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ME/CFS Symptoms – Consider Food Allergies/Sensitivities

3/18/2014

2 Comments

 
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Although most ME/CFS patients share a core group of symptoms, many have additional symptoms that add to the complexity of treatment and healing.  Depending on how long ago you were diagnosed with ME/CFS and how thoroughly you were tested, you may or may not have explored food allergies or intolerances.  There are in fact some patients who have been diagnosed with ME/CFS who are actually suffering from food and/or environmental
allergies.

Recently I was reading about Gluten intolerance and I was surprised at the overlap of symptoms with the standard definition of ME/CFS – Fatigue, feeling rundown like you have the flu, joint pain or numbness in extremities, ‘foggy mind’ where concentration is difficult, headaches, prolonged changes in mental health and gastrointestinal discomfort.  It seems that when our bodies are immunocompromised, the symptoms are similar no matter what the cause.  According to the CDC, children in the US suffering with food allergies increased 18% from 1997 to 2007.  An estimated 4% of the US adult population is food allergic - about 9 million.

Could you be struggling with a food allergy?  Could a food or environmental allergy/sensitivity be complicating your recovery?  Consider this as part of your continuing ‘case study of one’ as you work to understand your version of ME/CFS.  Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.  And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

2 Comments
Donna
3/18/2014 01:52:43 pm

For me, Martha, it was, "What came first? The chicken or the egg?" My health problems started nearly 30 years ago after the birth of my son. I began experiencing sinus and digestive problems that kept worsening over the years. I did the allergy testing, the shots, etc. and even had a deviated septum repaired. For years to keep going, I did decongestants, anti-histamines and pain relievers 24/7. Before it ended, the sinus infections began occurring with more and more frequency...nearly one a month. Of course, then anti-biotics were necessary. After 13 years of this, I did an elimination diet suggested in "The Yeast Connection." I had a gluten intolerance. As soon as I eliminated gluten the sinuses cleared up, but the digestive issues, fatigue, pain, and brain fog remained and got increasingly worse. About four years later, I was diagnosed with CFS and Fibromyalgia. Through the years I've discovered a lot of sensitivities: chemicals, fragrances, mold, cats, aloe vera, on and on which impact my health. My newest discovery is an allergic reaction to Febreze. (I had to lol when I saw the first advertisement for Febreze Allergen Reducer.) Obviously, I had gradual onset CFS/ME, but I have to wonder about all that occurred before the diagnosis. Was it CFS from the very beginning or did the immune issues and/or all the drugs contribute to CFS? I'll probably never know. From the beginning conventional western medicine failed me. Since 2001 my primary doctor is an MD who uses both conventional and more alternative methods with stress on diet and nutritional supplements. I don't recommend my path for everyone, but it suits me best. Most often, I've been my own worst enemy riding the roller coaster of feeling a bit better, overdoing, crashing, climbing out of the hole a bit, over and over. Now that I've read your book; I'm determined to be a patient and break that cycle. There's been a lot of damage over all these years, heart issues, some compromised organ function, glandular disorders and I'm 58...I'm not expecting to climb any mountains, but I do have hope for a fuller, less challenging life. Thank you for all that you do, Martha...you are truly giving back.

Reply
Martha
3/19/2014 05:48:29 am

Donna, Thanks so much for sharing your story. We are all unique in our versions of ME/CFS and yet we're all together in this cruel diagnosis. Your history with allergies and infections has been long and difficult. And we all know too well the relentless roller coaster ride that we can get caught in. Congrats on deciding to be a patient and changing course. The old adage about the definition of insanity applies here :) Looking forward to hearing more from you. Thanks!

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    Hello,  I'm
    Martha Kilcoyne

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    After struggling with CFS for four years I am fortunate now to be fully well and making choices about how I want to live my healthy life.  One choice is to be an active part of the CFS community and to offer one voice from the fully recoverd to the dialogue.  I'm glad you're here!   For more about me, here's my Bio.

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