Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: mullet on September 23, 2015, 05:19:35 pm
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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.
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Hope ya soon find out what the issue is.
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Is it cureable?
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Was there a specific meat you ate? Sounds terrible. I get sick of chicken after the 3rd day.
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Not good. Someone posted about this a while back. Zuma maybe??
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Doesn't sound good Eddie. Be careful with what you eat till you know for sure
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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.
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Damn Eddie that's terrible news, i hope it is not alpha gal
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Bad news for certain. Take care and be especially careful. I could become a veggie if I have to.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Get well soon Eddie.
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May be risky but I don't think I had any reaction to deer meat.
Although, like you say you are in a great fish area. :)
I am sure my blood pressure changed but I never recorded it.
Stay on top of this, as I think, I read where some don't make
it back to the steak house.
Bio terrorism or dumb science??
Zuma
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Sorry to read it, buddy. Hope you get more answers soon. Talk to you soon, scouting Felda on Saturday.
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Boy Eddie, this sucks. Keep that Epi-pen handy. I hope the tests show otherwise.
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Sorry to hear that Eddie. I hope your luck gets better.
I was veggie for a long time, it's not so bad :D
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Hang in there Eddie - thoughts and Prayers sent ! Bob
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Sorry to hear that Eddie, I may have to change the menu in November. :) We can go with Turkey t!#$ and Cat fish. Hope they find out it's something else and it can be fixed. Seems every time I get a problem they say tough luck and you got to live with it, hope that ant the case with you. If Clint can't handle all your freezer supply I will be glad to help out also, I mean what are friends for. >:D ;) :) seriously Keep us updated. :)
Pappy
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Look after yourself Eddie, hope it gets sorted.
Del
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I don't think this allergy has any idea who it is tanglin' with.....it best be careful.
Take care of yourself Eddie
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Geeeze, Eddie. Sounds awful. Hope you get it nailed.
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Eddie, I don't understand all of the medical terms in your post.
But I wish all the best for you, take care of you.
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Eddie, sorry to hear about your health problem, sure hope everything works out, dang ticks are kicking ass everywhere , we got alot of lyme cases up here. Get Well Soon. Bob
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Sorry to hear that mate- all the best.
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Thanks guys, I'm hoping the test come back negative but I have my doubts.
Simon, in a nutshell If I was bit by an infected tick I will be allergic to all meat that is Mammalian. I think I'll get tired of chicken fast.
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Sorry to hear that, chickens good on the pocketbook/ bad on taste buds. Does that go for any type of protein including fats that come out of mammals? If it did you have to be awful careful on a whole lot of different things for cross contamination
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Man Eddie , sorry to hear this! I've been telling everyone the tick bites have been very long lasting and very different from the past. Something is definitely up. Hope you get a handle on it. Looks like you'll have to kill more turkeys, which I know really breaks your heart >:D
Tracy
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Paul; it also includes all Dairy products. I read they are working on a new test to try and isolate which meat is the primary trigger.
Tracy, a few years ago I got bit by a bunch of ticks in Tenn. and then again in SC and had a different reaction then I have had before. They all developed oozing blisters for at least a week. I also read you can get it from Chiggers.
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Woah that's rough! It looks like the effects of the infection slowly wear off, but I can't imagine it's much fun testing to see if it's gone or not. :/
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That's rough man, I would not be happy giving up red meat, but I would console myself by trying to get the doc to give me a prescription for sushi, lots and lots of tasty sushi!
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Sushi and Sashimi are fine. I eat plenty of it.
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Falafel/hummus/baba ghanoush/tabouli...
I could eat that stuff every day and enjoy it.
Let us know if you want recipes. That's all staple food in Angie's family.
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When I ate it in Israel I don't think it had meat. I'm not going to turn into a Vegetarian, I got two Epi Pens, today.
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Well, just got the call from the Doc, I've tested positive for Alpha Gal. Funny, I ate pork chop Saturday and then leftovers on Sunday.
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You still alive?
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10-4, big guy.
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Eddie do me a favor and ask the doc if you
get a chance. Can Alpha Gal be detected in
a person that no longer has symptoms?
Thanks :) Zuma
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10-4, big guy.
Despite having breasts, the Merriams subspecies of wild turkey here in the Black Hills is not mammalian. Ergo, it is safe for you to eat.
Not sayin', just sayin'.
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Don; I'll see him Thursday and will ask. It takes a special blood test.
JW, so far I'm planning on it.
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In the past few years ticks have affected me differently as well. When I was young I pulled them off and that was it. Now they leave a irritated red spot. If I don't find them soon I find them because they begin to itch me. I've woke up during the night several times scratching and found a tick. Once gone that red spot has been known to stick around and itch for up to 3 months. I've tried to get much better about spraying down during tick season. I bought some new stuff the other day that has permethrin in it and is scent free. You spray your clothes and it is supposed to last through up to 6 washings. Haven't put it to the test yet. Ticks aren't something you can take lightly anymore.
Sorry to hear the diagnosis Mullet. Hope it all works out for you.
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I hope they can narrow down the type of meat you are allergic to.
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From what I learned reading about it, All mammals can carry it (except new world primates), but not all do. So it doesn't look like you can narrow it down by species alone. It's a hard one for sure.
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So far every time I've had a reaction it seems I've been really pigging out on red meat. I ate a NY Strip a week ago and had no problems. But the last time when I took the ride to the Hospital I had ate a big steak two nights in a row with baked potatoes loaded with sour cream and butter along with veggies sautéed in butter. That might have been an overload.
And I've been spraying my clothes for years with Permithrin
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A coworker of mine has Alpha gal. He has no problem eating pork, but he ate something the other day that had a small amount of hamburger in it which he did not know about and he had to use his epipen and ended up in the hospital. It may cause different reactions in different people.
Tick diseases are awful. There is a new one right across the state line in Kansas called Bourbon County viral tick disease or something like that ( I may have the name wrong but it is close to that). It basically caused a reaction in the man that has it that has never been seen before. the virus attacks the white blood cells and basically, from what I understand, starts to dissolve them. It is a brand new disease with very severe results. And I work in that area all the time so it scares the crap out of me.
Good luck and please keep us updated.
Neal
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bio terrorism
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Well the mullet will be running soon ,smoked mullet and roe. Hope for the best
Roger
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After reading all this it doesn't sound like a fun condition to have to deal with Eddie. Take care of yourself and stick with the program the docs lay out for you and hopefully you'll be back to you old self soon.
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Thanks, guys, I'm buying a gallon of Permethrin from Tractor Supply. I'm mixing my own. Its funny that the spray can stuff says put on your clothes, only. It is far less potent as the stuff you shampoo your hair for Head Lice, go figure.
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Man that sucks! I wish I was still in the area, I could eat all of your wild hog for you. Well I would even drink your beer, if you are still having problems with that. If not, then I would bring beer, so you could relax, and watch me eat the wild boar. Of course, you would have to cook it on the grill, with some of that lemon juice on it. But seriously, I hope you can kick it. Side kick maybe. I was back in the Petersburg national park, when I was younger, and was showing a friend of mine, the park, that is next to Fort Lee, when I was stationed there, a LONNNNG time ago, and after we went through there, we went to a restaurant and I went into the bathroom, and after washing up, I was grooming my mustache, and felt what I thought was a scab! But when I picked at it, I was able to pull it off, and it was tick! Never had a problem with it, just a little red spot, where it was. But, I dropped my drawers, and checked every nook and fanny, I mean cranny, but thankfully there were no more. I told her, and her friend to go check themselves. I hate those things, and you seldom feel them crawling on you. I do hope you can over come this crap, good luck with it. Is it a viral thing, or parasite? If a parasite, you might go for sushi, and eats lots of the pickled ginger. Ginger kills the parasite, Anasarkas, and it's eggs also. That is the parasite that is commonly found in raw fish. I use ginger, on my cats Walmart brand tuna in water, that I feed him, and he stays parasite free, and has healthy, eyes, and shiny fur. Anyway, good luck Buddy, hate to hear that. Come on out, and see if Elk will cause you any problems. Take care.
Wayne
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What exactly do you buy and how do you mix your Permethrin? I need to buy some.
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Ben Meadows sells a big bottle and is what I've been using. But someone told me the other day that Tractor Supply sells it concentrated by the gallon. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.
I went to the Doc, today and he said from the report, every tick that bit me must have been infected. The base line reference number for the test is a 0.35, mine was 5.02. I'm BBQing chicken tonight.
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I hope it goes away sooner rather than later, looks like no deer meat for a while, that really stinks.
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Bet, me!
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Man that sucks! I was going to offer up some non-red meat recipes until I remembered that I don't know how to cook without butter. I hope it goes away and soon! Josh
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Eddie, you might find the right, safe ratio in a search on TG. I've seen it mentioned many times.
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I'll take a look, Pat. The Doc said it's kinda like eating peppers, You can eat a hundred just fine and then you get a really hot one.
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I hate you are going through this Eddie. I told everybody at our hunting camp about your situation and we are spraying down religiously now. Damn ticks.... reckon why the Good Lord made them?
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Damn ticks.... reckon why the Good Lord made them?
I can't figure that out either!
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Feed for Guiena hens :o ;D
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Man I take a few days away and you are trying to die on us!
Take care Eddy hope this all works out for you.
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I haven't read all the posts here so I may repeat some. I met a guy three years ago that told me about Alpha Gal because he had it. No red meat at all for him. Unlike a tick virus it causes an allergy to red meat. He also carries an epi pen and said he could or would occasional eat beef but would use the pen afterwards. It has something to do with the digestion of the meat that causes the reaction.
If you have no other tick bites it can pass after time, usually several years which is promising I think.
The allergy was only discovered a few years ago. The guy that told me about it said his first attack was after eating and going to bed. He woke up itching and feeling like a heart attack. Went to ER and was treated and released. Scary stuff, sorry to hear you got it Eddy.