Food allergy question:

[Jean in Newcastle]

Why would a food allergy come and go? Is it not a real allergy? A sensitivity?

I had food allergies (big ones) 14 years ago. I went off those foods for 3 years. Then I reintroduced them and was symptom free for 10 years. Then slowly over the past year I've gotten bad again?

What did I do? Did my immune system get out of whack? Is it toxins that build up? Does anyone know?

I guess I'm asking so I can do the right things so that in the future my family can be non-allergic (or non-sensitive) again.

:DBe gentle - I'm so sensitive!:rolleyes:

[tess in the burbs]

I have no answers for you but can sympathize. My son had 'allergies' and we had a Dr once tell us that it was only a sensitivity and not a true allergy. Well, uh, he threw up at the food challenges, so whatever it is, we still avoided the food ;)

As for my own issues...I started noticing swelling in my eyes after certain foods. I tested this out on my own by eating a lot of a food I thought triggered it and sure enough many foods make me swell up like a balloon! It's mostly dairy related items.....yogurt, cottage cheese, any kind of soft cheese like mozzarella or mexican cheeses......oh it's horrible! Foods I enjoy.

I have had allergy testing with two different dr's and both times my tests were negative. So I just avoid the foods. I finally figured out that it was MSG triggering my migraines :-)

Anyway, I do think sensitivities occur and the best thing is to avoid a long time, try again and see what happens. I can eat mexican cheese dip now if it's been months since I did before. but I can't eat it weekly or my face blows up. LOL, ,it's worth the wait!

[JennifersLost]

Keep a food diary for awhile and see what's happening - when symptoms come and go. And then back off on those foods and eat them less frequently - see what happens.

Maybe you can isolate a new stressor that's triggering the symptoms again and eliminate that.