And medicine finds nothing

[CorsairMac]

the hardest thing about food allergies (ok most allergies) is the symptoms can be so - not what you expect. Allergies can make you think you have the flu, arthritis, indigestion, etc. The other problem is: it can take anywhere from instantaneous to over a week for a symptom to a food to manifest itself. and it takes your body up to 2 weeks to completely remove the offending food from your system. My allergist told me as I got older, I wouldn't be able to fight off allergic reactions to things like I could in my past like: strawberries! That being said: if you were allergic to ginger as a child, there's a good chance you're STILL allergic to ginger, you just didn't have as strong a reaction in the recent past OR you didn't reconize it for what it was. Like everyone else here said, cut the ginger out, but do it for at least a week if not longer. And then try the ginger tea again and see how you react. If you've increased your ginger to aid with your illness, you could actually be making yourself ill.

Corsair "you should see my diet due to food allergies" Mac

[LBTC]

Thanks, Corsair....

'course I've never really been sure that I'm allergic to ginger. When I bit a chunk and my tongue got numb I thought that was a bad sign! When we cook nice meals they are alsmost always of some kind of oriental design, and always contain ginger (luckily we don't cook fancy very often). I've never really been able to finish a whole serving of kung pao....heh. I really love that type of food. And, well, thai food makes me feel euphoric. Kind of light headed and happy. Not sure what it is, but during our last thai meal out, it really increased when I bit into the basil leaf. That's enough to leave me even more confused!

I thought maybe the ginger thing was all in my head, so, just kept cooking with it and eating it. Our consumption has definitely gone up this spring, so, yeah, if that's it, I've just been making myself worse!! I just made a batch of banana bread *without* crystalized ginger.

I find I'm "allergic" to the most bizarre things. Onions of all things!! Make my intestines hurt wicked bad for hours!! and even leeks or green onions will do it, but I have no adverse reaction to garlic even though it's in the same family. And I get short of breath and fluttery if I eat aspartame. And the last time I had some soft drink with sucralose I was slammed with a 5 day migraine after a year of not one!

I've always figured I have other allergies, but I'm too impatient to try to figure them out. Nearly everything I eat will make me bloated. But that always passes (no pun intended), so I don't worry about it too much. And, yeah, I have the telltale bags under my eyes. Once in awhile I wake up and my lids are slightly swollen....all classic signs, but to what, I"m not sure.

oh, right, and when the cat goes to the vet and I have to cuddle the poor guy up close while he's stressing out, I get the classic allergy symptoms - extremely itchy red eyes and runny nose. That lasts a few hours. It never happens at home!!

I'm convinced I"m wired funny! heehee

But, since, I am my own warranty, Tomorrow I will ride to work again and plan for my big ride on Wednesday with the gang and will decide that cutting ginger out will make me well. (along with adequate rest, great food, regular exercise, etc.)

I'll keep you posted. One week at least.

Namaste,

ginger-free ~T~

so what all are you allergic to, Corsair?

[CorsairMac]

My brother tells me to just tell people life and it makes it so much simpler!
Cinnamon, peppers, diary - all dairy, strawberries, all tree fruits cept apples (crossing my fingers on that one), soy, almost all nuts, chocolate, corn, garlic, all seafood including most fresh fish, yeast, *cigh* that's all I can remember right now. I also don't process sugars right so no potatoes, oats, sugars, bee honey, and I have to be careful with grains and legumes. and that's just the food allergies/sensativities! Anymore, when I get sick - the first thing I look at is what I ate which is why it takes me longer to go to the doctor and find out I may actually be really sick!! LOL

good luck on the ginger, let us know how it works out.

[LBTC]

Corsair.....OMG! I should have asked what you *can* eat!! Good thing you have cycling for enjoyment!!

~T~

[trigurl]

LBTC, one thing I found out I have troubles with - maybe/maybe not allergic to - is flour! For several years after I ate I would feel really bloated, I was either taking immodium, gas-x or some type of laxative (after the immodium ) When I went on Atkins ALL that went away after a couple of weeks! I felt better than I had in years, I have since added wheat flour back and occasionally white- but not much, and I don't have the problem anymore. Atkins says that the yeast in breads can give you a yeast infection in your stomach (I believe that was where), I haven't read that part of the book in a while, but I am quite sure that the bread is what did it to me, I since am having problems after eating meats, not bad, but enough to notice, but dang if I am giving up my meats.

And that euphoric feeling you get could be the MSG! I can't handle that it makes me feel really funny and my jaws hurt

How is it going w/o ginger?

[LBTC]

Hey, trigurl. Thanks for the ideas. Actually, my diet is pretty low in flour, especially white flour. I haven't eaten white bread in I-don't-know-how-long, my famous banana bread is very low in unbleached flour, has more whole wheat flour in it, I very rarely eat bread, the wraps I buy use sprouted wheat, etc, etc, if I have a problem with flour, it probably would not be showing! heehee.

Without ginger is going very well! Aside from the usual work issues bringing me down a bit, I haven't felt this good in ages!! I admit, though, that I haven't done a serious training ride yet...that will really be telling, I'm sure!

Interesting idea about the MSG. However, Chinese food never makes me feel euphoric. Only Thai. And I've eaten packaged and canned soups that had MSG, and never had that euphoric feeling. heehee. I kind of like, it, so I hope it's not the MSG!

As for your difficulty with digestion, maybe take a look at the symptoms of peptic ulcer. I was quite surprised. I've also integrated chewable DGL (extract of licorice root) and am very impressed with my digestive abilities!!! I've only used the stuff sporadically (I haven't remembered at every meal) since Saturday and I'm amazed at how much difference it has made!! Licorice is very calming for the digestive system, so it doesn't surprise me me much that it works, just that it works so well!! Maybe it would be a good thing for you to try, so you can continue to enjoy your meat!!

Thanks again for the tips and the concern,

Namaste,
~T~

[trigurl]

I will ahve to look at DGL, I love licorice!