Food Reaction Diary - Our Symptoms

In this hub, I will share with you notes from my food reaction diary. My son and I did an elimination diet a few years ago to investigate if any of our health and behavioural issues were related to food. I was very surprised to find that everything from my years of chronic pain, skin rashes, depression, and my son's persistent vomiting and screaming were triggered by food chemicals.

In a nutshell, an elimination diet involves taking out foods of a certain family for a few weeks and then testing them and observing reactions. I decided to test various foods from a given family one at a time, to allow me to distinguish which chemicals gave rise to which symptoms.

In addition, I learnt I was celiac (autoimmune reaction to gluten) and had a milk allergy, which was confirmed by medical tests. Our sensitivities appear to be permanent (genetic/biochemical), but will hopefully reduce in severity as my son gains body mass, and with time off gluten and dairy for me.

My son is fine with A2 milk (A2 cow's milk and sheep's milk yogurt), but vomits A1 dairy (even in small amounts hidden in foods). Since strictly avoiding A1 dairy, the improvements in his health have been incredible . He is very sensitive to food additives and also to some natural chemicals (triggering mega-meltdowns and other ugly behaviour).

We have Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism), and food allergies are frequently associated because of dysfunction of immune system.

I didn't bother testing out what all the colours do to me, as they are generally found in foods containing dairy and gluten anyway.

I had been very sick for over a decade with declining health - an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, pain disorder (I had raised inflammation markers), and numerous infections eg sinus. I had chronic fatigue, a chronic state of brain fog and it hurt to even touch my skin. I had rashes, including a rash around my mouth and nose (perioral dermatitis). My skin formed raised red welts at the slightest scratch (dermographism) I had thyroid problems including cysts. My hair was dry and brittle, I had very low blood pressure and was on the verge of collapse and I couldn't regulate body temperature - I was too hot or too cold. My body was puffy all over. I had supersensitive skin and my eyes were constantly dry and scratchy.

Within days of going gluten-free, the brain fog I'd been plagued with for years lifted and I was able to think clearly. I had relief from over 5 years of chronic pain, including bone pain. The eay bruising I'd had since I was in my teens (and first suffered symptoms including depression) was gone. My blood pressure became stable. After a few months, I lost the excess weight I'd been carrying for the past few years. My hair grew back shiny and healthy. I started to get my life back. The thyroid cysts vanished, as did the antibodies against my thyroid (sparing me from surgery and hormone treatment). Brushing my teeth was no longer an excruciatingly painful experience.

I am very careful to avoid gluten (which is hazardous to celiacs even in trace amounts). Even a small amount from cross-contamination makes me ill, and my blood pressure becomes so low it is dangerous to drive. An exposure to gluten also makes me feel anxious and ill for days.

I've had my diary allergy confirmed by a blood test (ELISA). Unfortunately, I am unable to tolerate A2 milk and butter like my son can. Palm oil (used as a dairy-free substitute in gluten-free products) gives me identical symptoms. Even McDonald's fries have a little palm oil in them that make me ill. Even a small exposure, like a little butter leaves me with low blood pressure, nausea and body pain for more than a day. Avoiding these three (gluten, dairy, palm) restricts my diet significantly, but I am so much healthier now.

I no longer cough up copious amounts of mucous each morning, and I have not had a sinus infection or any other infections since changing my diet.

With salicylates and amines, I was so extremely sensitive at first that I would react to even the tiniest amounts. Gradually, I am improving, and can get away with a little more. For example, cocoa used to keep me wide awake all night and have me covered in red welts. Now, the insomnia is mild and I have mild itchy skin and eyes that I can live with. If I overdo the amines, I find an antihistamine tablet and some vitamin B6 brings relief.

My depressive disorder is finally under control. Salicylates are the culprit for me (and my threshold was lowered extremely by my untreated allergies and celiac disease). I eat foods low in salicylates, and sometimes in the moderate range.

Irritable bowel is rare now - usually only triggered by amines now, if I have too much (I avoid the other culprits dairy, gluten, palm).

Pre-menstrually and menstrually, I am careful with amines and salicylates, because my threshold is lower at this time. If I strictly avoid these, I can be completely PMS free - no migraines, depression etc. Plus, no heavy bleeding (which meant considering a hysterectomy - an operation my exhausted body would not have coped with).

I've been aware that my son has had a sensitivity to dairy since he was a baby. I was very sick when he was a baby, and couldn't continue breast-feeding, so he was put on whey formula (which has small amounts of casein). That was the start of constipation, chest infections, mucous, glue ear, ear infections (resulting in burst ear-drum), asthma and more. There is asthma in the extended family, but I did not believe he had true asthma. Doctors ignored me when I voiced my concerns. They just said he had hayfever, and prescribed antihistamine (which had ingredients that triggered screaming episodes).

