatoes.

I found this resource to be helpful:
http://www.direct-ms.org/recommendations.html
(Although the recommedations here include avoidance of legumes including beans and peas, as yet I'm not quite sure that I agree with this.)

Partial list of foods I eat without reaction and recommend include:
Rice Milk (NOT Soy)
Goat Cheese
Wild (NOT Farmed) Salmon
Almonds
Gluten-Free cereal
Flax Seed and Hemp Hearts
All leafy green and cruciferous vegetables
Other vegetables including carrots, celery, onions, sea vegetables, alfalfa sprouts etc.
All fruits (with emphasis on any belonging to the berry family such as blueberries, rasberries, blackberries)
Miso (added uncooked to other foods for flavouring)
Turmeric

I eat 50% raw, 50% cooked foods.

A Healthy Diet is truly essential to nourish not aggravate the body. I cannot stress this point enough.

The word 'allergy' is seen differently depending on one's background. Some use the word only for the type of response of sneezing or hives. The orthomolecular group tend more to see that ANY unwanted reaction which at least usually is reproducible could be seen as an allergy (as I understand and recall it).

So, the regular docs say that I don't have food allergies, and that I 'outgrew' very bad 'hay fever' of my younger days.

But, in continual reproducible professional testing over perhaps 15-20 years, over and over my M.S. symmptoms got worse from discovered substances -- including many foods, pollens, chemicals, molds, and ah yes, even hormones.
And on the treatment that they used, oftentimes the symptoms disappeared; that was sure nice! Unfortunately I can't afford the treatment any more, as my insurance doesn't cover it.

I tend to use the word 'sensitivity' so an not to mislead folks who know only the 'regular' medicine practiced here. though as far as I am concerned, my reactions are allergic ones.

No allergies to any foods, but I was just diagnosed with allergies to seasonal grasses and trees, to dust mites, and to cats. The cats allergy surprised me, as I grew up with them and currently have two. The allergy specialist said that I probably developed that allergy when I was in college and didn't have daily contact with the furry ones. I knew that college was a mistake!

Saw the comments on Copaxone...I was on that for seven months after my first exacerbation and then broke through with another episode. After that, the neuros offered me Cytoxan with Solumedrol, as they felt I was progressing rapidly (began needing a cane after 2nd episode). I became allergic to the solumedrol after several doses--positive skin test, as well as to solucortef. I am OK with decadron, but concerned that I could develop allergy to that too. I'm also reacting to the Cytoxan, though it doesn't react on a skin test.

No new food allergies--had none before diagnosis. I do think that there might very well be a connection between MS and allergies--both are ways in which your immune system is doing something it shouldn't.

After I was diagnosed with RRMS in Dec 2005, my primary care physician suggested I get tested for allergies, as her resources suggested there *might* be a link. (Plus I had been on and off of Nasonex and Sudafed for years for seasonal allergies, had horrendous sneezing episodes before my first MS attack, and I always knew I was allergic to cats and dogs, based on my reaction around them and after touching them.)

For my tests for year-round allergies, I was allergic to everything (mold, dust mites, dogs, cats, feathers, cockroaches). I now take allergy shots twice a week to combat these.

For my food allergy tests and subsequent food elimination/challenge diet, the food that bothered me most was wheat, oranges and caffeine. I had minor issues with dairy.

Through additional testing, we also found that I have a gluten intolerance gene, so I'm off gluten for the rest of my life.

No allergies to any medicine.

I've been on Copaxone ("C") since Jan 2006, and am in the midst of my 1st flare up since being on C (my last flare up was Nov 2005). As I type, I'm waiting to get the results back from an MRI to see what's going on (had my last MRI Oct 2005). Hoping we'll get some evidence that C is working: I'd be disappointed if I had to switch to another drug with side effects that C doesn't have.

i have no food allergies however i have a pretty severe nickel allergy. contact dermatitis from any base metal in jewelry, belt buckles, watchbands, rivets in jeans.

is this something which occurs frequently in ms?

