How did you find out about a food allergy?

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Long story short...

I had my gallbladder out Nov 08 but i've always had an uneasy tummy.It seems to have gotten worse since my gallbladder is out.

I am thinking maybe i need to get tested for a food allergy or something. Some food just make me feel so sick to my stomach and i'm thinking maybe i'm allergic or something?

I'm not really sure what doctor i would go to for such a test either.

Any ideas?

[Dizney4evr]

I had my gallbladder out in April '01, just 3 weeks before my wedding. I, too, feel sick to my stomach often and can no longer eat many of the foods I used to eat. I was told it was because of the high fat content of some of the foods that would make me feel sick. I had to give up eggs entirely because of the discomfort I felt after eating them. There are still a lot of food that I can eat and I just stay away from what I can't.

It will get easier. :)

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I alway have pain on my right side as well. I was not told id have these issues and it stinks :(

[gillep]

Because the gallbladder is used to store bile produced by the liver and is released to help aid digestion when fatty foods enter the digestive tract it is very common for people to have issues with certain foods especially those with moderate or high fat content after removal of the gallbladder. I am very surprised that your surgeon did not make you aware of this as it is probably the most common side effect of the surgery. I had mine removed when I was 3 years old so I guess I don't really notice it as much since it has always been this way, but I do know that I have to avoid certain foods or at least limit them some. For people who have their gallbladders removed later in life it is much more dramatic of an effect, or so I have been told by friends and family who have recently had the same surgery. Again I am so surprised that no one told you about this side effect everyone I know who has had their gallbladder removed had been educated about this prior to the surgery.

I hope that you can find a way to live with this easily via diet etc, I know it is no fun, Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I have been doing weight watchers for the past 5 years or so. I really don't eat that much fat in less its like a holiday or vacation. I have stomach issues oh most everyday. I know that i shouldn't be eating a lot of fat and i hardly ever do. So that is why i am thinking allergy maybe?

[lovetoscrap]

It sounds like you need to start by seeing your primary care physician to discuss your symptoms and see what they suggest. These symptoms are probably due to having the gallbladder out but it doesn't hurt to talk it over with your doctor-- there may some tests they can do

Your PCP may refer you to a Gastroenterologist (no idea if I spelled that right!) for further testing and consultation if they feel it is needed but usually there are quite a few things that can be tried before seeing a specialist.

You see an Allergy Specialist (usually Allergy and Asthma) for allergy testing but I would definitely start with a PCP before even considering that.

[nfceagles]

I would sooner consider Celiac than allergies.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

It sounds like you need to start by seeing your primary care physician to discuss your symptoms and see what they suggest. These symptoms are probably due to having the gallbladder out but it doesn't hurt to talk it over with your doctor-- there may some tests they can do

Your PCP may refer you to a Gastroenterologist (no idea if I spelled that right!) for further testing and consultation if they feel it is needed but usually there are quite a few things that can be tried before seeing a specialist.

You see an Allergy Specialist (usually Allergy and Asthma) for allergy testing but I would definitely start with a PCP before even considering that.

I have already been to an Allergy doctor for an issue i have been having but they only tested me for like dust and etc. Before i had the gallbladder out i was seeing a tummy doctor. He at first told me i had acid reflux, then it was an ulcer then he said i had cyclic vomiting syndrome. I pretty much think he was pulling stuff out of a hat:headache:. So i made them run some test and they found out my gallbladder was dying.

I guess i need to find a new stomach doctor and see what they think.

[dizcrazee]

I had my gallbladder out and continued to have stomach issues. This was not related to a food allergy. However, there are certain foods that I can't tolerate very well. I have some food intolerances, but not food allergies. There is a difference.

We found out about dd's life threatening food allergies after anaphylaxis and a trip to the ER.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

How do they test for that tho? The celia thingy?

