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wi-fi-allergies-leave-man-homeless.
Maybe this article should have been named, "21st Century doesn't agree with would-be Luddite."
Seriously, what lawyer would take this case, and what judge would hear it?
Has anyone heard of this before? I asked the MD in my class, and he laughed and said (in concert with the article) that's it's psychosomatic--if the guy were truly that sensitive to electronics, he would not be able live anywhere. Not to mention, how do you move into a neighborhood and then sue your neighbor to discontinue the practice of living in the 21st century?
I know I'm a step from being a technocrat, but if this is a real, verifiable, medically-documented condition, not psychologically-oriented, let me know.
Discuss.
The closest thing that I've heard of was an article I saw on TV and followed up on both online and in dead tree format of autistic people having trouble with certain types of flourescent lights(they can actually see it blink, which goes by too fast for non-autistic people), and a few non-autistic people who have serious trouble looking at a computer screen too long because it blinks too fast(or maybe too slow) for them and causes headaches. Also, a few people have claimed to have a problem with the extremely high pitched whine that some devices make while being charged- cell phones and the like. I can hear my Nintendo DSlite charge, although I could not say the same of the older DS or GBA, and my friend's laptop-an ASUS EEE I believe- makes a VERY strange sound when it's plugged in just on the edge of my hearing.
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The closest thing that I've heard of was an article I saw on TV and followed up on both online and in dead tree format of autistic people having trouble with certain types of flourescent lights(they can actually see it blink, which goes by too fast for non-autistic people), and a few non-autistic people who have serious trouble looking at a computer screen too long because it blinks too fast(or maybe too slow) for them and causes headaches. Also, a few people have claimed to have a problem with the extremely high pitched whine that some devices make while being charged- cell phones and the like. I can hear my Nintendo DSlite charge, although I could not say the same of the older DS or GBA, and my friend's laptop-an ASUS EEE I believe- makes a VERY strange sound when it's plugged in just on the edge of my hearing.
Interesting. Both of these can be solved by adjusting the hertz.
Ouch. My liver. It hertz.
I have issues with ... I can't remember if it's white or pink noise that causes it. There's a noise that our employers inject into the rooms to help drown out any chatter from being echoed and drowning like you'd experience at a noisy tavern. What's weird is my hearing aids pick up some of those frequencies despite that I cannot hear it myself. It shrills with an amplification feedback. They had to disable it in certain zones so it wouldn't be interruptive to me being able to comprehend.
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Slight threadjack: I have exceptional hearing (like Olympic quality, if there were such a thing)--at the annual hearing test, the medic is routinely amazed at the range of frequencies I can hear.
My wife once tested me with certain low-range frequencies; a simple test.
I go downstairs. The house is otherwise quiet. Upstairs, the TV is on, but tuned in at an unused input.
I can hear the the difference in frequency when she turns it off.
I can also "hear" an approaching weather front, though that has more to do with pressure changes than frequencies.
How about a dog whistle?
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Slight threadjack: I have exceptional hearing (like Olympic quality, if there were such a thing)--at the annual hearing test, the medic is routinely amazed at the range of frequencies I can hear.
*high-five* Me too. Probably because I'm about as close to being legally blind as you can be while still actually seeing stuff.
I am allergic to plastic.
While this is mostly a contact allergy that prevents me from wearing crappy synthetic clothing or sleeping on 90% of the beds and mattresses out there, it is pretty ass kicking for me sometimes.
Luckily, plastics in my food only rarely get to the quantities that f#&& me up and make my eyes bleed. It seems that the plastic has to be leeching off a significant amount of phenol or phthalate, so we're talking about SHIT plastic, not good medical grade plastic. Testing which one doesn't seem like enjoyable research so I've avoided it.
I am also allergic to corn. This seems like an ordinary allergy at first, but consider what is made of corn for a minute:
*may or may not contain corn derived ingredients, or be derived from corn.
• Acetic acid
• Alcohol (potato vodka, good sake and grape wines are okay, but I need to be careful because some a@$~&&$s fortify their booze with corn derived alcohol but don't list it.)
