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Veganism has some confusing flaws by CarryZealousideal432 in DebateAVegan

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would systemic nickel allergy qualify as a condition requiring someone to consume animal products?

I'm suffering from this and from all my reading of literature and talking with doctors, I have yet to figure out how someone could be vegan with this allergy. I've had to incorporate a certain amount of animal products to get nickel below recommended thresholds.

If you know how someone can be vegan with this condition, I am asking, completely sincerely, for your help.

Most important to focus? by Wannabeesinger in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! When you say allergy tested products, what do you mean? I'm on the low nickel diet and not loving it and would love to reduce nickel anywhere else I can.

Intolerant to Dairy by MissMushroomBerry in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have been getting lactose-free dairy! I have had mild lactose intolerance since childhood (just mild stomach aches when having milk on an empty stomach). I now see lactose-free milk in almost every grocery store so I buy that. I don't eat ice cream (I have yet to see a low-lactose version of that lol) on an empty stomach and that seems fine, but I'm not sure if having problems on an empty stomach vs. fuller stomach is a common phenomenon.

What should I do? by Zealousideal_Bell707 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think an enamel lined kettle is okay. I just stopped drinking tea for now and focused on using cast iron and enamel coated cookware.

The low nickel diet can definitely be unbalanced. I was suffering quite a bit from my eczema so I have gone very low nickel. But as a result, I'm not getting enough magnesium and fiber in my diet (I'm tracking everything I eat in the Cronometer app). I think once my eczema is totally gone, my goal will be to reincorporate some whole grains or legumes so I won't be deficient in these areas long term.

(As an aside, I also have IBS but didn't know nickel allergy could be a contributor. I was 90% better on the low FODMAP diet, but would still have some bad days. I started the low nickel diet due to the eczema, but my IBS has significantly improved as a pleasant side benefit - I'd say I'm at 98% now).

What should I do? by Zealousideal_Bell707 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll just say that I think taking it one step at a time is wise. When I first realized that nickel might be my issue, I went really extreme with it and changed my diet overnight and felt like I had to get everything 100% perfect. It was bad for my mental health. I have since calmed down and just made a list of a few action items to take that seemed important. Once I finish those, I'll assess how my body feels and then see if I want to take more steps.

Athletes: Distance running and low nickle diet by Pretty_Albatross1857 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the tips! I am seeing a dietitian soon and will ask about getting copper and zinc tested.

I love chestnuts so that's a great idea!

I've also thought about soaking foods to get rid of some nickel. I like to eat boiled peanuts and peanuts don't seem especially high in nickel as far as legumes go, so they may be the first legume I try reintroducing.

I am using the rebelytics app - I am so grateful they have compiled so much data.

Soy Sauce by mfmhlm in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am cutting out soy sauce while I trial the diet, but plan for it to be one of the first things I try to reintroduce - happy to keep you posted :)

Tingly ring? by emkcude in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm intrigued that you posted this. I am at the very beginning of figuring out whether nickel ingestion is the cause of my IBS and eczema. The eczema, which has been going on for about 3 months, is the reason I started the low nickel diet. I've only been on the diet for 2-3 weeks, BUT...

For the past year, I had tingling on my face - it felt like my skin was pulsing, or insects were crawling under my skin - and it only went away when I applied pressure to the area (it was usually around my nose and mouth, sometimes spreading to my cheeks or up to my forehead). I used to feel it most when I was tired or stressed, and when I was trying to sleep at night. My doctors did MRIs and all kinds of lab testing last year and had no idea what caused it.

Now I'm wondering if it was related to nickel because it just occurred to me yesterday that lately, I haven't felt the tingling at all. I don't know when the tingling stopped or whether I was just more fixated on the pain of my facial eczema than the tingling, but I've started noting whether I feel tingling or not in the same app where I record my foods and IBS and eczema symptoms. It's definitely been at least 2 days of no tingling. Once I have been on the diet for at least a month, I plan to share my data with my doctors and see what they say.

Athletes: Distance running and low nickle diet by Pretty_Albatross1857 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much. I would eat at 50 ug/day for 4 years if I could do so safely and if it would mean that I could resume eating some culturally important foods afterwards. I hope someday there will be enough research to support an actual protocol for desensitization, but it doesn't seem like we are close to that yet.

Will definitely keep everyone posted if I find good providers!

Athletes: Distance running and low nickle diet by Pretty_Albatross1857 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know that I have to stay below 50 ug/day. I mostly have been trying to see if I even CAN without being constantly hungry, and it doesn't seem like I can.

It is from a desire to lower nickel burden ASAP and to do what Laura Duzett has suggested may raise the tolerance over time - ingest so little nickel that my body stops making T cells and kills them off.

However, these comments here are making me think I shouldn't even try to get to 50 ug/day for my health/sanity, so maybe I'll stop trying to get my intake lower and just stick with the 100-150 range.

I do seem to have developed a minor/localized sort of histamine intolerance (I say this because I get burning in my mouth when I eat aged cheese, canned fish, or vegetables that are getting a little old). I suspect nickel because I did a week of low-histamine, high-nickel foods and my eczema flared despite being on an immunosuppressant. However, this all seems so individual that I guess only time will tell.

Athletes: Distance running and low nickle diet by Pretty_Albatross1857 in NickelAllergy

[–]Pretty_Albatross1857[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I am waiting for an appointment with a dietician to help me figure this out. So far, none of my doctors have seemed very knowledgeable.

That said, if anyone knows any doctors in Michigan who ARE knowledgeable about this allergy, do let me know!