[nfceagles]

There is a blood test for Celiac, but it can have false negatives. The gold standard is a scope of the intestines to see of the villi (sp?) are damaged. You could also try a gluten free diet to see if it makes you feel better. The downside to that is if it does help but you later want medical confirmation via a scope, you will have to go back on gluten and redamage your intestines so that it can be seen in the scope.

[Timestop]

I spent lots of money on doctors, they never figured out why I kept getting sick. I had to figure it out on my own simply through process of elimination in my diet. It was hard at first because it didn't happen very much, and I thought other things were causing it like cheese or sauces. But as time went on and attacks became more frequent eventually I figured out it was wheat/gluten, which I ate every day. Doctors did help me rule out other possibilities but only I was able to figure out the actual culprit. And there are other people I know who were never diagnosed by doctors but can't eat wheat anymore. This might not necessarily be your problem (I never had my gall bladder removed) but it could be because more and more people seem to be having trouble with gluten and the gall bladder would help with that I think...

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I just need to do something, I hate feeling sick everyday. Some days are worse then others i just don't want to keep going on like this and it be something i can fix. ugh what to do what to do haha.

[minniejack]

There is a blood test for Celiac, but it can have false negatives. The gold standard is a scope of the intestines to see of the villi (sp?) are damaged. You could also try a gluten free diet to see if it makes you feel better. The downside to that is if it does help but you later want medical confirmation via a scope, you will have to go back on gluten and redamage your intestines so that it can be seen in the scope.


or you could just be non-celiac gluten sensitive--pretty much same symptoms, but non-celiac. Current thinking says there might be 1 in 5 that might be this but not be full blown celiac. That's a big chunk of the population that could have this problem. A blood test wouldn't show you if you are just sensitive. Try the diet, if it works for you, then welcome to the growing crowd.

go the celiac.com and there is plenty of info out there and a welcoming forum for questions there, too.

[heatherfeather24]

Without knowing what you mean by "uneasy tummy," have you been tested for Krohn's and/or IBS? I have IBS and when I'm in a flare up, every time I eat (no matter what it is), I'm sick afterwards. Not to be too graphic, but common symptoms are generally chronic diarrhea with cramping, chronic constipation, or a cycling between the two. So if your "uneasy tummy" is less stomach and more lower intestine type stuff, you might want to ask about that as well.

Separately, my son has multiple food allergies and what you are experiencing doesn't sound like an allergic reaction. An allergy is an immune response. It sounds like you may have some sort of sensitivity or intolerance, but an allergy test (which tests for antibodies in the blood) wouldn't be able to detect those.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

How do i explain with out being super gross...TMI WARNING

Most of the time when i eat i feel a little stick to my stomach after eating.A bit nauseous. And sometimes right after i eat i have to go to the bathroom # 2 really bad. Like i feel pain down "there" i'm guessing in my lower intestine. It hurts bad to where i like don't wanna move.

I am never really constipated (i think at least) and i do try to eat fiber one bars. And i do not really have loose stool either.

I guess i need to do some googling!

[Timestop]

It could very well be a gluten problem. Like Heather said, a gluten problem could be either an allergy or an intolerance. There are differences between the two, but also you can't always separate the two in every way. Doctors are still trying to understand these growing problems. A blood test will show if it's an allergy, but an intolerance is much harder to diagnose. I've found this to be a good book about what is known: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Allergies-Intolerance-Identification-Treatment/dp/0892818751/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274240081&sr=1-1
It talks a lot about both allergies and intolerance, but spends a little more time on intolerance since it is the less understood one that is harder to find information about.

One reason intolerance is tricky is because sometimes it takes a long time after you eat something for the symptoms to show up - only after it gets to a certain part in your system. So it's hard to figure out what food is causing it. But it also can still happen right after you eat just because of the mechanics - when you eat, you contract your bowels (sorry for being gross) and force stuff along. There are typical cases of food allergies but there is no typical case of food intolerance.

