Nickel, Cobalt, Balsam of Peru Allergies
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merehenthorn
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 12:04 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Nickel, Cobalt, Balsam of Peru Allergies
Deleted my post, as my intention was not to induce "panic," and I am unsure why my post would have caused panic. I have so often wished that someone would have told me about nickel, cobalt, and Balsam of Peru allergy earlier, as these conditions have been a problem for me for several years and there is limited awareness. These particular allergens are much more common in women than men. While I have been aware of the information contained in the response to my post for many years, my experience differs. I will make sure University of Texas is made aware that I may not be allergic to the patch test identified allergens despite my ongoing reactions to the identified allergens. Thank you for the information.
Hi,
Thank you for raising this issue. Actually, it's a far more complex problem than meets the eye, and even most doctors (including allergists) do not understand it (regarding its effect on digestive systems). It's certainly possible that you may be allergic to all those items, and if so, I agree that you should avoid them. But before anyone reading this falls into a panic and assumes that this is the key to their continuing MC problems, I feel obligated to point out that there is very little to no correlation between skin reactions and digestive system reactions to various allergens, depending on our respective levels of mast cell sensitivity. Skin allergy testing is based on IgE and IgG antibodies (and IgE and IgG reactions), whereas inflammatory bowel disease reactions are primarily caused by (and detected by) IgA antibody levels. Yes, elevated IgE and IgG antibody levels in the skin occasionally are mimicked in the intestines, but in most cases, IgA antibody levels primarily determine the degree of intestinal inflammation. This is because IgE-based reactions are short-term reactions, and IgG-based reactions are medium-term reactions, whereas IgA reactions are long-term reactions. Inflammatory bowel diseases are a response to chronic inflammation (which requires long-term inflammation).
So yes, you are very likely to be allergic to those items that you named, but that doesn't necessarily mean that those items provoke MC reactions for you. They might — it's not impossible, and some of them probably do — but it's not likely that they all cause digestive system problems, either. Most likely, they will cause skin rashes and itching, but not digestive symptoms.
I'm like you — I have many skin (and respiratory) allergies. But while they can make life miserable if I don't respect and prevent them, they don't normally seem to have any effect on my digestive system symptoms. Even when I ingest potent IgE antibody sources (such as bananas, for example), I'll itch like mad, but I get no digestive symptoms. On the other hand, if I ingest potent IgE and IgG antibody sources (such as aged chicken or fish), besides itching like mad, I'll also develop digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, etc. IOW, certain IgE/IgG antibody sources can indeed cause digestive symptoms. Of course my digestive system always reacts to certain sources of IgA antibodies, such as gluten, casein, soy, etc, but reactions to IgE or IgG antibody sources are a matter of degree. By that I mean that a small amount may not cause a digestive system problem, whereas a larger amount will. IgA reactions, by contrast, always occur, even in response to tiny amounts. So in that respect, IgE and IgG antibody sources are a lot like fiber or sugar — we react, only if we ingest more than a certain threshold amount. That said, I realize that we're all different, so some of us may have very low thresholds when our immune system is super-sensitive, so YMMV. For example, we may (or may not) react to those items when we are in a flare, but if we're not in a flare, they may only cause skin issues, (not necessarily digestive system issues).
I hope I haven't just confused the issue.
Tex
Thank you for raising this issue. Actually, it's a far more complex problem than meets the eye, and even most doctors (including allergists) do not understand it (regarding its effect on digestive systems). It's certainly possible that you may be allergic to all those items, and if so, I agree that you should avoid them. But before anyone reading this falls into a panic and assumes that this is the key to their continuing MC problems, I feel obligated to point out that there is very little to no correlation between skin reactions and digestive system reactions to various allergens, depending on our respective levels of mast cell sensitivity. Skin allergy testing is based on IgE and IgG antibodies (and IgE and IgG reactions), whereas inflammatory bowel disease reactions are primarily caused by (and detected by) IgA antibody levels. Yes, elevated IgE and IgG antibody levels in the skin occasionally are mimicked in the intestines, but in most cases, IgA antibody levels primarily determine the degree of intestinal inflammation. This is because IgE-based reactions are short-term reactions, and IgG-based reactions are medium-term reactions, whereas IgA reactions are long-term reactions. Inflammatory bowel diseases are a response to chronic inflammation (which requires long-term inflammation).
So yes, you are very likely to be allergic to those items that you named, but that doesn't necessarily mean that those items provoke MC reactions for you. They might — it's not impossible, and some of them probably do — but it's not likely that they all cause digestive system problems, either. Most likely, they will cause skin rashes and itching, but not digestive symptoms.
I'm like you — I have many skin (and respiratory) allergies. But while they can make life miserable if I don't respect and prevent them, they don't normally seem to have any effect on my digestive system symptoms. Even when I ingest potent IgE antibody sources (such as bananas, for example), I'll itch like mad, but I get no digestive symptoms. On the other hand, if I ingest potent IgE and IgG antibody sources (such as aged chicken or fish), besides itching like mad, I'll also develop digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, etc. IOW, certain IgE/IgG antibody sources can indeed cause digestive symptoms. Of course my digestive system always reacts to certain sources of IgA antibodies, such as gluten, casein, soy, etc, but reactions to IgE or IgG antibody sources are a matter of degree. By that I mean that a small amount may not cause a digestive system problem, whereas a larger amount will. IgA reactions, by contrast, always occur, even in response to tiny amounts. So in that respect, IgE and IgG antibody sources are a lot like fiber or sugar — we react, only if we ingest more than a certain threshold amount. That said, I realize that we're all different, so some of us may have very low thresholds when our immune system is super-sensitive, so YMMV. For example, we may (or may not) react to those items when we are in a flare, but if we're not in a flare, they may only cause skin issues, (not necessarily digestive system issues).
I hope I haven't just confused the issue.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi to you both- I have nothing to contribute but wanted to say that I am learning a lot from this conversation. I am not at all familiar with cobalt, nickel or Balsam of Peru allergies but found it interesting. I also appreciate Tex’s clear explanation on the traits and impact of IgA, IgE, and IgG antibodies since I also have seasonal allergies and histamine issues with certain foods, along with my LC. I see the bigger picture better now.
Thanks to you both.
Carol
Thanks to you both.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou