Waterhead
Jr. Member
- Sep 15, 2015
- 31
- 149
- Detector(s) used
- Excalibur, Equinox, Oh, I can’t help to give creds to my Fisher CZ-20.
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Folks, I thought I'd throw this out there as a caution for everyone in this hobby.
I'd been having an unknown allergic reaction about one time a year. It would start out with unexplained itching in my ears, move into my hands and within minutes, I'd break out into massive hives. I'd have to immediately get some slugs of Benadryl in me and get into a hot shower to get relief from the intense itching. Each time I had a reaction, it seemed to get a little worse. I noticed that the reaction never occurred after eating or after taking meds so it dumbfounded me. I had no idea what was causing it.
About 7 weeks ago, I had another reaction and quickly went into Anaphylaxis shock. I was barely able to get a 911 call out and was found outside by my neighbor. I am lucky to have made it an probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for getting Benadryl in me when I first felt the signs. Even the ER Doctor didn't know what to make of it. After an ambulance trip to the hospital, I met with an Allergist. Subsequent to blood work, I was diagnosed with an Alpha-Gal allergy which was the result of a bite by the Lone Star Tick which is very common here in Virginia. The tick (if its a carrier) releases a Protein which contains the Alpha-Gal which is a sugar or carbohydrate molecule. You body's immune system attacks it as evasive. (I reckon that's right...or close) Because of the bite, I have become allergic to all red meat, beef, lamb pork and possibly all milk products. I was already allergic to fish so you can see how this has impacted me. God help me if chickens ever become extinct.
The day I had my emergency, I had eaten a hamburger around 11:30. I didn't have my reaction until 4:15 or so. I normally takes 3 to 8 hours for red meat to break down and release Alpha-Gal into the blood stream. Yep, red meat also contains Alpha-Gal so my body 's immune system now attacks it, or me, when I consume red meat.
Now I carry Benadryl and EpiPen's with me all the time. Right now, no red meat at all. I'm not sure if this will be life-long or not. I'll be tested again in 6 months.
This allergy has been misdiagnosed by doctors for some time on all kinds of folks. As doctors are now becoming aware of this allergy, more people are properly being diagnosed.
So my reaction consisted of severe hives, itching in the ears and hands and finally Anaphylaxis shock. I have read that symptoms can also include stuffy or running nose, feeling nauseated, vomiting, developing hives or a rash on the skin, sneezing. headaches and shortness of breath.
Ticks are pretty common in this hobby so please take precautions and properly spray off and check for ticks after you get home. This stuff is no joke and has been a life changer for me. I was on the grill every week so this is tough. I've now eaten chicken every way it can be cooked and it gets old quick.
I just talked with a lady today who gets hives every time she eats red meat. I believe she's going to see her doctor to be tested. If I were a betting man.... just saying.
If you or any people you know are having unexplained allergic reactions, this MAY be a culprit. I wanted to put this out here to inform everyone about this allergy and its symptoms. Anaphylaxis is the extreme part of this allergy and can be deadly. My blood pressure dropped dangerously low during my reaction. You can get high blood pressure down but not low pressure up.
Everyone who spends time outside need to be informed about this. I will probably post this on a couple other forums to get the word out.
Get digging!
I'd been having an unknown allergic reaction about one time a year. It would start out with unexplained itching in my ears, move into my hands and within minutes, I'd break out into massive hives. I'd have to immediately get some slugs of Benadryl in me and get into a hot shower to get relief from the intense itching. Each time I had a reaction, it seemed to get a little worse. I noticed that the reaction never occurred after eating or after taking meds so it dumbfounded me. I had no idea what was causing it.
About 7 weeks ago, I had another reaction and quickly went into Anaphylaxis shock. I was barely able to get a 911 call out and was found outside by my neighbor. I am lucky to have made it an probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for getting Benadryl in me when I first felt the signs. Even the ER Doctor didn't know what to make of it. After an ambulance trip to the hospital, I met with an Allergist. Subsequent to blood work, I was diagnosed with an Alpha-Gal allergy which was the result of a bite by the Lone Star Tick which is very common here in Virginia. The tick (if its a carrier) releases a Protein which contains the Alpha-Gal which is a sugar or carbohydrate molecule. You body's immune system attacks it as evasive. (I reckon that's right...or close) Because of the bite, I have become allergic to all red meat, beef, lamb pork and possibly all milk products. I was already allergic to fish so you can see how this has impacted me. God help me if chickens ever become extinct.
The day I had my emergency, I had eaten a hamburger around 11:30. I didn't have my reaction until 4:15 or so. I normally takes 3 to 8 hours for red meat to break down and release Alpha-Gal into the blood stream. Yep, red meat also contains Alpha-Gal so my body 's immune system now attacks it, or me, when I consume red meat.
Now I carry Benadryl and EpiPen's with me all the time. Right now, no red meat at all. I'm not sure if this will be life-long or not. I'll be tested again in 6 months.
This allergy has been misdiagnosed by doctors for some time on all kinds of folks. As doctors are now becoming aware of this allergy, more people are properly being diagnosed.
So my reaction consisted of severe hives, itching in the ears and hands and finally Anaphylaxis shock. I have read that symptoms can also include stuffy or running nose, feeling nauseated, vomiting, developing hives or a rash on the skin, sneezing. headaches and shortness of breath.
Ticks are pretty common in this hobby so please take precautions and properly spray off and check for ticks after you get home. This stuff is no joke and has been a life changer for me. I was on the grill every week so this is tough. I've now eaten chicken every way it can be cooked and it gets old quick.
I just talked with a lady today who gets hives every time she eats red meat. I believe she's going to see her doctor to be tested. If I were a betting man.... just saying.
If you or any people you know are having unexplained allergic reactions, this MAY be a culprit. I wanted to put this out here to inform everyone about this allergy and its symptoms. Anaphylaxis is the extreme part of this allergy and can be deadly. My blood pressure dropped dangerously low during my reaction. You can get high blood pressure down but not low pressure up.
Everyone who spends time outside need to be informed about this. I will probably post this on a couple other forums to get the word out.
Get digging!