But there are many other possibilities. It's good to try and figure out if it's related to specifically what you are eating. If it always happens no matter what you eat, maybe it's not related to your diet, and then it's probably not an allergy or intolerance. But if you can, get the blood tests done before you experiment with your diet. If you stop eating gluten, it will be even harder for blood tests to find a gluten problem.

You would also want to rule out Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, polyps, etc. There are so many different diseases that give problems with the "#2."

Sorry for being gross, but also look for blood. And it doesn't matter how much you see, either (in fact, sometimes it's better to see more blood than just a little bit, and sometimes it's worse to see it when you're not feeling any pain. If you ever see a little bit when there's no pain, get a colonoscopy and make sure it's not polyps, which sometimes are cancerous). Looking at your family history may also give you some hints. It can be embarassing, so maybe your family members haven't told you about it.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I just dont want to go to Disney and feel sick :(

My boss has IBS & colitis and she mentioned to me to get a food allergy test. I guess ill just have to see :(

[sldmh5]

I had my gallbladder out at 21 and I can no longer tolerate onions, salads, or other uncooked veggies. If they are cooked I can eat them. I can't handle most days a lot of fried food either. I have to be close to a restroom if I eat any of the above. I have bad cramps and sudden need to use the bathroom. You just learn to adjust your food intake. Everyone I know that has their gallbladder out has the same issues.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I had my gallbladder out at 21 and I can no longer tolerate onions, salads, or other uncooked veggies. If they are cooked I can eat them. I can't handle most days a lot of fried food either. I have to be close to a restroom if I eat any of the above. I have bad cramps and sudden need to use the bathroom. You just learn to adjust your food intake. Everyone I know that has their gallbladder out has the same issues.

I just don't eat bad. do you ever feel like sick to your stomach a little after you eat? I understand the bathroom thing, but i have issues oh most everyday :(

[minniejack]

I saw that you don't go for several more months. If I were you, try the gf diet, if it works for you, then you know what you need to do from there...see a doctor or continue the diet and contact special diets and fill out the gluten free forms. :)

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I saw that you don't go for several more months. If I were you, try the gf diet, if it works for you, then you know what you need to do from there...see a doctor or continue the diet and contact special diets and fill out the gluten free forms. :)

There are so many food with that in it tho :(

[SueM in MN]

Since this is not actually about WDW, I am going to move it to the disABILITIES Community Board, which is more suited for general questions.

[Timestop]

There are so many food with that in it tho :(

It's very annoying, yes. You have to check ingredients of everything, even sauces and toppings. Wheat, barley and rye are the main ones to look out for. Whole Foods and Better Health are grocery stores with lots of gluten free food - it's amazing how much there is actually (like chicken breaded with rice flour). Even some more common stores like Kroger has sections of the store with lots of gluten free food.

But remember, once you stop eating gluten, a blood test will not show as much, and could be entirely ineffective. You would have to start eating gluten again to be sure.

[KadysMom]

When my DD was little she had really bad reflux and wouldnt eat anything, and couldnt sustain body weight. She went to the gastroenterologist and he did the scope for Celiac, food allergies and everything. SHe was 1. She had this done 3 more times by the age of 4. She did have welts lining her espophagus, stomach and intestines, but all the tests kept coming back normal. She didnt eat daily, sometimes not for two days. She did drink lots of milk. When she was 5, we went to the allergist and had the skin prick for a huge variety of foods. Nothing....

Finally her pediatrician decided to do the blood test for shellfish, dairy, egg, whole egg, stuff like that. Turns out she was highly allergic to dairy and egg. Her reactions were totally internal, so we couldnt tell. she just would stop eating, and since she had done that from birth, we didnt know what was wrong.

When she was diagnosed with the food allergies she was 5 1/2 and only weighed 28 pounds. We did a strict diet, with no dairy, or dairy proteins, (casein, whey) no egg. She did great! She outgrew it 2 1/2 years later, and it was the happiest day of her life. She is going to be 9 and is 65 pounds!!!

