Re:Managing allergic reactions -- some questions

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your attack. What you described would not be as a result of Celiac Disease -- which is not actually an allergy, but an intolerance, and the gluten has to be ingested for there to be a response. So if you walked into a room and your throat immediately closed up...that sounds like an allergic reaction -- perhaps it is a wheat allergy (perhaps in addition to gluten intolerance, if you have that too), or maybe you're allergic to something else in that living space. good luck, L²

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[Guest guest]

,

If someone breaths in airborne gluten through their mouth (either

through breathing or talking) they would be ingesting airborne gluten; I think

it is also possible to ingest gluten through the sinuses.  Burned gluten is

also more reactive than otherwise since the burning exposes the protein more

directly (this is my layperson’s take on a very complex chemical process);

thus the concern about the small crumbs of gluten in toasters and in deep

fryers. 

Whether CD is an “allergic reaction” or not seems to

vary depending on who you talk to; I have heard different doctors refer to CD

as “the only true allergy”  and “not an allergy at all,”

so I gave up long ago on trying to sort that one out.  

Regardless, you do have a point that there may be an anaphylactic

reaction going on (whether this is because of, in addition to, or part of the

actual celiac disease is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned) that Adian

should look into, especially as such reactions can be life-threatening if not

treated properly.  I did a bit of quick research on this and came up with a

good article (which, by the way, describes CD as both different from a wheat

allergy and “an allergic reaction caused by gluten”; go figure)  on

wheat allergies from the Mayo Clinic.  I have included a few excerpts below,

but I suggest that anyone interested should read the whole article.

Even so, other than using an EpiPen to avoid anaphylaxis, they

don’t have any suggestions for alleviating the problem other than avoiding

wheat.  For Adian, I’d recommend seeing a doctor to evaluate the need for

an EpiPen, as such reactions can become more severe over time.

Pam

Here is the link to the referenced article:

http://www.ohiohealth.com/bodymayo.cfm?id=6 & action=detail & ref=3957

…and some excerpts:

Not

all reactions to wheat are caused by wheat allergy. Some people have a

digestive reaction to a sticky protein called gluten that's found in wheat and

other grains. This reaction to gluten differs from a wheat allergy. It can be

caused by an inability to digest gluten (gluten intolerance) or by an allergic

reaction to gluten known as celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy.

If

your doctor suspects your symptoms are caused by something other than a food

allergy, you may need other tests to identify — or rule out — other

medical problems. If you have digestive problems, such as diarrhea, abdominal

pain or bloating, or you also have a reaction to grains other than wheat, your

doctor may want to do tests to rule out gluten intolerance or celiac disease

— an allergic reaction caused by gluten.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of wheat allergy can include:

Swelling, itching or irritation of the mouth or

throat

Hives or skin irritation

Nasal congestion

Airway inflammation

Gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramps, nausea and

vomiting

Allergy symptoms differ from person to person and generally

occur a few minutes to a few hours after wheat's been ingested. In some people,

allergic reactions occur:

When exercising after eating wheat

From inhaled flour in the workplace (sometimes

called bakers' asthma)

Anaphylaxis

Some people have a severe reaction to wheat called anaphylaxis. This is a

medical emergency and requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) shot

and a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms start within seconds to

two hours after eating wheat and can include:

Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat

or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe

Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure

Rapid pulse

Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

When to seek medical advice

See a doctor or allergist if you experience food allergy

symptoms shortly after eating. If possible, see your doctor when the allergic

reaction is occurring. This will aid in making a diagnosis.

Seek emergency treatment if you develop any signs or symptoms of

anaphylaxis, such as:

Constriction of airways that makes it difficult to

breathe

Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure

Rapid pulse

Dizziness or lightheadedness

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Linden

Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:42 AM

Subject: [ ] Re:Managing allergic reactions -- some

questions

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your attack. What you described

would not be as a result of Celiac Disease -- which is not actually an allergy,

but an intolerance, and the gluten has to be ingested for there to be a

response. So if you walked into a room and your throat immediately closed

up...that sounds like an allergic reaction -- perhaps it is a wheat allergy

(perhaps in addition to gluten intolerance, if you have that too), or maybe

you're allergic to something else in that living space.

good luck,

L²

 

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