Note that diarrhea symptoms can be followed with a sudden loss of blood pressure.    They can be very dangerous.

It's not uncommon for someone to have allergies to more than one type of legume. 

I developed my allergies 10 years ago--as an adult.  Yeah--it happens. 

Have you seen an allergist in the past?  Can you be tested now?

Allergies can develop at any time.  Since lentils and peanuts are legumes, I would wonder if the kind of reaction you are currently having to peanuts will with repeated exposure, develop into anaphylaxis.  My suggestion is to see an allergist who has experience with food allergies.

I'd like to bump this topic.

I had a similar experience.  I have many allergies and intolerances but lived off peanut butter sandwiches for lunch for 30 years of my life.  The last few years I've had a similar reaction- I cannot take one bite of peanut anything without ending up in the bathroom for a while with diarrhea and painful cramps, lots of gas and bloating.  I still feed my kids peanut butter and don't notice any allergic symptoms just touching it (and with toddlers it does get smeared on me sometimes).  I had repeated allergic reactions (hives, throat swelling) to lentils five years ago and so I no longer eat those.  I also have digestive reactions to other legumes.  I find it curious why I would develop these allergies that seem so random to me.  Because of my reaction to lentils, do you think my peanut reaction is an allergic reaction or just a food intolerance? 

(By the way, I LOVE Taiwan also. Lived in Taibei for five months, spent a couple weeks in a hospital there with a spontaneously collapsed lung. Can't wait to go back someday.)

Quote from: SilverLining on March 09, 2015, 01:12:39 PM

Quote from: BethelAbba on March 09, 2015, 12:10:36 PM


(A) it's been this way for about 3 years now and I have just "lived with it."   

It was several years between my first reacting and my first anaphylactic reaction.

I am not saying it is that way with everyone. But I do feel strongly that people who have a food allergy need to be prepared.

Exactly.  I had several years of mild itching and such with certain allergens.  Full blown anaphylaxis now.

Quote from: BethelAbba on March 09, 2015, 12:10:36 PM


(A) it's been this way for about 3 years now and I have just "lived with it."   

It was several years between my first reacting and my first anaphylactic reaction.

I am not saying it is that way with everyone. But I do feel strongly that people who have a food allergy need to be prepared.

Quote from: BethelAbba on March 09, 2015, 12:10:36 PM
(D) If one is allergic to peanuts, does it naturally flow out to other nuts?  I can eat cashews or almonds without issue.  It's just peanuts that consistantly destroys my digestive system.

Hi and Welcome!

This site is a great resource as you are finding out.

No, being allergic to peanuts is not directly related to other nuts.  Peanuts are Legumes not nuts.  Some other Legumes are soy, peas and beans.  Peanuts grow in the ground.

"Tree nuts" which is where all the nuts are tossed are comprised of actual nuts and of drupes that all grow in trees.

There are some great websites that explain the differences.

Good luck with your visit with the doctor and your research. 

Quote from: Macabre on March 09, 2015, 07:53:44 AM
And it could take far less than one peanut. 

I'll repeat that adult onset allergies are just as dangerous and ones acquired as a child. Your mast cells don't get to use the %2

Nice to meet you too, Macabre....

weirdly, death doesn't upset me as much as it does others.  I was almost there in 2011.  Long story short, appendix was minutes from bursting when they finally figured out what was wrong.   Because I have Diverticulosis.... or Diverticulitis... one of these days I do need to remember which leads to which... they couldn't determine if it was that or appendicitis.   It all came down to the difference between two x-rays.

In any case... discussed your information with my wife and we'll take it all to heart and see an allergist.

Quote from: SilverLining on March 09, 2015, 10:46:35 AM

And I am living proof.

Also, my allergic reactions were just an inconvenience for years....until one day they almost killed me. So, not only can adult on-set become life threatening, but you can rely one "but my reactions have always been _____" and assume that's what they will always remain.

ninjaroll, I have found your posts in this threat quite interesting.

And I want to throw one idea out. How long ago since there has been a peanut/butter recall? Is it possible recalled pb could still be on the shelf over there?  (Are stores obligated to remove it....is the information as easily accessible to them, etc.)