[snorris49]

Having Crohn's and being Gluten intolerant and a milk allergy, I can sympathize. I found out about the Crohn's first, and did a lot of research during and discovered an elimination diet might help. Holy cow did it ever. I saw immediate results once I kicked gluten and the milk completely. I felt a whole lot better. I could go days without Crohn's discomfort. I felt "Normal." And I realized how bad I was feeling before hand and just living with it.

I know the idea of living GF sounds like you won't be able to eat, but that is so not the case. In fact, I've become quite the GF baker and learned to make items for holidays (like cookies) that taste like the regular glutenized version. Sure, I miss my old bagels and bread, but after the withdrawal phase (which I went through for several weeks) the wanting of it goes away more. You still will have lots of choices. Yes, it's a pain in the butt sometimes, but it's worth it to avoid having real pains in the butt! :lmao:

I would try to talk to a GI doc and see what kinds of tests you can do to rule out the IBD/IBS issues, Celiac, etc. Personally, I think you would feel better if you had an answer and could start figuring out what's going on and making yourself feel better!

[3littleHalls]

I am agreeing with the others. I had my gallbladder out nearly 6yrs ago and I still have issues. The whole thing gets really irratating after a while. I can relate to your frustration. I have 2 kids with food allergies so off the top, it doesn't sound like a food allergy. You would have other symptoms on top of your other troubles. Skin/hives, swelling, itching, vomiting, anaphylaxis. You can have intolerances and sensitivity but those won't show up on a test. Elimination diet will help you determine which one. Or the celiac is a blood test. Do you notice if it is always after a certain food? Try to narrow it down and then take it out of your diet to tell if it makes a difference. Good luck!

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Yea i really gotta call the doctors im just SO busy at work so its hard to get there :(

thanks for everyone input.

[Leash]

How do i explain with out being super gross...TMI WARNING

Most of the time when i eat i feel a little stick to my stomach after eating.A bit nauseous. And sometimes right after i eat i have to go to the bathroom # 2 really bad. Like i feel pain down "there" i'm guessing in my lower intestine. It hurts bad to where i like don't wanna move.

I am never really constipated (i think at least) and i do try to eat fiber one bars. And i do not really have loose stool either.

I guess i need to do some googling!

Stumbled on this thread and wanted to jump in. I have had digestive issues since I was about 14 (29 now). I have been to several GI docs over the years and gotten a lot of different answers but the last 2 docs I saw gave me the same diagnosis so I'm guessing it's fairly accurate: IBS and a spastic colon. I mention this becuse what you described sounds pretty close to my symptoms. When I eat something that "disagrees" with me then within about 15 minutes I HAVE to go to the bathroom right away. I get horrible cramps and lets just say it is very unpleasnt for awhile and then I usually feel better but really tired.

My doc said that it isn't really diet based, some things may bother me all the time but there isn't a list to say what that might be, I just have to figure it out with trial and error. Other things may bother me sometimes but not always and I am likely to go through cycles where I get "sick" a lot and then other cycles where I am totally fine. Right now I'm on a bad cycle right now to the point where I cannot eat solid food, I have tried the blandest things possible to the worst fast food I can find and everything makes me sick. I have been on a liquid diet for the past week and that is working well, I'm drinking smoothies and Slim Fast shakes made with soy milk.

So that is a possibility. My doc gave me some pills to help with the spastic colon which seemed to do more harm than good but the best thing I have found is peppermint oil pills. They are enteric coated which means they don't dissolve until they reach your intestines and it just helps sooth everything so things digest normally. I take one about an hour before I eat and it works wonders. They are fairly cheap and really do work great most of the time though sometime, like now, my digestive tract is too messed up to be soothed. The brand I like best is called Pepogest.

So that was a lot longer than I planned but I hate to hear about people having digestive trouble since I have been dealing this stuff most of my life. Hope any of that helps.