Could I be allergic to chocolate..........

[paigevz]

..........without being allergic to milk or caffeine? Is there something just in the chocolate that could do it?

I haven't had chocolate in a very long while. I don't know why, really, just haven't. Well, for Valentine's Day, my husband gave me a big box. I ate a few, and got a migraine aura the next day. I haven't had any migraines since Fall.

The next day, I ate more, and the migraine came on, at school, full blown.

I didn't eat any the day after that, but I have been sitting here and dising, and eaten some more. I am now feeling like one is coming on again.

I know you all won't know for sure, I just wonder if you know anybody allergic to chocolate that can still tolerate milk and caffeine, as I had always assumed those would be the allergens in chocolate and not the chocolate itself.

 

[nwdisgal]

Hmmm. That is an interesting one. Are you allergic to or have a sensitivity to nuts by chance? Sometimes they run chocolate across the same manufacturing lines and it is exposed to nut dust and particles even if the chocolate doesn't specifically have nuts in it. I'm wondering if it is the chocolate, or something that is in the chocolate that is causing the reaction?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It doesn't mean that you are allergic to chocolate, but that chocolate is a trigger for a migraine. Chocolate is one of many migraine triggers for me. Others are alcohol, cheese, lack of caffeine, lack of sleep, stress, etc. There is also a threshhold, which is why you might be able to consume a small amount of a certain substance and not get a migraine and think that it doesn't cause a headache and then consume it and get a headache. Kind of like adding water to a half full glass doesn't make the glass run over, but if the glass is full and you add water it will spill.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

One other thing--for me at least, certain types of chocolate are less likely to cause a migraine than other types. A little brownie gives me a migraine quickly, but I can have a few Hershey kisses without problems. Speaking of which, I'm going to go have a few Hershey kisses.

 

[hiwaygal]

It doesn't mean that you are allergic to chocolate, but that chocolate is a trigger for a migraine. Chocolate is one of many migraine triggers for me. Others are alcohol, cheese, lack of caffeine, lack of sleep, stress, etc. There is also a threshhold, which is why you might be able to consume a small amount of a certain substance and not get a migraine and think that it doesn't cause a headache and then consume it and get a headache. Kind of like adding water to a half full glass doesn't make the glass run over, but if the glass is full and you add water it will spill.

 

[paigevz]

Well, thanks, I guess I'll be avoiding this the rest of the day. I have never gone to the dr. for mine, as they aren't very frequent usually. I took some Excedrin Migraine. I can still feel it back there, but it isn't hurting now.

 

[luv2nascar]

My mom can eat a little bit of chocolate at a time but if she over does it she gets hives on her head, etc. She eats nuts and does not get hives so it is something else.

 

[Stitchfans]

I know if I eat too much chocolate I can get heart burn. So it wouldn't surprise me if someone could be allergic to it.

 

[DMickey28]

my brother was very allergic to chocolate when he was little.

 

[Christine]

There is a chemical in chocolate, theo-something or other, that triggers migraines. It is the same chemical that is harmful to dogs.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

For me, I always suspected that "low-fat" chocolate causes migraines. In the past, I know I drank low-fat chocolate milk a few hours before three migraines. But I could eat normal chocolate and be just fine. But now I suspect it was more likely a chiropratic reason I was getting migraines, but I still have my suspicions over chocolate. Was the Valentine chocolate not "real" chocolate??

Either ways, hope you feel better soon!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I think that anyone with the name "Paige" can't be allergic to chocolate.



Paige

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I'm allergic to chocolate (took allergy shots from age 4 thru college) but I am not allergic to milk or caffeine. I can eat milk chocolate in very small portions. I am also prone to migraines and have found that dark chocolate or any very rich chocolate is an almost instant trigger.