• Alpha tocopherol
• Artificial flavorings
• Artificial sweeteners
• Ascorbates
• Ascorbic acid
• Astaxanthin
• Baking powder
• Barley malt* (generally OK, but can be contaminated)
• Bleached flour*
• Blended sugar (sugaridextrose)
• Brown sugar* (generally OK if no caramel color)
• Calcium citrate
• Calcium fumarate
• Calcium gluconate
• Calcium lactate
• Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)
• Calcium stearate
• Calcium stearoyl lactylate
• Caramel and caramel color
• Carbonmethylcellulose sodium
• Cellulose microcrystalline
• Cellulose, methyl
• Cellulose, powdered
• Cetearyl glucoside
• Choline chloride
• Citric acid*
• Citrus cloud emulsion (CCS)
• Coco glycerides (cocoglycerides)
• Confectioners sugar
• Corn alcohol, corn gluten
• Corn extract
• Corn flour
• Corn oil, corn oil margarine
• Corn starch
• Corn sweetener, corn sugar
• Corn syrup, corn syrup solids
• Corn, popcorn, cornmeal
• Cornstarch, cornflour
• Crosscarmellose sodium
• Crystalline dextrose
• Crystalline fructose
• Cyclodextrin
• DATUM (a dough conditioner... f@#* the a*~&~%!s who put this in their French bread. CUNTS)
• Decyl glucoside
• Decyl polyglucose
• Dextrin
• Dextrose (also found in IV solutions)
• Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous)
• d-Gluconic acid
• Distilled white vinegar
• Drying agent
• Erythorbic acid
• Erythritol
• Ethanol
• Ethocel 20
• Ethylcellulose
• Ethylene
• Ethyl acetate
• Ethyl alcohol
• Ethyl lactate
• Ethyl maltol
• Fibersol-2
• Flavorings*
• Food starch
• Fructose*
• Fruit juice concentrate*
• Fumaric acid
• Germ/germ meal
• Gluconate
• Gluconic acid
• Glucono delta-lactone
• Gluconolactone
• Glucosamine
• Glucose*
• Glucose syrup* (also found in IV solutions)
• Glutamate
• Gluten
• Gluten feed/meal
• Glycerides
• Glycerin*
• Glycerol
• Golden syrup
• Grits
• High fructose corn syrup
• Hominy
• Honey*
• Hydrolyzed corn
• Hydrolyzed corn protein
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP)
• Inositol
• Invert syrup or sugar
• Iodized salt
• Lactate
• Lactic acid*
• Lauryl glucoside
• Lecithin
• Linoleic acid
• Lysine
• Magnesium fumarate
• Maize
• Malic acid
• Malonic acid
• Malt syrup from corn
• Malt, malt extract
• Maltitol
• Maltodextrin
• Maltol
• Maltose
• Mannitol
• Methyl gluceth
• Methyl glucose
• Methyl glucoside
• Methylcellulose
• Microcrystaline cellulose
• Modified cellulose gum
• Modified corn starch
• Modified food starch
• Molasses* (corn syrup may be present; know your product)
• Mono and di glycerides
• Monosodium glutamate
• MSG
• Natural flavorings*
• Olestra/Olean
• Polenta
• Polydextrose
• Polylactic acid (PLA)
• Polysorbates* (e.g. Polysorbate 80)
• Polyvinyl acetate
• Potassium citrate
• Potassium fumarate
• Potassium gluconate
• Powdered sugar
• Pregelatinized starch
• Propionic acid
• Propylene glycol*
• Propylene glycol monostearate*
• Saccharin
• Salt (iodized salt)
• Semolina (unless from wheat)
• Simethicone
• Sodium carboxymethylcellulose
• Sodium citrate
• Sodium erythorbate
• Sodium fumarate
• Sodium lactate
• Sodium starch glycolate
• Sodium stearoyl fumarate
• Sorbate
• Sorbic acid
• Sorbitan
• Sorbitan monooleate
• Sorbitan tri-oleate
• Sorbitol
• Sorghum* (not all is bad; the syrup and/or grain CAN be mixed with corn)
• Starch (any kind that's not specified)
• Stearic acid
• Stearoyls
• Sucrose
• Sugar* (not identified as cane or beet)
• Threonine
• Tocopherol (vitamin E)
• Treacle (aka golden syrup)
• Triethyl citrate
• Unmodified starch
• Vanilla, natural flavoring
• Vanilla, pure or extract
• Vanillin
• Vegetable anything that's not specific*
• Vinegar, distilled white
• Vinyl acetate
• Vitamin C* and Vitamin E*
• Vitamins*
• Xanthan gum
• Xylitol
• Yeast*
• Zea mays
• Zein
Yes, that's 99% of all medicine and food preservatives, as well as a significant amount or normal foods.
