Is this an Allergy?

[Lefty25]

I get allergic reactions to synthetic fibers..  polyester, fleece, acrylic and nylon are the worst ones .I also react to some wood products, eg sawdust, fresh cut wood, cardboard, the ink on newspaper, felt pen ink, certain perfume scents, almost all laundry detergent scents.  These are just the main ones there are other things I react to as well but sometimes it is hard to figure them all out, I am now 50 years old and  have had reactions to these things for 7 years or so now. I wear only cotton clothing and I have rid my house of all carpets, synthetic clothing,bedding, ect and scented anything. All the members in my family only wear cotton around me. I have been to an allergist and have had a skin test and the results were no allergies. I have taken pills and inhalers and nothing seems to help .The reactions I get are as follows... Eg . I go shopping to a clothing store.I Walk in ..shopping for 10 mins lets say... My throat starts to feel like I ate a furball .I get dry feeling and then I lose my voice and if I dont get away from the allergen then my lungs start to ache and off to the hospital I go for a shot of adrenalin to open up my lungs. I react in the same way to raw wood products . the only difference is with scents my reaction to them is lightheadedness, dizziness and sweating. I dont know how or why I have this .. or how it started, I live with it everyday and I would like some help
I am in the middle of menopause and am on 0 medication for any kind of hormone replacement . Could my hormones be doing this to me? Is this an allergy ? Am I lacking something? Is it Anxiety? I can't figure it out.
Any Suggestions?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!

I can understand your frustration. Menopause is a difficult time. Deficiency of estrogen hormone results in several types of problems. Low estrogen levels are known to be associated with asthma like problems and allergies. You can read this article to gain further insight: http://www.onlineallergycenter.com/treatments/hormone_imbalance.htm

What is important is to realize that a low estrogen in some causes a lot of strain on adrenal glands to produce cortisol. This too gets exhausted with time. Thus allergies develop. What your body could fight off earlier, you are unable to do now.

Please get a complete hormone assessment done. Hormone replacement therapy should help you. You can try food rich in estrogen. The list is available at: http://dogtorj.net/id46.html

It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know what your doctors think about it. Do let me know if there is any thing else. Take care!

[dai3symae]

I am 52 and have very similar problems.  I have allergic type reactions to scented products, soy, polyuerthane and a bunch of other stuff.  Several times I have had anaphalactic reactions to really odd stuff.  My allergy tests were mostly negative, except for mold, and dust.
This started about 8 years ago.  I am also in the middle of menopause.  I don't think it's hormones or anxiety.  However, my reactions increased dramatically after I was dx'd with Hashimoto's thyroiditis last year.  The doc thinks the thyroid antibodies have made the allergy stuff worse.
I have taken singulair (I don't have asthma) for about 6 years and it helps more than anything else.

I read this somewhere, tried it and was very surprised to find that it worked for me....maybe it will help you too.  Take an alka-seltzer to stop an attack.  I keep a packet in my purse now along with benedryl and an epi-pen.

You ask how and why....I have spent hours reading and researching and learned that many people become sensitive after a toxic exposure.  In my case....I repeatedly cleaned up the dog mess in my basement with bleach.  I had no idea I was breathing chlorine gas or that it was dangerous.  I should have payed more attention in chemistry class!!!

Good Luck....I know how difficult the struggle can be.

Sandy