An Unusual Learning Experience

Post by **tex** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:33 pm

Hi All,

I always seem to have to learn the hard way.

I spent the night in pain, and most of the day today in the ER. They wanted to keep me for a day or 2, but I finally talked them out of it.

Apparently I must have some sort of allergy to peanuts — not just an intolerance, but an alergy. I've been trying to reintroduce them into my diet for a few months, by eating some now and then. A very small amount seemed OK, at least initially. A moderate amount often caused a minor bellyache (as if they were difficult to digest), but the discomfort would usually pass after an hour or so. I thought that by continuing to eat small to moderate (and increasing) doses, my tolerance would slowly improve.

But yesterday I apparently overdid it, or else my allergy/intolerance is maturing, because late in the afternoon I ate slightly more than the usual amount, and a fairly serious bellyache soon followed. I didn't think much of it (other than to decide to stay away from peanuts for a while), but just before bedtime, after taking a shower, I started sweating profusely, and feeling lightheaded and generally cruddy, so I went to bed knowing that I probably wouldn't get much sleep, and I was right. About 3 o'clock I decided to get up and go to the ER, but when I started trying to get dressed, the pain and sweating and feeling rough in general quickly became bad enough that I decided to lie back down for a while, until I felt better.

I finally got up about 6 am and got ready to go to the ER. The problem was pretty clear, because the ileostomy pouch that I had put on before bedtime was still empty. IOW, my gut had either completely shut down or I had a blockage. The medical term for this is ileus, and it happens during abdominal surgery, for example, because handling the guts will cause them to stop working — no motility. So I've had that experience before. But whatever the cause, it's definitely not a good situation, because I doubt that there are any guarantees that it will start working again. I recall that my doctors seemed very relieved when my gut began to digest food again about 3 days after my last abdominal surgery (5 years ago). But it never occurred to me that a food intolerance or allergy could stop digestion/motility.

All they could do in the ER was to confirm (with a CT scan) that there was no obstruction, and determine that there was no motility (by listening for digestive sounds), so that's why they wanted to keep me for a day or so. Fortunately, about noon, my gut started working again, so I was able to talk them into letting me go home. I was amazed at how quickly loss of motility causes major pain and other symptoms. So no more peanuts for me, for sure.

And as Roseanne Roseannadanna often said (on Saturday Night Live), "It just goes to show you, it's always something — if it ain't one thing, it's another".

That definitely applies to this disease.

Tex

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:13 pm

Wow, Tex.

So glad you are doing better now. That must have been scary! Take care of yourself! We need you!

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:55 am

Tex,

I'm glad that it went well, and that you're back home again.

So, allergy can either stop the digestion from working, or cause D?

Lilia

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:17 am

Oh my, I'll bet that took a lot out of you, huh? I hope you're resting & regaining your strength.

These bodies of ours are so complex. We just never know what will set them off.

I'm so glad that you're feeling better, and that learning experience is behind you.

I hope you feel better soon!

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:05 am

Thanks, I appreciate your concern. I was really tired last night, so I slept well, and today I feel great,other than being a little weak.

I wonder if this could be an undocumented symptom of peanut allergy. That said, I didn't notice any symptoms of anaphylaxis other than the sweating and cramping, so I can't be absolutely sure that it was actually an allergic reaction.

Tex

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 10:16 am

Tex - I am glad things turned around rather quickly for you, and am glad you're beginning to feel better. Take good care of yourself.

Paula

Blueberry · Post by **Blueberry** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 3:19 pm

Sorry to read about the terrible experience with peanuts sending you to the ER! Wonderful you are doing better, and escaped the hospital too. I have a somewhat similar reaction with pumpkin seeds. The reaction doesn't happen right away after eating the seeds, but consistently after a number of hours has passed I begin experiencing some of the worst pains all over, lasting for hours. No fun to say the least.

Patricia · Post by **Patricia** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:06 pm

How scary! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better, Tex!
Take it easy!

Love,
Patricia

Grahm · Post by **Grahm** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:21 am

I'm sooooo glad you are ok. Take care of you!!!

Love,
Connie

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:15 pm

Thanks everyone. The ER posted my test results last night, and I note that my WBC was flagged as high, and so were granulocytes. Granulocytes consist of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells. The test listed both eosophil and basophil counts as very, very low. Neutrophil and mast cell counts were not individually specified, of course.

