So Many Food Intolerances

[Louisa]

Hi All,

I have so many food intolerances & problems with food.

After eating, I often fall asleep. I’m not sure if this is reactive hypoglycaemia or that my body just doesn’t have the spare energy to digest the food so it sends me to sleep.

But if I don’t eat enough carbs, I think my blood sugar goes too low & it triggers a migraine.

I have intolerances to so many foods. I feel like I’ve tried everything. I’ve asked the NHS so many times for help with this but they won’t refer me on to a dietitian, nutritionalist or immunologist.

I react to all meal replacement shakes/protein shakes.

I’m even reacting to salad. I’ve tried without tomatoes. I’ve tried just lettuce, cucumber & salad cream, & still reacting. I can’t bring myself to try just lettuce & cucumber. Sometimes I have problems with just chicken.

I’ve reacted to everything at one time or another. It’s so hard to keep trying, it feels relentless. I’m so confused how one time I can be ok with something but the next time I’m not.

I’m so tired from all the headaches. It’s so hard. I don’t know where to turn for help. The NHS don’t seem to take this seriously.

I take multivitamins & other supplements (fish oils, evening primrose oil etc). I have side effects to fish oils but I can’t function without them so..

I just needed to tell someone.

Best wishes, L.

 

[ryan31337]

Hi Louisa,

I've been exactly where you are - there are a few specialists that will recognise this issue, they are the ones that understand EDS/POTS/MCAS trifecta. The easiest way to get under the care of these guys is if you demonstrate obvious POTS symptoms, which will then tend to lead to rheumatology and gastroenterology consultations with people that understand the comorbidity. Ignore/avoid CFS as a label if you already have it.

If you don't have the obvious autonomic issues to get into the special NHS clinics, I can recommend a very good endocrinologist in the South East who has an interest in nutrition/fatigue and can think outside the box. Unfortunately he is private only but its not mega money to self-pay for a couple of appointments and get the majority of the testing done via the GP.

For me he understood the significance of pre-existing POTS/MCAS/hypermobility and the havoc it can cause to digestion (gastric dysmotility causing reactive hypo like events). I was lucky that taking his advice of a very low carb, high fat diet helped stop my hypo-like events and migraines immediately. YMMV of course if you have different issues.

Drop me a PM if you want.

Ryan

 

[PatJ]

After eating, I often fall asleep. I’m not sure if this is reactive hypoglycaemia or that my body just doesn’t have the spare energy to digest the food so it sends me to sleep.

I know of three reasons this can happen, because I experience all of them:
1. Low blood pressure which lowers even more after eating (post-prandial hypotension). I avoid this by eating smaller meals.
2. Low stomach acid - I need to take Betaine HCL with pepsin in order to break down protein.
3. Low pancreatic enzymes - I take multiple enzymes capsules with every meal because my pancreas doesn't produce enough enzymes. If I don't take the enzymes then my kidneys ache if I eat more than 8-10 grams of protein.

Without betaine HCL and the enzymes then I can't stay awake after a meal that contains protein or fats, and my brainfog and energy level become much worse.

This thread contains more information about insufficient pancreatic enzymes and the many associated problems.

I have intolerances to so many foods.

When you say 'intolerances' can you explain what happens? It might help us to provide more specific suggestions about areas to look into.

 

[prioris]

Louisa ... seems deja vu for me ...

my story ... around 1980 ... food puts you to sleep ... i was thinking hypoglycemia too ... i realized i was reacting to carbs so went to hi protein then within a year even reacted to that ... i went on a diet of spring water, fish, beans along with a little butter and salt and added some dates ... after two years i could eat more normal foods again ... i was more conscious of what i was putting in my body

here may be a quick solution ... try 1000 mg to 2000 mg Swanson Beta Right brand beta glucan as soon as you wake up then wait a half hour before eating anything ... this is optimal way to use beta glucan ... taking it later is not as effective ... it feeds your immune system ... i found that one of the better ones out there also ... i think you will know relatively quickly whether it helps
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...-bullet-or-hot-air-open-glycoscience-2010.pdf

i'd recommend also auto immune protocol to figure out some things to minimize for a while or just give your immune system a rest

 

[jesse's mom]

@Louisa I am sorry you are so sick! You are in good hands with the suggestions above. Just wanted to tell you I hear you.


@sunshine44 Might have some things to add to this discussion.

 

[Timaca]

I'm sorry that you are experiencing food intolerance issues. I can relate. To give you some hope, recently I've been able to add a lot of foods back into my diet that I previously could not tolerate without getting headaches or joint pain.

I don't know if it is because of taking probiotics for some time, or drinking small amounts of pomegranate juice (see this article about research in mice) or just being off of problematic foods for awhile...or what...but I am grateful.

Currently I eat a whole food plant based diet. I also avoid wheat and oats and peanuts....but I will retest peanuts soon. Before I couldn't eat berries, or corn or animal protein except very fresh fish. Grains were also a problem. Now I am eating berries, corn and all grains except wheat and oats. I still don't eat animal foods (for various reasons).

I wish you a more varied diet....and soon!

 

[Timaca]

Another thought....can you take an algae supplement instead of fish oil? That's what I take.... fish oil supplements gave me a headache....

 

[jesse's mom]

Fish oil gives me headaches too!

I can still eat oats.