I have several food allergies all with one common thread, each type of food has a high iron content i.e. liver, spinach, brussel sprouts...etc. Each one of them gets me violently ill(throw-up), even the most minute particle can cause a reaction, Had prime rib which was kept in a walk-in just sitting on liver...waste of good prime rib

I tested negative to food allergies. However, there are foods that worsened my MS symptoms. The bottomline is that foods that are acid forming in the body worsened my MS symptoms while foods that are alkali forming quieted my MS symptoms. NO SUGAR. Also, a diet rich in colorful foods like berries, veges, and so on, are a rich source of antioxidants which protect from free radicals, important. Notice I am saying acid FORMING and alkali FORMING. A tomato is acid but alkali forming in the body and bright in color, therefore good. I am essentially symptom free now and improving. This diet controled my symtoms (along with Inosine) and finally a therapy treating Nanobacterium sanguineum has stopped my MS and symptoms are out of my awareness.

I had no allergies as a child. I suddenly developed an allergy to chocolate when I was 18, then an allergy to marijuana in my mid-20s (ah, the 20s), then dairy became a huge no-no when I was 31. Initially, my "allergic" symptom was vomiting and diarrhea, followed by migraines with aura. Over time, with all these allergies, the vomiting and diarrhea stopped being symptoms, and all I have as part of my reaction is nausea, feeling "out of it" and confused, lack of coordination, and migraines with aura but no head pain. Six weeks ago part of my left hand went numb, in the middle of a bunch of migraines with no known trigger. I've been confused, exhausted, very clumsy... my hand is still numb. I'm now a little less exhausted and feeling more *with it* now, but it's been a rough spring. I seem to be developing a sensitivity to the sun... the last three times I was in the sun, I ended up with a large hivey rash over the exposed areas. I had an MRI yesterday, checking for MS. I could have the results as early as tomorrow. I have "allergies" with neurological symptoms but no itching and sneezing, and I'm fitting the description for MS... I suppose I really shouldn't be participating here because I'm not diagnosed, but I thought my experience thus far was relevant anyway. I'm a 36 year old female of Danish descent, with a brother who had MS. Can we say demographic profile? >pout<

Hi, I suffer from celiac disease so i'm allergic to foods that contain gluten.

-Darren

I have read a lot about patients with MS having food alergies. I don't know if I'm alergic to certain types of foods but I want to find out. My doctor looked at me funny when I asked him about it. Is there somewhere I can go to get this done or can I request it without my doctors consent? Any advice helpful.

I'm sure I could just ask again. He may have not realized what I was asking or saying that I want it.

Several 'Posters" have commented that certain types of food or pharmacuticals can compromise the immune system, which they have cited as a bad thing for am MS patient.
I am just trying to reconcile that with two things that I have heard and learned about MS.

First - the dubious claim that MS is an Autoimune disease - i.e. an overactive immune system that attacks mylen, t-cells, etc. If that is indeed true - possible, but no where near certain in my mind, it would seem to indicate that a supression in the immune system would not be a bad thing for those of us with MS. Of course the allergic side effects might not be worth it...

Second, a common and often effective treatment for exacerbations is a course of steroids, like solumedrol or prednisone, both of which supress the immune system to allow the MS patient to recover from inflamation caused by the immune sustem. Again this speaks to a benefit on MS affects though a supression of the immune system.

So I am having trouble understanding the line of thinking that an allergen that would supress the immune system, and (my inference) lead to a lessening of inflamation and lesser likelihood of an exacerbation would be a bad thing for am MS patient. Can anyone explain the line of thought made in the prior posting on this topic?

As an allergy sufferer myself I have to say I would not wish allergies on anyone, however I have never seen any direct link or causal relationaship between my allergy and my MS symptoms.

Leona

I am not sure about the food allergies, or any new ones. I have a few. But what I have nituiced is, I have all kinds of mew medicine allergies.

Pre diagnosis: Morphine only

Now: Morphine, Astalin, depakote, wellburtin (Generic), Avonex )interferons), Lunesta, copaxone, Possibly neurontin, Effexor, Zoloft,

Concerned about Solumedrol and Prednisone. Got some bad reactions after a 3 day infusion, mostly sores in my mouth, buring. Predsisone that had alot of mouth sores too, and more areas of my body burning.

