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Discussions can be posted here about mediator release testing (MRT), as offered by Oxford Biological Technologies, in conjunction with the LEAP program, which is claimed to determine a relative level of sensitivity to various foods and chemicals by measuring an increase in the ratio of liquids to solids in a blood sample that has been exposed to a specific allergen.

Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie

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Polly
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Paging Kari

Post by Polly »

Mornin' Kari!

I noticed in a post to Gabes that you mentioned you were "working up" to trying tomatoes. I know they were highly reactive (red) for you on the MRT. Have you tried any other yellow or red foods with success? I haven't been able to tolerate any yellows that I have tried.....and I've been scared to try any reds. Just curious whether you (or anyone alse who has done MRT) has been able to add back reactive foods yet?

Hugs,

Polly
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mbeezie
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Post by mbeezie »

Hey Polly,

Most of my reds and high yellows are still off limits for me. I am red reactive to lettuce but can tolerate a small amount of leaf lettuce (MRT tests iceberg) but rarely eat it ()only in restaurants if I am desperate). Other LEAP dietitians report similar results with different cultivars of lettuce. Some high yellows that still bother me are cabbage, blueberries, and almonds but I can safely eat some yellows that are close to the green line, like broccoli, green peppers and sweet potatoes.

My son is back to eating some of his reds without trouble but I think it is temporary. I spoke to Dr, Fine about a month ago and we talked about this. He told me that sometimes kids go into remission with food sensitivities around puberty but then they return in their 20s.

I recently had one of my first LEAPers return for a follow up visit. She had been doing great until 6 months ago (tested nearly 2 years ago). In the last 6 months she added back some of her yellows and reds and she got sick again. She stayed off of gluten and corn, which were her worst reactions, but thought she could add some things back. She got back on Phase 3 LEAP and things settled down.

I recently tried legumes and at first pass thought I was doing fine with them, but realized I was having a delayed reactions. Two-three days after eating any type of legume I would get constipated and bloated. So no more beans :sad: But I can safely eat some butter and cream because I was negative on MRT for dairy and only a 10 for Enterolab. I can't eat any cheese or fermented dairy due to histamines, but a little butter and cream is nice in certain recipes.

I'm curious to hear others responses.

Love,

Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Kari
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Post by Kari »

Hi Polly,

The short answer to your question is "no", I haven't succeeded with any yellows or reds. However, I have not tried many either. I know I still have a long road in front of me in terms of healing, so I'm keeping it simple. GF pizza is a dream that comes and goes, and one of these days, when I'm feeling particularly good and a little "reckless":), I will give it a try.

I tested reactive for dairy at Enterolab, but the number was not very high. MRT showed green for all but cottage cheese, which was only slightly into yellow. So, on a couple of occasions, I have had a small piece of cheese - yum!!! Can't say for sure if it affected my BM's, but there was no discernable stomach reaction.

When I came back from Norway, I was feeling over confident, and thought that having done so well on the trip meant I could really let lose now that I was back home. WRONG!!! I was quickly slapped back to reality and had to get back to basics.

Even though I'm super careful, and hardly ever eat out, I get in trouble and am grateful that imodium works well for me. I frequently have to get back to basics, which for me means home made chicken soup with potatoes and veggies, and cooked apples and pears with cinnamon. Today is one of those days, so the chicken is waiting to be put in the pot:).

Two more things:

Eggs: I was non-reactive at Enterolab, but on the red border with MRT. I worked with my acupuncturist to desensitize to eggs before my trip to Norway, and was able to eat them successfully while there. After my set back when I got home, I had to drop them, but am attempting to work them back into my diet now, with mixed results.

Coffee: My biggest heart break from the MRT test!!! When I was in Norway, I couldn't resist having a half a cup in the mornings, and it didn't seem to bother me. When I got back home and overdid it on too many fronts, I had to drop it again, along with anything else new. Lately, I have gone back to having a quarter cup in the morning - it's simply so very tempting. I never have any kind of stomach gurglings, or other stomach issues, but have a sense it does cause loser BM's, so I know it's premature for me to indulge - sigh ..........

Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
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tex
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Post by tex »

Kari wrote:I never have any kind of stomach gurglings, or other stomach issues, but have a sense it does cause loser BM's
But that's just a normal reaction to coffee - it may have nothing to do with MC. Coffee has always treated me that way - even when I was a kid. It's the caffeine dose. Regular, brewed coffee has roughly 4 times as much caffeine as a regular "Coke". I could always drink a Coke without reacting, even while I was recovering, (but I avoided them anyway, for almost 2 years), but if I drank more than one, (within an hour or two), the extra caffeine would cause D, just like half a cup, (or more), of coffee.

Love,
Tex
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