Eosophils are commonly associated with classic allergies (such as asthma, hay fever, etc.), and basophils are commonly associated with food allergies and inflammatory AI conditions (such as RA, IBD, etc.). But both of those were very low. So this suggests that I did not have an allergic reaction to the peanuts (or to the ragweed that normally blooms this time of year, and which hasn't bothered me this year, as far as I can tell by the lack of clinical symptoms).

But neutrophils are commonly associated with AI-associated inflammation (such as RA, IBD, etc.), and we all know that mast cell reactions are commonly associated with MC.

And of course, an elevated WBC count is commonly associated with infections or AI-associated inflammaiton (such as RA, IBD, etc.).

So when I look at all these data, it appears to me that this was a simple case of food-associated inflammation causing an MC reaction. The interesting part is that it resulted in a complete stoppage of my digestive system (loss of motility), which was followed by D after motility resumed (approximately 12 hours or so after it had shut down). In fact, the increased fluid volume (liquid D) was noted on the CT scan report, but the fluid was not discharged until several hours after motility resumed. Interesting, right?

Note that I never would have known that my motility had stopped if it hadn't been for the fact that I have an ileostomy. So maybe this isn't necessarily rare with MC, because most people would not be able to detect it. I could easily see that it was happening by the total lack of stomal output, and the absence of motility was confirmed by doctors listening to my digestive system through stethoscopes.

Similar to having MC, l consider myself very lucky to have an ileostomy, because it provides me with an observation window into my small intestine that is not available to most MC patients. It has given me the opportunity to learn some surprising things over the years. Things that no one else has an opportunity to observe. As a student of MC, it would be difficult to visualize a better learning laboratory than the diseased and modified body that I have been "blessed" with.

Lucky me!

Tex

sonja · Post by **sonja** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:34 pm

Hi Tex,

What an experience! And your observations and conclusions are very interesting!
And really friendly that you share them with us!
You will need some time to recover. No peanuts anymore!

Just simple potato chips..........yes boring, but save for the most of us!

Sonja

drdebc · Post by **drdebc** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:01 pm

Tex,
I am SO SO sorry to hear about your terrible weekend. I have learned the hard way that food sensitivities and supplement sensitivities wreck havoc on my system.
I too am supposively allergic to peanuts which means no propofol during surgery. When I had meniscus surgery, they used it anyway and I had no apparent reaction. However, I do avoid peanuts.
I wish you a speedy recovery,
Deb

Post by **tex** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:28 pm

Thanks Deb and Sonja,

I've also noticed that since yesterday, the distal joint on the index finger of my right hand (which has previous arthritis damage left by my original symptom onset, about 15 years ago), is now aching. That may mean that I am now sensitive to soy, despite an EnteroLab test about 8 years ago that was negative for soy. I think I'll order another test. If the result is negative, then my diet is being somehow cross-contaminated by either gluten or dairy.

Tex

drdebc · Post by **drdebc** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:34 pm

Oh No, Dear Tex,

My aches and creepy finger paralysis have mysteriously gone away since I started the D3, B12 shots and Magnesium Glycinate supplements. (I was deficient in all 3 of those). Mag Glycinate is a highly absorbable form of magnesium- Metagenics. Supposedly, this form of it decreases the chance of D. It is expensive but if it works, it will be worth it.

The verdict is still out. I am to try it for a week. I shall see...Of course, taking any supplements is tricky with MC. The D3 and B12 I take are from now. I really like this brand because it does not contain soy, dairy, gluten and it is cost efficient.

I have discovered that just about everything sold in our country includes soy. This is unlike the rest of the world. Avoiding soy has necessitated that everything I cook be "from scratch". Even Zesty salad dressing to marinate chicken includes soy from 3 manufacturers of this product. IMHO, given the current non-gluten popularity and the lack of interest in manufacturing without soy, one must be a label reader in order to avoid soy. And unfortunately, one can never eat at a restaurant.

Over the weekend, I was forced to drive 5+hours during one day/night. Even though we made stops, I arrived home with a terrible flank lower back ache. I took 3 Cumamin and the next morning it was gone! I am a believer in this form of turmeric.

As I typed this response, I received a call from my primary that I also have a urinary track infection and that I need to pick up the Rx antibiotic prescription. My reply was OH No!!! Not again!!!!!

I hope all on here are aware of the HUGE contributions to our cause and to our newly established non-profit for MC that have been made by our site moderator,Tex AKA Wayne.
.
A big HUG and thanks to you, dear Tex.
I do so hope you will feel better soon.

Deb

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 6:45 pm

Glad you are back on your feet! Very interesting situation. Did you show to be more likely to develop a peanut allergy on your 23andme testing?