When we tried to switch him to casein follow-on formula, his airways would immediately fill with mucous and he would become distressed. Once we called an ambulance because he had high fever and was experiencing breathing difficulties.

He loved dairy, and ate plenty. He also vomited frequently - in his bed and in the car. He had frequent illnesses (the doctors said it was numerous colds/viruses). When we moved from New Zealand to Australia, his nose-bleeds became daily, and his vomiting increased. We suspect the milk is a different composition in Australia, higher in A1 protein. He was so full of mucous, that we had to give him antihistamine each night to help him sleep.

Off dairy, the vomiting stopped, the blood noses stopped, no more mucous, no more wheezing and he became alert was able to think clearly. Previously, he had been in his own little world (more autistic). He's gained weight and now has muscle tone. Even a small amount of dairy in chocolate or a biscuit will bring back symptoms. He is fine with trace dairy in butter (whereas I am not) and he drinks A2 milk with no problems.

Fortunately, he didn't inherit the celiac gene. His diet is not nearly as restricted as mine, although he self-restricts because he is extremely fussy (from sensory issues - also common in ASD).

He has major behavioural & mood issues with additives, including colours, flavour enhancers and preservatives. The worst offenders are some preservatives commonly found in fruit and crumbed products and children's medications. The screaming fits that result are unbelievable - extremely loud and high pitched. He no longer falls to the floor unconscious (but screaming), but reacts in rage (he gave a boy at school a black eye after losing control on these chemicals). An EEG didn't show any abnormalities, and we have been told that the scream and rage is from brain irritation (much like the inflammation from meningitis) - basically it's a headache so extreme, that he goes berserk.

He tolerates higher levels of salicylates than I do, but if we get it wrong, we pay for it with moody, screaming meltdowns (the scream isn't quite as bad as the preservative scream, which is quite primal and scary). If he's had way too much at once, he will lose bowel control (which smells terrible and is horrid to clean up). It's hard to find lollies he can have. Most are too high in salicylates, including the "natural" ones. Plus most have artificial colours. Many have dairy. We found some flavours of Methos lollies he gets away some with on occasion.

His reactions to amines are very mild. He used to get a bit of anxiety, like night terrors, but he has outgrown that. He has skin that marks easily like me, but is able to tolerate quite high levels of amines without the problems I get (like irritable bowel, migraine, insomnia). Hopefully, with time, I will get to that point too.

My husband didn't do a complete elimination diet (he was initially very negative about it). He just happened to be eating better, because I was buying food without artificial additives. Also, he agreed to go without cheese so that our son didn't feel bad. Generally, the only dairy he had was our son's A2 milk in his coffee.

We noticed some dramatic changes. A lot of weight fell off. He was no longer fat around the neck, face and belly. I can always tell when he's had dairy, as this is where he swells up. At first he didn't believe me, until a week of consuming a dairy protein drink ended with food poisoning type symptoms (violent tummy cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting). After many occasions when he's had severe tummy cramps after eating dairy, he now avoids it for the most part.

He also became less grumpy. He used to be irritable a lot. Now he only behaves extremely irritable/moody/depressed after eating out (I think it's the flavour enhancers and artificial sweeteners, but we haven't been able to confirm).

He's the luckiest one, as he can pretty much eat what he wants. I do most of the cooking and generally cook quite plain meals these days (lower in chemicals). He can add sauces of his choice.

We expect our son will be able to get away with a little dairy like his father as he gains more body mass. He should also be able to tolerate more salicylates without effects.

My diet is the most restrictive. Eating out is a huge problem these days. If we go to a restaurant, I request a gluten-free/dairy-free meal. I take my chances with the salicylates and amines and allow myself a day or two to get over it (plus histamine takes the edge of the amine reaction). There is nothing that takes the edge off a salicylate-induced depressed mood. I have to wait until it passes - it's not nice to feel this way against my will.

Sometimes my husband feels resentful that I don't enjoy eating out anymore. I miss bread the most. He ordered freshly baked bread for an entree and it was hard watching him eat it. I don't go with the boys to McDonalds because I can't even eat the chips.

Being celiac, I need to avoid gluten for life. Since I have a very strong immune reaction to dairy (and an identical reaction to palm), it is likely this is permanent too. I used to get away with eating some cheese and yogurt when I was younger. I can't even have trace dairy now.

We don't so much get a cold now. Our food reactions can give fever, aches and pains, congestion and more. I can easily tell what food chemicals are affecting us now.

Eating for me is about survival, not pleasure. Unfortunately, the foods I'm most sensitive too are ones I like most. I also like highly flavoured food from different cultures, but they're loaded with salicylates/amines (and often gluten/dairy). Just being gluten-free would be manageable. But feeling healthier is worth the sacrifices. Hopefully, my sensitivities to salicyates and amines will continue to decrease, and I can enjoy more variety in diet.