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I suffer from a sulfite intolerance (not an allergy, please note this), and I just wanted to post this page to possibly help other people who are suffering like I did. The first thing to do if you are suffering is to talk to your doctor about taking Vitamin B Complex (see below). It has changed my life. Or consider adding fresh carrot juice to your diet (Bolthouse Farms at Walmart will get you started). See my story below.
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WHAT IS SAFE TO EAT if I suffer from sulfites? The most important question I get asked is if I suspect I am reacting to sulfites, what is safe to eat? There always seems to be a safe product out there, or an alternative if you educate yourself. What you need to do is to become familiar with the names of sulfite preservatives, as well as ingredients that are not labeled as sulfites, but do contain notable amounts of sulfites. Once you do this, you will find navigating away from sulfites is relatively easy, as long as you are discipline. Then you need to know all the foods that can contain these ingredients, or sulfites themselves. If you do this, you will be educated and better prepared no matter where you go. This list doesn't mean you can't eat any of these foods. It means they may contain the ingredients from the above list, or sulfite preservatives directly. If so, then you need to avoid the offending food product. But like I said, there are usually plenty of alternative products out there, and even when there isn't an alternative product, there is usually a good substitute. I have found safe alternatives for almost every product. I just have to look around, and sometimes I have to shop at health food stores to find them. Pancakes in a box don't work, but making some from scratch is just as easy, and completely safe if you find a good recipe that is baking powder free. Read more about sulfites from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Ever since I hit puberty, I suffered from a permanent "rash" that slowly developed on my back. At night, I would scratched it so bad in my sleep that I would wake up with scabs, and blood all over. I didn't own any pajamas without blood stains. I was highly embarrassed about how I destroyed my back that wearing a bathing suit was difficult. Strangely, I did get relief from the rash in the summer sun, and I don't have any explanation for that. [Now, I take Vitamin D3, and it seems to help me.] My mom always told me I had a bad scratching habit. Doctors always looked perplexed, and quickly diagnosed me visually with a "viral skin infection" which I must have been born with because my brother suffered the same thing [They were wrong, I just had hives that were scratch to death!] Again and again, I was told there was nothing they could do from me as the medical profession doesn't understand most viral infections, sorry. As a teenager, I was also low on energy, and remember not being able to keep up with my mom raking leaves. She never understood it. I mentioned my rash to doctor after doctor as a teenager through adulthood, and no one knew how to help me. Then I developed chronic stomach aches, and then fatigue set in. It happened over a period of years and each year more symptoms came on until I couldn't ignore it anymore. I got extremely weak, gained weight, bloated, my heart started to pound with any exertion, I got headaches which were getting more and more severe [migraine level], noticeable hives all over my body in patches 24/7, I was thinking morbid/paranoid thoughts constantly, and I became devoid of energy for months on end. My periods also nearly stopped. I was not living life anymore. I was withdrawing. I knew something was wrong.
Then it got so bad, I went back again. On my insistence, she then sent me to a dermatologist. I'll never forget that visit. He looked at my back and said it had "lesions" all over it, and he had never seen anything quiet like it. I told him I thought shampoo was my problem (which was correct -- shampoos can have irritatants- to which I am also sensitive too though not everyone is), and he said he had never heard of a shampoo allergy. I asked what shampoo to use or where I could buy a clean product -- and he said he had no idea. IGNORANT! I even asked a local pharmacist to no avail. Health food stores carry shampoos without Sodium Laurel Sulfate, which was my biggest irritant externally. But I was reacting internally as well. Next, I went to an Endocrinologist for
help. During my visit to the Endo, my blood pressure was 1 After that, I went to two allergists. The first one hinted that I might have a "sulfite intolerance" after testing me for 100 food items, and seeing my food reaction list. She said there was nothing she could do for me so she gave me a medical journal printout and sent me on my way. I cried in the car. The print out the doctor gave me said if you have problems with grapes and packaged strawberries, packaged potatoes, and a few other things, you probably suffer from a sulfite intolerance. I wasn't eating these foods!! I was reacting to salami, bacon, Tang, soda, ice tea, lemonade and vitamins. I thought this woman was crazy! Furthermore, she told me the prick test showed I was allergic to watermelon and pork which have never given me a problem to this day. I eat those foods without worry! Little did I know that reactions are not
immediate, either. They can be delayed for hours, so I was missing, or
miscalculating some of my reactions. She also only gave me about 2% of the foods that contain sulfites. She
essentially left me in the dark. The packaged food industry is loaded with sulfites, and they don't have to tell you! She didn't tell me near enough to even begin to help solve my problems. I believe
there is no money in it for the medical profession to learn about sulfite intolerances because people who suffer don't need treatment. They just need to stop using the offending products once they know what they are! The next allergist said he thought I had "idiopathic hives". Essentially, the medical profession use this term when they have no idea of the cause. "They are simply idiopathic," he told me. I didn't believe that for a minute. I was ill and getting worse. I needed to find out why, and I needed to do it soon... Low and behold, however, at the same time I was going to the allergists, I had posted my food intolerances on a the alt.support.food-allergies newsgroup, and a gentlemen by the name of Rick Williams responded.
