Milk allergy in adult? What do you think?

[Adamsmama]

I've had asthma (very controlled) since I was a child--first diagnosis at age 12. The only flare ups I've had have been when I've lived in old housing with mold...usually manifests itself as a very bad bronchial infection that I can't shake until I move. Also--I get asthma with a lot of excerise. I've had allergies diagnosed at age 19 -- full workup done -- many grass/pollen/weeds/mold/dust. Never have been tested for food allergies. I've felt fine except for last year when I realized I was highly allergic to fire ants (which I will soon be receiving shots for) and for last year when while eating couscous (sp?) salad that I made--that i've eaten a lot before, my hands started to swell up pretty rapidly and were red and itchy. In the coucous was pasta, olive oil, feta cheese, tomatoe, black olive and chickpeas. A few times after that (within days) my hands mildly swelled up while eating cereal with milk and a bowl of icecream. Never have had that since (1.5 yrs ago now). A few months ago I was eating a yogurt and a glass of milk and my nose started running and I started wheezing/was congested in the lungs. Later felt fine. About 2 weeks ago I had a hotdog then a glass of milk and cookies and I started wheezing badly within 5 min of drinking the milk. I used my inhaler and was fine. Last week I got stung by a fire ant and had a reaction which included wheezing/a little dizzy, and swelling at the site. Two days after I was stung I had lasagna and had wheezing afterwards and full on panic attack where I almost hyperventilated and felt sick to my stomach and totally out of sorts. I took a benadryl and used my inhalor and about an hour later I finally calmed down enough to function. I know I have anxiety and sometimes have panic attacks (very very rarely). I have no idea though if I'm allergic to milk and if so, why would I be fine eating pizza (twice after that episode 2 weeks ago), milk, other things that contain milk, cheesy casserole w/sour cream and cheddar, totally fine until I ate that lasagna. I don't get it. I know I've been stressed out about some other things recently. My DH is upset that I've decided not to eat anything that contains cheese/dairy (except for baked goods which haven't effected me). I'm a total mess right now. I made an appt. with my allergist for early Sept. (we currently don't have health insurance because my husband changed jobs) In Sept. I guess I will know for sure--but can anyone help me now? (Sorry this post is so long)

[Oka-san]

I’m not sure if this is what you’re asking, but it is possible for an adult to develop milk allergies. It happened to my birthmother. After a lifetime of being fine with milk and milk products, she suddenly started getting violently ill after eating certain things. It took her a while to figure out what was going on, but she paid attention to her body and her food and finally pinpointed the culprit, which was cow’s milk. Even a tiny amount of casein in products will make her sick now.

She told me her doctor dismissed her concerns at first, but she knows that consuming milk products makes her ill and when she avoids them she’s fine. She knows her own body and does what’s right for her.

Why is your DH upset that you’re planning to avoid milk products? I don’t know your background so can’t say much about that, but my inclination would be to just tell him that this is what you need to do right now until you find out for sure what’s going on.

My birthmother is fine with goat milk products. Maybe you could try some goat’s milk cheese and things like that to see how you react, if you don’t want to give up things like that completely? Using goat milk products has allowed her to eat certain things, like pizza, which she’d given up on completely before.

Good luck, I hope you can figure out what’s going on. I'm sorry you're so stressed out and I hope things calm down for you soon.

[CuckooMamma]

I'm not an allergist :-), but I can tell you that my girls have multiple allergies and that they can tolerate a little of a few allergans but if you overload their system, they have a more severe reaction.

It doesn't just have to be that you're taxing your system with an allergan. It could also be that your body is fighting off a cold, you haven't gotten enough sleep, etc. - anything that could weaken your body's ability to handle something it doesn't like.

We've found life to be much more enjoyable by removing it all. We used to cheat here and there and end up with some unpleasant mood swings (allergies can cause erratic mood swings as well). It's just not worth it for our family.

I can also say that my older daughter shows more of a reaction with less of an allergan now that we've avoided things completely. I don't remember what the technical term is, but your body can become accustomed to an allergan and a reaction isn't as visible. It doesn't mean that you aren't doing your body harm, just that your not seeing it in terms of eczema or a rash.

Sorry this isn't very articulate right now.

Chrys

[Adamsmama]

Thanks for the replies. My DH was upset because he thinks it is all in my head and that I'm overreacting (which is possible). I know for myself that if I get an irrational fear of something I may get anxiety over it which becomes panic attacks. He thinks for sure I'm not allergic since I've never had any food allergies for 27 yrs. I'm not totally convinced that is what I have but I'm try to be cautious about it. I just thought--why else would I be wheezing after eating the substance, yk?

[rabrog]

I'm 29yo and just found out I'm allergic to milk in May. I thought my daily headaches were from something else, but it was from my daily glass(es) of milk. I can have ice cream, yogurt, cheese with no problem, but straight milk as a beverage is out. I feel so much better now.

Jenn

[LauraLoo]

I have a mild milk allergy, among other mild food allergies, and have since I was a child. I never outgrew it. I can do most milk products ok - which is relative because I'm sure I'd feel a lot better if I avoided milk altogether. I have a hard time with icecream - milkshakes are the worst and I get an itchy, raw feeling in the back of my throat and sometimes it feels like heartburn. But like a previous pp mentioned, if I'm struggling with any other environmental allergies or immune system issues, my reactions to my food allergies are that much worse.