I am allergic to post-modernity. All I need now is a radio wave allergy to make my collection complete.
Hmmm... Interesting... Maybe some people are just tuned into electromagnetic fields. For example, I've been known to short out things like CD players, MP3 players, and cell phones just by touching them.
You are not alone--my mother can't wear any kind of electrical or digital wristwatch.
wi-fi-allergies-leave-man-homeless.
Maybe this article should have been named, "21st Century doesn't agree with would-be Luddite."
Seriously, what lawyer would take this case, and what judge would hear it?
Has anyone heard of this before? I asked the MD in my class, and he laughed and said (in concert with the article) that's it's psychosomatic--if the guy were truly that sensitive to electronics, he would not be able live anywhere. Not to mention, how do you move into a neighborhood and then sue your neighbor to discontinue the practice of living in the 21st century?
I know I'm a step from being a technocrat, but if this is a real, verifiable, medically-documented condition, not psychologically-oriented, let me know.
Discuss.
Technically, if he's not just insane, he might well be sensitive to Wi-fi wavelength radiation and maybe others. To get the terminology right, allergens are organic chemicals that cause histamine reactions, and if someone reacts to something inorganic (nickel anyone?) it's usually called sensitivity.
And BTW, MDs have laughed at me. And anyone with really serious allergies can probably tell you a few stories about doctors who are just plain f~~!ing ignorant. I've been told three times that my problems are psychosomatic or that I have too much stress, yet somehow, despite the inability of doctors to help me I can control my problem by following an elimination diet that I have learned by trial and error. So I submit that if you think an MD's testimony adds any strength to the article you've read then you need to reassess your faith in the medical profession. Doctors don't know everything, not even in their chosen specialization fields. Check out an allergy sufferers forum and you'll hear lots of horrible stories about dumbass doctors.
Now back to wifi dude: from what I've heard there's no reason that EVERYWHERE should give him allergies/sensitivity. Consider this (coming from one of the top allergists in the US): An allergy is like a bucket; most people can tolerate a small amount, but he moment the container fills and starts spilling, the reaction begins, and often this means spilling out the rest of the contents in the bucket, too.
If that's true for sensitivities too (may or may not be), then he could have reactions only when the intensity of the EM field is fairly high. Sure, he may well be insane, but anyone who writes it off without blind tests isn't f&!@ing thinking. The fact that the journalist would write it off as psychosomatic without suggesting a test is to me typical of contemporary journalism (you read it not me, so I may be going overboard here).
Why, I want to know, are people interested in reading about this, but apparently have little actual interest in knowing if it is a factual problem. Hmmm.
So-called electrosentivity allergies DO NOT EXIST. People claiming these things have been tested in controlled double blind conditions and were unable to tell or feel when a source of their 'allergy' was actually turned on or not. But if it wasn't and they thought it was, they complained of course. It's entirely psychosomatic, people in need of serious psychiatic attention, or people pulling a scam.
How about a dog whistle?I used to hear them and they caused me pain but I alleviated that by forming a garage metal band and slightly damaging my ears from the loud music. I still hear high pitched whines from some electronics that others don't seem to hear though, just no more dog whistles.
Still doing any garage metal band projects?
A quick Google scholar indicates to me that what Mr. Stewart says is mostly correct.
ALthough there does seem to be something different about these sufferers.
Serious psychiatric attention? Hehe.
Kruelaid, that truly, truly sucks. I feel for you on that, one of my old friends from HS had a similar problem. Fortunately there are a lot of things now that aren't corn-based at least when it comes to medication) so you can get some antibiotics if you need them.
Shiny, you most certainly aren't alone. An acquaintence of mine is something of a luddite because she keeps blanking peoples MP3 player and her cell phone gets cruddy service no matter what company she uses. She claims its because she's psychic, I think its more due to what you and Kruelaid's mom do.
Kruelaid, that truly, truly sucks....
On the upside, I eat really healthy food--and I do not, for the most part, consume any chemical additives in my food, nor does anyone in my family (except when I'm not around).
As for the medicine, big pharma in the US is not required to divulge the sources of their ingredients because, they claim, this would be tantamount to revealing industrial secrets. It is interesting that they have much more legal moving space on this subject than US food manufacturers. Really, this is a big problem for American allergy sufferers (I get this from my brother and sister in law, who are doctors in Seattle) and it's the sum of pharma lobbying bending you guys over again and again.
In Canada I've had much more luck with this. So if anyone in the US is having trouble finding out what your medicine manufacturer is putting in your medicine, try calling their Canadian offices.
In Canada I've had much more luck with this. So if anyone in the US is having trouble finding out what your medicine manufacturer is putting in your medicine, try calling their Canadian offices.
Agreed. If not for canadian information, my medication group would be non-existent.
Kruelaid, that truly, truly sucks. I feel for you on that, one of my old friends from HS had a similar problem. Fortunately there are a lot of things now that aren't corn-based at least when it comes to medication) so you can get some antibiotics if you need them.
Shiny, you most certainly aren't alone. An acquaintence of mine is something of a luddite because she keeps blanking peoples MP3 player and her cell phone gets cruddy service no matter what company she uses. She claims its because she's psychic, I think its more due to what you and Kruelaid's mom do.
In a big hospital I'm quite safe--they can have chemists mix my meds without using corn derived binders and coatings.
Also, my corn allergy is medium sensitivity and my reaction is hives only, although it does seem to impair my liver function. SO mostly I just get itchy, my skin turns red and blisters near mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, nose, and nether regions) and I get choleric. What pisses me off is when people don't take me seriously and feed me shit with allergens.
People who are anaphylactic to corn are seriously f++*ed. These are the people who, if exposed to the allergens, have systemic vasodilation, go into shock, and die.
It's interesting, with this talk about allergies, that they are becoming alarmingly more frequent. There's been a threefold increase in the last decade. I'm sure everyone can draw their own conclusions from this. Also, until the last two decades, it was almost unheard of that people develop allergies like mine in midlife.
It's interesting, with this talk about allergies, that they are becoming alarmingly more frequent. There's been a threefold increase in the last decade. I'm sure everyone can draw their own conclusions from this. Also, until the last two decades, it was almost unheard of that people develop allergies like mine in midlife.
It is interesting. My own conclusion is that in the search for profit, many organizations are using the same base material to create their products, which are reaching a much broader audience than they were 20 years ago. What say you?
My suspicion too. Sadly it is impossible to prove. Corn allergy is a great illustration of this theory, too. It's made it into the top 5 food allergens where once upon a time corn allergies were totally rare.
I think that natural food markets are stepping up to the need fairly well though.
The problem of (not) having access to natural medicines remains for Americans. Big pharma has been quite successful in eliminating access to non harmful alternatives to their meds. For example.
My suspicion too. Sadly it is impossible to prove. Corn allergy is a great illustration of this theory, too. It's made it into the top 5 food allergens where once upon a time corn allergies were totally rare.
I think that natural food markets are stepping up to the need fairly well though.
The problem of (not) having access to natural medicines remains for Americans. Big pharma has been quite successful in eliminating access to non harmful alternatives to their meds. For example.
Preaching to the choir on that one. Just read a good article showing the difference in use and expectations of st johns wort in Germany compared to America. Good stuff.
However, allergies are still an issue with natural remedies. Consider those allergic to asprin.
...Preaching to the choir on that one. Just read a good article showing the difference in use and expectations of st johns wort in Germany compared to America. Good stuff.
However, allergies are still an issue with natural remedies. Consider those allergic to asprin.
Ya totally. I'm mostly thinking of myself on this one because I picked the wrong allergy to have.
The problem of (not) having access to natural medicines remains for Americans. Big pharma has been quite successful in eliminating access to non harmful alternatives to their meds. For example.
The vast majority of "natural medicines" are not subject to the same clinical trails and safety protocols in dosage, use, or manufacture as are those of pharma. For instance herbals sold as supplements aren't tested for P450 level drug interaction potentials, and when they're present, we often only find out about them because someone somewhere drops dead or falls seriously ill because they interacted with a prescribed medication they were on (see Saint John's Wort and 3A4 and 2C9 interactions - these are standard for pre-clinical xenobiotic in-vitro testing for pharma potential compounds, among other Phase I and II enzymes examined).
The amount of danger due to un or poorly regulated manufacture, product quality, and safety testing in the supplement and "natural" market is truly staggering. But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.
Allergies are awful, and dreadfully inconvenient. But the burden has always been on the person with the allergy to learn to get along in the world in spite of it. The only exception to that I can think of is schools. Many schools have gone nut free because of the growing number of children with severe peanut allergies. In that case the school has an obligation to provide a safe learning environment. I've never understood the people who get indignant about it. Then again, it's easier to be understanding of it I suppose if you have severe allergies.
The vast majority of "natural medicines" are not subject to the same clinical trails and safety protocols in dosage, use, or manufacture as are those of pharma. For instance herbals sold as supplements aren't tested for P450 level drug interaction potentials, and when they're present, we often only find out about them because someone somewhere drops dead or falls seriously ill because they interacted with a prescribed medication they were on (see Saint John's Wort and 3A4 and 2C9 interactions - these are standard for pre-clinical xenobiotic in-vitro testing for pharma potential compounds, among other Phase I and II enzymes examined).
The amount of danger due to un or poorly regulated manufacture, product quality, and safety testing in the supplement and "natural" market is truly staggering. But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
Drug drug interactions do not only occur between hippie stuff and safe, sane western medicine. Too many of the psychotropics I work with cause all sorts of funky interactions. Its the interaction that's the problem, not the source of the med or suppliment or how rigorously it's been tested.
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more.
It's a severe immune reaction mediated by IgE antibodies. The more you're exposed, the more the immune system preps itself to respond to future exposure, the same as it does towards bacteria, etc. Allergies unfortunately are a massive over reaction against a harmless antigen, be it a protein in fish, peanuts, etc. The immune response triggers swelling and problems occur in short order.
The rise is food allergies (and others) is likely a two-fold issue: we have more exposure to a lot of these things in our daily lives, like corn, and with more exposure, more people who are allergic by fault of their own immune systems have reactions trigger. Secondly there's a theory that our own modern sensibilities and lifestyle end up restricting our exposure to bacterial and other antigens in childhood while the immune system is still maturing and developing, and in the absence of stimulation to the icky dirty outdoors, it trips overitself more or less and becomes hypersensitive to antigens that pose absolutely no risk (food antigens, pollens, dust, etc).
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.
Allergies are awful, and dreadfully inconvenient. But the burden has always been on the person with the allergy to learn to get along in the world in spite of it. The only exception to that I can think of is schools. Many schools have gone nut free because of the growing number of children with severe peanut allergies. In that case the school has an obligation to provide a safe learning environment. I've never understood the people who get indignant about it. Then again, it's easier to be understanding of it I suppose if you have severe allergies.
Wow. I've only heard of nickel allergies- that's something that's truly everywhere as a metal. Do you go the OCD route with doorknobs and hankies or have you found another way to cope?
The rise is food allergies (and others) is likely a two-fold issue: we have more exposure to a lot of these things in our daily lives, like corn, and with more exposure, more people who are allergic by fault of their own immune systems have reactions trigger. Secondly there's a theory that our own modern sensibilities and lifestyle end up restricting our exposure to bacterial and other antigens in childhood while the immune system is still maturing and developing, and in the absence of stimulation to the icky dirty outdoors, it trips overitself more or less and becomes hypersensitive to antigens that pose absolutely no risk (food antigens, pollens, dust, etc).
I support this theory. I'm all for letting my kids go outside and play tag and make a mud pie or three and eat strange food from way-off places.
Drug drug interactions do not only occur between hippie stuff and safe, sane western medicine. Too many of the psychotropics I work with cause all sorts of funky interactions. Its the interaction that's the problem, not the source of the med or suppliment or how rigorously it's been tested.
Believe me I know, it's just that a lot of that "hippie stuff" is never or poorly tested to begin with, so we aren't often aware of possible interactions it might have with modern western drugs, or food (grapefruit inhibits CYP3A4), or other herbals and the like. If we aren't aware of its metabolic profile within the liver for instance, we can't advise people to avoid mixing it with other things that would cause altered tissue exposure to certain compounds, overdose, liver toxicity, etc.
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Still doing any garage metal band projects?How about a dog whistle?I used to hear them and they caused me pain but I alleviated that by forming a garage metal band and slightly damaging my ears from the loud music. I still hear high pitched whines from some electronics that others don't seem to hear though, just no more dog whistles.
not in almost 15 years sadly. I 'grew' out of it thinking that was what I was supposed to do as a grown-up. Now I miss it and am thinking of doing getting some guys together and doing a cover band or spoof 80's metal band similar to Steel Panther(but without the awesome talent;P).
On Subject---
Both of my kids have food allergies and one is mildly Autistic. I have developed a belief, through much personal research and in treating the GI issues that my autistic boy has and seeing how that helps clear up his head, that our society is being exposed to so many toxins, chemicals and poisons that we have drastically reduced our ability to process foods and common environmental items. My daughter is mildly allergic to milk, eggs, and soy. My son is the same but add wheat and apples to that list. If I give my son any of those foods he stops being mostly normal and reverts to full-blown autistic including arm-flapping, loss of language skills, inability to focus, etc...
My theory is that all the chemicals and other stuff we expose ourselves to on a daily basis is harder to process for some people and can cause damage to some membranes in the body and brain. Once damaged these membranes, in my theory, do not filter out certain proteins from the system and those proteins end up in the brain causing havoc. The average non-organic apple from the grocery store, if tested, turns up 5-9 different pesticides. Sure we wash them off or just rinse them.
My son had a bunch of blood test to test some of his levels and the amounts of pesticides and arsenic in his system was very highly elevated. He isn't around that stuff so I assume he consumed them in the foods I bought at the grocery store.
I now feed the kids only organic fruits and veggies and other stuff that hasn't been screwed with by science as much as is possible/reasonable.
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There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.
Jeez... I've got a pretty bad allergy to zinc (contact with skin for more than a few hours at a time causes a burning, itching rash, and eventually makes my skin fall off), and my girlfriend has similar reactions to nickel and copper, but I've never heard of that kind of brief contact causing anything.
But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
Easily one of the most annoying and dangerous PR successes of the past few decades is re-branding natural as pure goodness crapped out by unicorns into mountain streams made of rainbows.
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.Jeez... I've got a pretty bad allergy to zinc (contact with skin for more than a few hours at a time causes a burning, itching rash, and eventually makes my skin fall off), and my girlfriend has similar reactions to nickel and copper, but I've never heard of that kind of brief contact causing anything.
It used to be that it would take hours of contact with my skin before I developed a rash, but it's gotten progressively worse over the years. Now it only takes a few seconds before my skin starts to get all red and puffy. I try to remember to put my sleeves down over my hand before I grab a doorknob or whatever, but sometimes I forget. Good thing I have a high pain threshold.
The amount of danger due to un or poorly regulated manufacture, product quality, and safety testing in the supplement and "natural" market is truly staggering. But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
Considering that my grandfather was killed by drug interactions between regulated pharmaceuticals, I'd say you're a little off.
Added to this, the massive profits are going to big pharma, not to supplement vendors who sell to "trendy yuppies".
It's interesting that big pharma is not moving to regulate the "natural" market if that's the problem with it. They are moving to eliminate it.
...more people who are allergic by fault of their own immune systems have reactions trigger....
Is it my fault that they make EVERYTHING out of f$@#ing corn?
;)
On Subject---
Both of my kids have food allergies and one is mildly Autistic. I have developed a belief, through much personal research and in treating the GI issues that my autistic boy has and seeing how that helps clear up his head, that our society is being exposed to so many toxins, chemicals and poisons that we have drastically reduced our ability to process foods and common environmental items. My daughter is mildly allergic to milk, eggs, and soy. My son is the same but add wheat and apples to that list. If I give my son any of those foods he stops being mostly normal and reverts to full-blown autistic including arm-flapping, loss of language skills, inability to focus, etc...
My theory is that all the chemicals and other stuff we expose ourselves to on a daily basis is harder to process for some people and can cause damage to some membranes in the body and brain. Once damaged these membranes, in my theory, do not filter out certain proteins from the system and those proteins end up in the brain causing havoc. The average non-organic apple from the grocery store, if tested, turns up 5-9 different pesticides. Sure we wash them off or just rinse them.
My son had a bunch of blood test to test some of his levels and the amounts of pesticides and arsenic in his system was very highly elevated. He isn't...
I am 100% with you. I am so glad my daughter mostly eats the foods in the preservative free diet that's been forced on me. When I find a worm in my apple over here in China I'm so f#!&ing excited I can't see straight. But the worms in my apples and salad are disappearing fast as the Chinese move over to American food production methods.
Can't wait to get back to Van and the organic markets. I am so planting my own garden.
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.Jeez... I've got a pretty bad allergy to zinc (contact with skin for more than a few hours at a time causes a burning, itching rash, and eventually makes my skin fall off), and my girlfriend has similar reactions to nickel and copper, but I've never heard of that kind of brief contact causing anything.
Wow, Lynora, that's exactly what I was referring to in my earlier post. That's scary...
Easily one of the most annoying and dangerous PR successes of the past few decades is re-branding natural as pure goodness crapped out by unicorns into mountain streams made of rainbows.
But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
Vivid and true. I like that.
But honestly it's not nearly as annoying and dangerous as poising your population and then offering them pharmaceutical paradise to relieve the symptoms of their poisoning.
It used to be that it would take hours of contact with my skin before I developed a rash, but it's gotten progressively worse over the years. Now it only takes a few seconds before my skin starts to get all red and puffy. I try to remember to put my sleeves down over my hand before I grab a doorknob or whatever, but sometimes I forget. Good thing I have a high pain threshold.
Damn. Any idea why this and your other allergies are getting worse?
It used to be that it would take hours of contact with my skin before I developed a rash, but it's gotten progressively worse over the years. Now it only takes a few seconds before my skin starts to get all red and puffy. I try to remember to put my sleeves down over my hand before I grab a doorknob or whatever, but sometimes I forget. Good thing I have a high pain threshold.Damn. Any idea why this and your other allergies are getting worse?
Increased exposure to allergens. Like the bucket analogy at the beginning of the thread. More and more people put fish byproducts in stuff. And well, nickel is in everything. It's one of those allergies that people who have it are pretty much fracked.
It used to be that it would take hours of contact with my skin before I developed a rash, but it's gotten progressively worse over the years. Now it only takes a few seconds before my skin starts to get all red and puffy. I try to remember to put my sleeves down over my hand before I grab a doorknob or whatever, but sometimes I forget. Good thing I have a high pain threshold.Damn. Any idea why this and your other allergies are getting worse?Increased exposure to allergens. Like the bucket analogy at the beginning of the thread. More and more people put fish byproducts in stuff. And well, nickel is in everything. It's one of those allergies that people who have it are pretty much fracked.