And if it's only peanutbutter, and not actual peanut or other products made with peanut, then it is not a peanut allergy. It may be an allergy to a different ingredient.

Nice to meet you as well.

(A) it's been this way for about 3 years now and I have just "lived with it."    I don't eat Peanut butter often (or peanuts).... when I first came to Taiwan 6 years ago they were a daily staple.... and I mean daily.  I loved having a PBJ for lunch: quick, simple and cheap meal that helped us save money.   Now, because of the reactions, I have only 1 or 2 PBJ's a year.   And I've stopped eating RAW peanuts nearly entirely.   .... leads us to ....

(B) It's nearly impossible to avoid Peanuts entirely in Taiwan.   They show up everywhere, in nearly every dish.   Bite into an egg breakfast sandwich and you'll find they've added a layer of peanut butter.   I've seen peanuts cooked in fried rice.  In soup.  In sandwiches.  In Ice Cream (that was a flavor I never want to taste again... ewwww) and everything in between.   My Father-in-law keeps them in a jar at the dinner table for a snack DURING the meal.     Taiwanese seem to love the peanut.

(C) If there was a recall of Peanut Butter, I would hope that Costco as a company would have the sense to consider what they have exported out to their foreign divisions.   The Peanut Butter that seems to affect me worst / fastest seems to be what we buy there.   The Kirkland brand peanuts likewise were giving me problems, so I stopped buying them 3 years ago.

(D) If one is allergic to peanuts, does it naturally flow out to other nuts?  I can eat cashews or almonds without issue.  It's just peanuts that consistantly destroys my digestive system.

---

To one and all who've replied.   Thanks for your thoughts.  I have read them, but don't have the time to do individualistic replies.   It seemed that this one covering Macabre & Silverlining would pretty much tackle the whole.

I'll be around for a bit.... my curiousity is piqued and I do intend to find out what's going on.   I just have a natural aversion to doctors that is going to have to be overcome for me to move to the next phase of this "Investigation."   Keep pushing me... it'll get done.

Quote from: Macabre on March 09, 2015, 07:53:44 AM
And it could take far less than one peanut. 

I'll repeat that adult onset allergies are just as dangerous and ones acquired as a child. Your mast cells don't get to use the %2

And I am living proof.

Also, my allergic reactions were just an inconvenience for years....until one day they almost killed me. So, not only can adult on-set become life threatening, but you can rely one "but my reactions have always been _____" and assume that's what they will always remain.

ninjaroll, I have found your posts in this threat quite interesting.

And I want to throw one idea out. How long ago since there has been a peanut/butter recall? Is it possible recalled pb could still be on the shelf over there?  (Are stores obligated to remove it....is the information as easily accessible to them, etc.)

And if it's only peanutbutter, and not actual peanut or other products made with peanut, then it is not a peanut allergy. It may be an allergy to a different ingredient.

And it could take far less than one peanut. 

I'll repeat that adult onset allergies are just as dangerous and ones acquired as a child. Your mast cells don't get to use the %2

And it could take far less than one peanut. 

I'll repeat that adult onset allergies are just as dangerous and ones acquired as a child. Your mast cells don't get to use the "but I'm old" excuse.

I have had anaphylaxis from residue on tongs.  Now it involved shellfish, but my beef that was cooked in a clean pan that shrimp had not been in was turned with tongs that had been used with shrimp.

I had anaphylaxis. It started with a spaciness/disoriented feeling. Then I had stomach cramps and diarrhea.  Then nausea.  These were unabated by taking Benadryl for hours. After several hours--when I experienced chest pains and and had an impending sense of doom, I finally took the EpiPen. And I still ezpeirnced uterine cramping for days (anaphylaxis can affect smooth muscle tissue).

Symptoms can change over time--and not even long periods of time. There are soooooo many stories of parents and spouses saying, "His allergy was never bad before. Benadryl had always worked." And they are speaking in the past tense about their loved one.

So here is the thing:  if you are having symptoms after eating peanuts, you need to go to an allergist to determine if you are allergic. If you are, you need to carry epinephrine eith you at all times. Two injectors.  EpiPens are big, but most deaths result from not having epinephrine with them or not using it until it was too late. AuviQs are smaller--the size of an iPhone. 