He has great information posted on his site
www.learningtarget.com/nosulfites/index.htm He also suggested I had a sulfite intolerance, but Rick knew the ins-and-outs of suffering because he,
too, was intolerant. It was only through Rick's help that I began to learn about my true problem. Many people who suffer sulfite intolerance suffer from asthma. I do not suffer from asthma, but I get:
I am also extremely externally sensitive. I react to shampoos, laundry soaps and boosters, and bar soaps with huge hives sometimes on contact! Some toothpastes and mouthwashes are also a problem as well as some lotions. I used the new Colgate mouthwash toothpaste not long ago, and got huge hives all over my mouth within 10 minutes -- the fastest reaction I had ever experienced! Then upon reading the ingredients, there is was -- sulfites! Since taking B-complex -- none of these are a problem for me anymore as of 2011. I no longer externally react!! I believe if I had continued to eat high sulfite foods, and continued to lather sulfite shampoos, and soaps on my body, eventually I would have had a serious, potentially life-threatening reaction. I am certain of it. Oh, funny enough, the allergist who correctly suggested sulfites prescribed me epinephrine. When I read about it, I found that epinephrine contains sulfites! Needless to say, I didn't fill that prescription. Do know however, several people have informed me that Epi-pens save lives, even with sulfites, and they have recommended I carry one regardless. Please speak to your medical professional to find out what is best for you. I can, however, eat small amounts of sulfites, and don't fear I will have anaphylaxis shock due to it. For me, high doses over months may be life-threatening, but little bits here and there just make me feel rotten! With that I am not paranoid if I go to a party that a small amount will be lethal. I often just navigate by experience and hope for the best. I did learn a few years ago that I suffer
from
Dermatographia. That may explain why I hive so bad. Since I have realized this, I have found some wonderful sulfite-free products. Food wise, Rick has been a savior for me, truly. Visit Rick's site for food information http://members.aol.com/nosulfites/ Externally, here are some other great products that I have found to be equally as important for me: (Note: Since I started taking Vitamin B Complex, I can use any shampoo now without a reaction!)
I also make my own homemade liquors -- such as amaretto, Kahula, Bailey's Irish Cream. There are great recipes on the web -- if you feel you are missing out! Hiram Walker has informed me that they only use sugar and no corn syrup in their liquors -- so if they are caramel color free -- they are safe! I haven't reacted to Cointreau so I drink that when I am out, and though I am afraid to drink a whole Guinness beer, I haven't reacted to it when I drank it in the past in moderation (a few sips to 1/2 cup). Other people have written me and told me they have been able to drink Guinness as well. I still scared, but willing to consider it again! If you know of a good sulfite food
substitute, contact me below and I'll list it here! And, much thanks to Rick Williams for his great website of information and continuing help to keep me sulfite free! Please visit Rick's website for detailed information about sulfite intolerance, and the foods that contain sulfites! www.learningtarget.com/nosulfites/index.htm Rick sells a book and other things to help you. Thanks Rick for all of your help!! I hope this helps you!
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You can buy carrot juice at your
grocery store. Bolthouse Farms sells it all over the U.S., Canada and
other countries. Just be sure to keep it refrigerated to prevent the
deadly growth of Botulism. This is essential, or juice your own. I will
update this in the next few months as I continue to expand the foods I eat.
I'm so excited!!!
First, I went to my
family practitioner who thought I was just over tired and overworked. I
tried to explain to her I was sleeping 12 and 14 hours a night, and that I was only
working part-time. She wrote me off as a typical overworked mother, even
when I corrected her, and stated that I had no children. Then she blamed it on
the fact I recently moved, and it must have been stressing me out. I went
home, and suffered for nearly another year. 
22/90.
The bottom number "90" is the first stage of high blood pressure, but she wrote
it off. She did, however, run every test in the book, and while waiting for
her results, I literally laid on the couch with the shakes every time I exerted
energy. Holding the phone was difficult. When she called, and told me
the results were perfectly healthy, I was even more desperate for answers. I
remember crying and feeling hopeless.
