https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:08:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1614283 Mon, 05 May 2014 17:39:36 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1614283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerblonde: Happy to pass on info :) The reason that avoiding the reactive items made me worse actually was because of what I was eating instead. The substitutes are what aggravated my real problem. Sorry if this was unclear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1614212 Mon, 05 May 2014 17:04:36 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1614212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerblonde: IgG is a measure of your tolerance (not intolerance) so it's not surprising that you had high levels with respect to your favorite foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1614195 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:55:17 +0000 gingerblonde 1614195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: To be honest, I had never considered having food allergies or sensitivity before the naturopath suggested that I take the test. I guess that's why I'm asking for opinions about it - I'm still not sure how I really feel about whether it seems like something that could be affecting me. All I know is that I have had some rather unusual swelling and I wondered if it was a factor. I think you're right that an allergist would be a good next step.</p> <p>@Mrs.Someone: Thank you very much for your perspective! Interesting that avoiding the reactive items initially made your issues worse. Truthfully, I don't really have GI issues. I don't feel like I have any serious health issues outside of the excessive weight gain and swelling, other than headaches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613546 Mon, 05 May 2014 13:05:18 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1613546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the IgG and IgE tests taken by my naturopath in hopes of calming my GI issues and helping me be able to hold onto a pregnancy. The way she explained it, is IgG reactive foods have cause inflammation, and IgE are real allergies. I was pretty good at avoiding the items that I was reactive to (IgG) and it actually made my issues worse (because of the real problem). For now, I just avoid the highly reactive things since I am pregnant.</p> <p>What my real problem ended up being was fructose malabsorption, which was/is treated by the FODMAP diet that @MrsADS mentions. Its a really complicated diet to follow, but it made sense for me since my GI issues were such a problem. It solved it right away, and I did end up loosing a little weight in the process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613486 Mon, 05 May 2014 12:45:58 +0000 spaniellove 1613486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you truly think you have food allergies I would recommend getting tested through an allergist, not a naturopath/acupuncturist. My allergist did the skin test on me because the blood tests are known to come back with false positives. What made me wonder about whether you were reacting wasn't so much the weight gain as the swelling - for me, every time I had a sudden swelling episode it turned out I'd been exposed to one of my allergens (I have multiple food allergies, confirmed by a skin test) and Benadryl took care of the episode. I'd definitely see an allergist before trying any home remedies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613228 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:25:11 +0000 gingerblonde 1613228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Good thought, maybe an allergist is the next step.</p> <p>@MrsADS: I will look into that! Interestingly, I had no reaction to gluten or many things that seem to be triggers for lots of folks with sensitivities/intolerance. I was highly reactive to pineapple (my favorite), banana, cranberry, mushroom, almonds (another favorite), coffee bean, sugar cane and milk... though not cheese. Weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613220 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:23:15 +0000 MrsADS 1613220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could also try a low FODMAP diet (google it). It's designed for people who have GI reactions to food - bloating, gas, diarrhea/constipation, etc. but I think it is sometimes also recommended for certain skin conditions and sinuses/environmental allergens. It's sort of an elimination diet and then you can slowly add stuff back in to see what works for you. The biggest things are no gluten, no lactose, no cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), no beans/lentils. </p> <p>I'm not "allergic" to any of those foods, but trying to avoid the ones I know I am sensitive to (gluten, milk, cruciferous veggies, beans) really make a HUGE difference in how I feel. For example - I'm a really skinny person with a pretty flat tummy. If I eat a lot of gluten, my belly swells up like I'm 5 months pregnant and I can't go to the bathroom for days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613196 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:13:09 +0000 Cole 1613196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if there are multiple types of blood tests for allergies but my husband has a known allergy to peanuts and was recently retested by his gp via blood test to see if the severity had decreased. They didn't do a skin test due to the severity of his allergy. I don't know that that information is super helpful but I thought I would share in case someone else knows what test I am referring to. </p> <p>Another thought might be to go to an allergist and ask them to do a skin test. Perhaps the combination of information would help you make a more informed decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613192 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:11:49 +0000 gingerblonde 1613192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: @MrsRcCar: Thanks to both of you ladies, I'm curious, and will wall you both. :)</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Yep, definitely saw that article last night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613177 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:06:08 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1613177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your husband is correct. <a href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/igg-food-intolerance-tests-what-does-the-science-say/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/igg-food-intolerance-tests-what-does-the-science-say/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613168 Mon, 05 May 2014 11:02:10 +0000 MrsRcCar 1613168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerblonde: I am not sure about those tests but I did a test called the ALCAT. It is a blood test all about food/medical/environment intolerances. I found out that my body is gluten intolerant among a few other things. I have lost 60+ pounds because of what I have learned. I should also say I took the ALCAT because I was hoping to avoid surgery on my sinuses . Wall me if you want the run down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613158 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:59:24 +0000 Boheme 1613158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had very similar issues during pregnancy - 60 lb gain despite logging my intake and exercising - and after completing 6 weeks on an elimination diet, there are foods I'm really reactive to now. Following to see what kind of advice you get! I've been considering this as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-know-about-food-allergiesfood-intolerance-blood-tests#post-1613148 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:56:49 +0000 gingerblonde 1613148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am due with my first LO this month. I gained around 60 pounds with this pregnancy, despite logging food intake and getting good exercise. I have also struggled with very severe swelling and bloating, but my blood pressure is on the low side and all seems well otherwise with my other bloodwork.</p> <p>My naturopath/acupuncturist recommended that I do the food allergy/intolerance blood panel, and I recently got my results back. She ran the Standard Food Panel for IgG antibodies. </p> <p>My husband has expressed quite a bit of skepticism about this blood test and about whether I genuinely do have any food intolerance issues. He pulled up many, many articles stating that only IgE antibodies are clearly indicative of a food allergy or intolerance, and that the IgG isn't recommended for testing and that results about its accuracy are inconclusive and hazy at best.</p> <p>Does anyone here have any insight into this issue? If I am inadvertently causing my body harm by eating some of the items I tested as being "highly reactive" to, I want to know so I can work on modifying my diet. If he is right that IgG isn't a good resource, I want to know that as well. </p> <p>Any help is much appreciated! </p>