You have to replace the auto injectors every year and they can't be exposed to extreme heat or cold. 

And you use them if you have two body systems respond or one system and its your throat. You use Epi and you get transport to the hospital. If symptoms don't improve in five minutes you use your second Epi.

There is an allergist with a peanut allergy, Dr Robert Wood. He had anaphylaxis because the spatula used to lift his otherwise safe cookies had been used on PB cookies earlier.   He had to have FIVE epis. That was from a little cross contamination. 

If you are allergic know that woks are rarely cleaned between uses in the US (and I assume elsewhere).  They will continue to have peanut protein.  And egg rolls are often pastes together with peanut Paste. Also most all treenuts are made on the same equipment as peanuts.

So--get this checked out and if you are allergic, take care of yourself properly or you could die. 

BethelAbba, ninjaroll is referring to Epipens because it's impossible to know without testing whether your reactions are more of a digestive intolerance (a la lactose intolerance, which is not the same as an allergy) or a true  IgE mediated allergy.  If it is the latter, your reactions can change abruptly and without warning - meaning that just because you ingested peanuts yesterday and aren't dead today, doesn't mean that won't be the case tomorrow.  This can be dependent on an abundance of factors, such as amount ingested, what else is in your stomach at the time, and whether the month has a "r" in it.  (Just kidding on the last one, but it really can be that random!)

It really is something that you need to sort out, and yes, adult onset allergies can be just as life threatening as allergies that make themselves known early in life. 

Macabre is a member here.

Here is a basic answer to your risk question...

http://allergicliving.com/2013/09/13/can-you-tell-if-a-food-allergy-is-life-threatening/

Quote from: ninjaroll on March 09, 2015, 12:32:21 AM
Yeah.  I'm just gonna let Macabre take over from here.  He's all yours.

I got a good laugh out of this... not sure if you're referencing an actual member here or just dark thoughts in general... but good come-back.

You never did say what your knowledge of Taiwan stems from.   When were you here last?

Yeah.  I'm just gonna let Macabre take over from here.  He's all yours.

Quote from: ninjaroll on March 08, 2015, 08:36:42 PM
Since I'm guessing by the political affiliation and Costco reference your physical geography is around Kaoshiung you should be in decent shape to get to Tainan.  There are a quite a few medical facilities in Kaoshiung, I know some of the people that run them.  For allergies I'd see if you can't get in touch with Dr. Wang Jiu-Yao in Tainan at National Cheng Kung University.  He's a pediatric allergist but he's the right type of allergist, the type that we're talking about and that Macabre mentions to see for blood and skin testing.  He's extremely well published so I'm guessing they follow the discipline's standard protocols including in office oral challenges.

How long HAS it been since you lived in Taiwan?  --- Kaoshiung is not the only city with a Costco.... there are something like 12 of them around the island, with 2 more coming later this year.   I actually live in Bali, across from Danshui.... outside of Taipei.    The KMT reference is mainly to infer that going to Hong Kong for "Help" wasn't really an option due to my wife's hatred for all things "CHINA".   I used to have a corporate level job with Best Buy.   I had the option to work in our Shang-Hai branch and actually fly back to Taiwan for weekends.  My wife said effectively: Pick sex with me or pick the job.....   it was kinda a persuasive argument to say the least.   She did that because she honestly despises China... and hates the fact that they "Assume" ownership over Taiwan.  So I kissed goodbye to a 13 year stint with one of the greatest companies in America to work for.

But enough of the history lesson....  Yeah, Tainan is an option, the in-laws live there.


But you are taking this in directions I had not considered and I'm curious why.

My allergy to peanuts affects my stomach and digestion primarily.   You're talking Epi-pens.... and making it sound like it could be something dangerous.   I'm not catching the logical flow here... what is danger of the allergy that I am not seeing?

I know that early-life peanut allergies can be life threatening even down to one peanut..... but would that be the same for late-in life onset allergies?   

I ate peanuts yesterday.  I am not dead today.   Is there a risk of that tomorrow?

You've got my curiousity piqued in directions I hadn't considered.