Stuart Brooks
10-08-2013, 07:40 AM
Search for "Alpha-gal" and you will come across a recently recognized allergy to antibodies released by a Lone Star tick and what can happen to you as it has to me. You can forget eating any mammalian meat. Steak, pork, roast beef, lamb, sausage, venison, possum, raccoon, or whatever you like to dine on. What's left is veggies, fish, poultry and fruit. I'm so sick of chicken and I really not a big fish fan. I've eaten more fish in the last six months than I have in the last 20 years. You also have to be careful about anything made with mammal products like beef broth. That's in a lot of soups and sauces.
The Lone Star tick originates in Texas but has spread to a wide area of the South, East, and central states. We all find ourselves wading though shrubbery, grass, and trees. If you can carry an insect repellant with DEET and spray clothes and everything you can as soon as you get out of the vehicle. Check yourself for ticks as soon as possible.
The reaction is not immediate. It's usually several hours after you have eaten and the body has absorbed the alpha-gal sugars found in mammal meat. Then you can have a variety of unpleasant reactions up to anaphylaxis. I have to carry EpiPens and Benadryl with me.
My first reaction a year ago on September 1st started with a massive case of hives that started on my head and ended up all over my body. My face, tongue, and throat swelled and I had my first ambulance trip to the ER for anaphylaxis. Not knowing what caused it, I blamed it on a pickle, I had another severe hive attack before I went to an allergist.
How long, if not forever, the antibodies exist in the body is not known yet. I have to go back for another alpha-gal blood test in December. If I'm clear, I'm going to have the biggest Ribeye steak I can find. In fact, I may have steak for a week then go to roast beef and hamburgers. Oh yeah, hot dog chili on some all beef hot dogs.
Just be careful out there.
The Lone Star tick originates in Texas but has spread to a wide area of the South, East, and central states. We all find ourselves wading though shrubbery, grass, and trees. If you can carry an insect repellant with DEET and spray clothes and everything you can as soon as you get out of the vehicle. Check yourself for ticks as soon as possible.
The reaction is not immediate. It's usually several hours after you have eaten and the body has absorbed the alpha-gal sugars found in mammal meat. Then you can have a variety of unpleasant reactions up to anaphylaxis. I have to carry EpiPens and Benadryl with me.
My first reaction a year ago on September 1st started with a massive case of hives that started on my head and ended up all over my body. My face, tongue, and throat swelled and I had my first ambulance trip to the ER for anaphylaxis. Not knowing what caused it, I blamed it on a pickle, I had another severe hive attack before I went to an allergist.
How long, if not forever, the antibodies exist in the body is not known yet. I have to go back for another alpha-gal blood test in December. If I'm clear, I'm going to have the biggest Ribeye steak I can find. In fact, I may have steak for a week then go to roast beef and hamburgers. Oh yeah, hot dog chili on some all beef hot dogs.
Just be careful out there.