Has anyone else had the sores in the mouth from solumedrol infusion, I haev heard that several do, and how long should it take to be gone, if ever.

Can the allergy reactions also include medication sensativieties be all related in MS, and how the body reacts to it?

I have been on just about all the MS therapies. All to no avail. Avonex cause unbearable side effects, Rebif caused my liver to start to fail and Copaxone caused suce terrible site reactions I could no longer tolerate it! I have recently started to see a new Neurologist and he suggested Tysabri. I have read everyrthing possible on this and read every comment and concern. I was just wondering if anyone had any positive comments in regards to Tysabri. I am really leaning towards this and would like some "sign" that this is for me. I am only 36 years old - diagnosed when I was 19. I would like to be arould for my 2 young kids.

I am concerned also with the fact that I too take allergy shots, for seasonal allergies, and the Neurologist is concerned that I should not continue these while on Tysabri. Anyone with experience with MS and allergies of non-food type and MStherapies? The thing is that I definately notice the help with allergy shots versus not getting them. Unlike MS therapy.

Sometimes a reaction to food is not an allergy. It is often a reaction called "food intolerance". Your immune system does not cause the symptoms of food intolerance. However, these symptoms can look and feel like those of a food allergy.
Ada

I have some severe food allergies - anaphalactic shock - life threatening - mostly to certain nuts and seeds, also to exercise in cold air, mold, and some milder food allergies to halibut, raw umbeliferae family (carrot, fennel, parsely, celery, etc.)

I was diagnosed with MS at the age of 26.

I had my first anaphalactic food reaction at about 10. Age 13 or 14 I first had a cold air excercise anaphalaxis. I was constantly on antibiotics for bronchitis and sinus infections from infancy until about age 13 when I could finally speak for myself and I finally said enough. I was on amoxycillin, ceclor, etc. so many times as a child I can't count. I never got any better and eventually started just getting yeast infections every time they put me on them. So I basically was walking around with either a sinus infection/congestion, a yeast infection, or both, all the time. I was born in 1980 so when I was growing up was the time they were giving antibiotics to everybody for everything including viruses, which they no longer do. I think the sinus and bronchial problems were due to milk and wheat. These items gum up your system with too much mucus. So a dietary change may have prevented all this! I think now that my MS and food allergies are caused by leaky gut syndrome caused by overuse of antibiotics which has destroyed my natural flora. The yeast infections and brain fog and digestive problems greatly decreased when I did Atkins before my wedding.

I learned today that MS is not a disease in itself but a symptom of the body reacting to something. For some people MS is the body reacting against mercury, others it is food allergies, candida, or leaky gut, could be caused by being a formula baby which creates thinner myelin and starts the milk reaction in those who are prone to milk allergy, malnutrition, vaccines such as hep B, or Lyme. But MS is the result but the causes are many. If you have discovered and taken care of the source of the problem, and still have the MS, then it is time to tone down the immune system but first try to find the source because the immune system is trying to tell you something.

I knew I had a problem with my candida, flora, etc. and even tho I worked in a health food store I didn't even have regular health insurance, much less insurance that would cover naturopathic. And many times I have been uninsured completely. But now I cam going to try to address it because look what happened.

Pre-Copaxone treatment: lactose intolerant, and allergy to penicillin and some nuts.

After being on Copaxone for a year: having hives daily, allergic reactions to more foods that did not cause reactions before, such as egg and corn, as well as reactions to some new meds. Went off of Copaxone for 20 days and the hives were getting better. Then after 3 days back on it the hives got worse again. After about a month, tried Betaseron for a week and the hives got worse again. Recently used a pain patch for the first time and 12 hours after taking it off had a bad hive outbreak, face swelling (hospital visit).

Beginning to feel like the ABC drugs are making changes to my immune system which are causing increased allergies. I will be looking into natural treatment methods as an alternative. At this point in time the ABC’s are causing more problems for me than they are worth.

No food allergies that I know of, but I have had several reactions to medications, through the years.

Copaxone being one of those, that caused two, life-threatening reactions within a six month period.

Ohhhh...just remmembered... I did have a "reaction" to a flu shot and now refuse to take them, even with the risk.