> > Thanks for making me feel like I am not alone.  I know how bad
my allergy is but when the tests came back and the Dr. said no I
started to question myself. 
My problem was reinforced though when I stepped into a bike store
and right away started getting some hives and my breathing started
getting funny. 
I have been keeping a log all along, knowing that someday I will
find someone that believes me.  Now it's just finding the right
doctor.
Is there any help for latex allergy out there?  This Doctor said all
he can do is treat the allergy symptoms anyway that there is no
defense against it.
I am at the point where I can't even wear underwear and would really
like some relief... any ideas?
Thanks again for all of the kind words.

************

For underwear try Janice Corporation [www.janices.com]men/women 100% cotton socks with NO elastic. "Decent Exposures" bras and underwear 100% cotton with no elastic.

Regarding on and off triggers. I think that food cross-reactions are a HUGE sign that there is a potential problem. I had problems with foods that cross-react with NRL for 10 months before I went full blown to Type I allergy to all NRL. In fact, I was still clueless when I went to my new Dr 8 weeks ago. I also kept a diary of everything I ate and where I was when I swelled. For instance, when I came home and took my bra off I felt better and the swelling went down. My Dr diagnosed me with NRL on the spot after reading my food diary. He then did testing with banana extract since I started out with food cross-reaction. Of course, I swelled very nicely with the banana extract. That was enough for him. He is also doing banana drops to see if he can bring my sensitivity to NRL down. He says that Latex IgE is very difficult to work with for reasons I forgot but that must be the reason that there are no latex allergy shots. However, a creative Dr who is a Scientist tries different options. My Dr was able to help another lady to lower her sensitivy to NRL but the first line of treatment and defense for NRL is avoidance. BTY, my Dr is an MD/Environmental Doctor who uses traditional medicine and homeopathic meds. You won't find banana extract testing at your local allergists office.

Ana

 

FYI: bananas, avocados, chestnuts have a high degree of association and cross reactivity with NRL.

Apple, Carrot, Celery, Papaya, Kiwi, Tomato, Potato and Melon have a moderate degree of association.

There is a longer list for foods that have low or undetermined degrees of association but for me there are some foods on the low list (peanuts and all nuts, soybeans, pineapple, figs, mango that would give me a reaction.

I was also once of those people who would react sometimes to some of these foods and sometimes not, so I would eat them occasionally. Now I stay away from all foods on the high and moderate list and those on the low list that give me even the slightest bit of trouble.

Ana

 

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