Senior Health Update

[ttiros1]

Health Update:
I don’t post personal issues, but I thought people should know and be aware of this disease.
Last week I was diagnosed with Alpha Gal. It is caused by a bite from the Lonestar Tick. The bite transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the person's body. In some people, this triggers an immune system reaction that later produces mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, or other mammal products.
I can no longer eat any meat from a four legged animal. Only fish and foul am I allowed.
The symptoms are anaphylactic shock, hives, difficulty breathing, stomach pain and severe GI distress. My symptoms were weight loss and GI problems. The symptoms don’t manifest themselves until 4-6 hours later. So your not connecting that it’s from your food.
Many doctors are NOT aware of this!! Luckily we live in a farming area where the doctors are aware of this. I know one person whose doctor in Richmond misdiagnosed him.
So my reason for writing this is not to seek sympathy, but to make people aware if you have the symptoms above and not responding ask your doctor for an Alpha Gal blood test.

[DonRagsdale]

So sorry to hear that you contracted Alpha Gal, ttiros1. I pray that that your dietary restrictions will lessen or disappear overtime if there are no more exposures to bites from the Lonestar tick. Thank you for sharing your history regarding this disease. The awareness that you bring, may lead to a quicker diagnosis for another and perhaps even save a life! Thanks again.

[ttiros1]

Thanks for your kind words. It’s shocking how many doctors know nothing about this. I was only 145 pounds but lost almost 10 pounds. If I didn’t have DT to do every day I think I would have lost my mind till I was diagnosed. Thanks again.

[Henry Marczak]

The nature trail we walk on has a sign posted at one end warning of coyotes, coming out at another location a sign warned of possible ticks. I've had one bite me once whilst gardening at my mother in-laws who lives in a small Ontario farming town, they have a lot of mosquitoes there. I got the tick straight away and got the head off, had no issue from it.

Nowadays we don't eat much red meat, maybe once a week at most, also have a lot of vegetarian options in our weekly meal plan.

[Kev12Atlas]

Ttiros1, sorry to hear about your getting bitten by the Lonestar Tick. Are you doing better, now? Other than not being able to eat red meat any longer, are the symptoms gone, now?

[ttiros1]

Yes I am feeling better. Thanks. The problem is also no dairy for me because of this. The struggle is finding foods that don’t continue mammal. I ate a turkey hot dog but got sick cause the casing was mammal. Have had to change some meds because the gel caps were mammal. But yes I am adjusting and still experimenting with foods. Again thanks.

[ca_admin]

Sorry to hear all the troubles you have been going through. If you search online you can find a ton of vegan options that will make you feel a bit better at least with some choices. Also everyday there are more and more options out there. Stay Healthy. Forum Admin

[Henry Marczak]

Nowadays there's a lot of vegan meat substitutes, beef, chicken, turkey and even fish. Some that are vegetarian may contain dairy or egg, so you should read the labels.