That's weird though. For years in high school, I went for allergy shots for my own weird things- cockroaches and dust mite feces(the former used to cause some SERIOUS swelling if I was exposed to the wrong breed, the latter made me sneeze so bad that for a while my vision was tinted due to the strain it put on my eyes- could it have caused my astigmatism?), and I was told by my allergy doc that over time it would lessen, but the shots would help that day come faster. Was he full of it, or have philsophies on the subject changed over time? Or is it just my particular weirdness?
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I don't have any sensitivities that I know of, and I'm only allergic to apple peel--it actually blisters my lips; it's an immediate reaction :-(
I'm allergic to any fruit that has a core or pit. (Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Cherries, etc.) They make my mouth and throat swell and itch, but only when they're raw. If they've been cooked, they don't bother me at all (apple sauce, apple pie, peach cobbler, marachino cherries, apple cider). Riddle me that one. When I want healthy raw fruit, I stick with citrus, melons, and berries.
Plus respiratory allergies to some type of pollen (ragweed is the most likely culprit), mold, and cigarette smoke (that one came out of nowhere in the last year or two).
That's weird though. For years in high school, I went for allergy shots for my own weird things- cockroaches and dust mite feces(the former used to cause some SERIOUS swelling if I was exposed to the wrong breed, the latter made me sneeze so bad that for a while my vision was tinted due to the strain it put on my eyes- could it have caused my astigmatism?), and I was told by my allergy doc that over time it would lessen, but the shots would help that day come faster. Was he full of it, or have philsophies on the subject changed over time? Or is it just my particular weirdness?It used to be that it would take hours of contact with my skin before I developed a rash, but it's gotten progressively worse over the years. Now it only takes a few seconds before my skin starts to get all red and puffy. I try to remember to put my sleeves down over my hand before I grab a doorknob or whatever, but sometimes I forget. Good thing I have a high pain threshold.Damn. Any idea why this and your other allergies are getting worse?Increased exposure to allergens. Like the bucket analogy at the beginning of the thread. More and more people put fish byproducts in stuff. And well, nickel is in everything. It's one of those allergies that people who have it are pretty much fracked.
Different people react differently when it comes to allergies. Some people can get better over time by being exposed to low levels of allergens. And some of us just get worse and worse. They tried allergy shots for me when I was a kid. Made me sicker and sicker. But it helped my sister immensely.
Hmmm... Interesting... Maybe some people are just tuned into electromagnetic fields. For example, I've been known to short out things like CD players, MP3 players, and cell phones just by touching them.
Diane has the same kind of thing going on which is ironic for her with a couple of EE degrees.
Easily one of the most annoying and dangerous PR successes of the past few decades is re-branding natural as pure goodness crapped out by unicorns into mountain streams made of rainbows.
But it makes a massive profit on trendy yuppies and people scared into thinking "natural" is better than something some evil Big Pharma created.
Wow! You made a comment I'm in complete agreement with.
There's something to that constant exposure thing. I've had a fish allergy since I was a kid, but it's gotten progressively more severe as I've been exposed to it more. It's gone from hives to anaphalaxis. Blech. Also allergic to most antibiotics, they make me break out in hives. And a strong sensitivity to nickel that gets worse every year. It's in everything. Seriously, touching a doorknob is a sensation between a burn and a bad case of poison ivy.Jeez... I've got a pretty bad allergy to zinc (contact with skin for more than a few hours at a time causes a burning, itching rash, and eventually makes my skin fall off), and my girlfriend has similar reactions to nickel and copper, but I've never heard of that kind of brief contact causing anything.
I got one to gold of all things, makes me itch, then great welts and if I wear it long enough looks like burns. Contact seems not to bother it except to make my hands a bit itchy but prolong contact brings the welts and the burn spots
Heh I also am allergic to penicillin and anything made from it and have such fun reactions to most anti-botices, Me and drugs do not get along, I tend to have odd side-effects from most of em, and the ones that make ya go sleepy often keep me wired up and hyper for a day. Gods I dislike drugs