Not Looking Good

[mullet]

Well, I just got back from an Allergist's Doctor visit and I'm worried. I almost died three weeks ago from a reaction and got the full visit from Para-Medics and a ride to the Hospital in an Ambulance. Did a one night stay and had lots of test done for nothing.

This guy seems to think, and I do too, that it might be Alpha-Gal allergy. Allergic to all mammalian meat. You get it by being bitten by the Lone Star tick or chiggers. Look it up. I had all of the symptoms that morning along with blood pressure dropping below 70/40.

I was told to carry an Epi-Pen with me from now on because we won't know for sure until a special blood test comes back. Everybody spray down good, because if that is what I have it's no joke. It has hit me three times in the last three years, but this was the worst.

[Knoll]

Hope ya soon find out what the issue is.

[bowandarrow473]

Is it cureable?

[JoJoDapyro]

Was there a specific meat you ate? Sounds terrible. I get sick of chicken after the 3rd day.

[DC]

Not good. Someone posted about this a while back. Zuma maybe??

[Marc St Louis]

Doesn't sound good Eddie.  Be careful with what you eat till you know for sure

[JW_Halverson]

I can do just fine with Alpha females, but me and Alpha Gal is quite another thing. 

I have not heard of a specific antigen-or antibody test for it, either.  It may be pretty hard to prove it without some serious risk taking.  Dang tough thing to have happen to a red blooded meat eater.

[bubby]

Damn Eddie that's terrible news, i hope it is not alpha gal

[Fred Arnold]

Bad news for certain. Take care and be especially careful. I could become a veggie if I have to.

[osage outlaw]

That stinks Eddie.  Hope its something else and you can still enjoy eating meat.  But if its not, I'd be willing to help you out.  If you bring all your venison to the Classic I'll be happy to take it off your hands. 

[mullet]

Thanks, Clint, I knew someone would volunteer. Google it, JW, they have pretty much figured it out. It occurs in the South Eastern US, everywhere I've been hunting the last 15 years and reaches up into Michigan. And so far the only cure is to eat fish and birds. I've read so far that they might be able to narrow it down to which red meat but they are still working on that. I think it was beef steak that triggered it, but getting the liquid Benadryl tomorrow and epi-pen and should know something in a week.

 Oh yea, also I found out I have Allergies to dogs and cats, dust mites and two kinds of mold, but they are minor.

[Zuma]

Just for guys

I was never diagnosed but I'll Try to describe what I had.
The first time I woke up 3 am scratching and itching.
I freaked out when I looked in the mirror. See attached photo.
Big red blisters all over. I went to the emergency room.
They gave me a shot of benadyil and maybe adrenalin.
Doc said most likely shingles. They charged me $1,285.
I bought benadril and kept it with me.
The next time I broke out I took the benadryl and went to bed.
It stopped the itching and I woke up fine.
I realized that when I was going to have an attack it would
start with a belly ache then heart burn.
I learned I could ward off the attack if I took the benadryl
when these symptoms started. It took a while before I could
attribute it to meat. Usually a beef burger when I was not at
home eating deer. It went away last fall???
I think I had it for 4-5 years.
Good luck Eddie.  Glad your not allergic to ladies.
I hate ticks.
Zuma

[mullet]

Don, the waking up in the morning with it is the Red Flag. It has a gestation time from 3-6 hours after eating meat. I was covered in hives from my neck down also, and woke up itching, too. It has happened the three times and started by waking up around 3AM feeling like I had diarrhea, or getting ready to puke and then the itching starts. But twice it has been bad with BP dropping. This last time it took 30 minutes to stabilize me in the ambulance with IV's of Benadryl and saline before we took off to the hospital.
At least I live in some of the best fishing country in the world.

[JW_Halverson]

I eat a couple Benadryl before working bees.  Was not allergic to them until we switched from Italians and Carnolians to the Russian strain.  Was told they were a little more prone to stinging and the stings were hotter. 

Yeah, no kidding!  The mule-kick-in-the-guts pain, hives, highly elevated blood pressure, pressure in the ears, fight-or-flight response, and the whole shebang short of my throat closing off.  I suppose that will happen next.  I rally oughta get tooled up for the Epi-pen. 

In reading about this Alpha Gal, it sounds like she will hide out and make like she ain't there and then jump you from behind when you order a non-red meat dish and the cook flavors it with a little beef stock. You had better become an expert at reading ingredients lists on packaging, Eddie.  And carry that Epi every time you eat out.

[Trapper Rob]

Get well soon Eddie.