Well. As some may know I was diagnosed with this a couple months ago. Its an allergy to mammal meat caused by ticks and possibly chiggers. Its definitely the hunters curse. I was the first person to walk into Jefferson University Hospital with this illness. They were of no help and knew nothing about it for it being so new. They say its very rare but I don't think so now. My wife was just diagnosed with it also. WTF. Make sure you wear protective clothing and some good tick repellent when venturing in the woods this turkey season.
ALPHA GAL "Tick born illness"
2Barrel
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Well. As some may know I was diagnosed with this a couple months ago. Its an allergy to mammal meat caused by ticks and possibly chiggers. Its definitely the hunters curse. I was the first person to walk into Jefferson University Hospital with this illness. They were of no help and knew nothing about it for it being so new. They say its very rare but I don't think so now. My wife was just diagnosed with it also. WTF. Make sure you wear protective clothing and some good tick repellent when venturing in the woods this turkey season.
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The above "like" is for the preventative info, NOT Mike's condition.
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great post to warn others and i hope you both get well soon.
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I dont think it's "rare" per se either, but I guess that term is subjective. Do you spend a ton of time in the woods & fields or have a job that calls for that (biologist, farmer, etc)? From the bits I've read, it's often people who've had a lot of exposure who are getting it.
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"Unlike most food allergies, the alpha-gal allergy will recede with time, as long as the person is not bitten by another tick. The recovery period can take anywhere from eight months to five years."
Took this from a website about alpha gal
... seems its not a lifetime condition. Which is good. Bad thing is may take 5 years. There is hope.
Also read its in hawaii where none of the acclaimed tics that carry are.
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Yep. Read that. I can only hope it will go away. I was only diagnosed with this a couple of months ago but I can tell you I have been sick with this for over 6 years. As for being rare. Like I said above, when I went to Jefferson University to see there top doc. I was there first Alpha Gal patient there. They told me it is very rare up here in the N. East. Mainly found in the S. West. Here's a good read on it. Kind of technical though.
Delayed Anaphylaxis to Red Meat in Patients with IgE Specific for Galactose alpha-1,3-Galactose (alpha-gal)
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man that sucks Mike, hope you and your wife get better. I know one thing, it wont stop ya from being in the woods on Monday. good luck! Nick
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To tell ya the truth. I think I got this from chiggers. About 6 years a go while fall turkey hunting I had about 100 bites up and down each leg. About another 75 or so bites around my back side and my %#@k and b%#@s. 75 or so more bites under each armpit and a bunch more on the back of my neck and up into my scalp. Since then is when I believe when all my symptoms started. Told this to all the Drs. at Jefferson and really had them scratching there head.
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Thanks for making us all aware and I really hope you get better fast!
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Thanks for the heads up. I hope you and your wife get over it sooner rather than later. [up]
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I hope you guys get better soon. It's scary to know that you got it only a few miles from my house.
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Well, the only way I can explain it is that it feels like a real bad hangover when your sick which is not all the time. May have a hard time breathing, fatigue, chest pain and joint pain. At times when it was bad I would get a rash on my whole face that was as red as a bad sunburn and would swell my eyes shut. Wife would get a rash on her hip. Its real hard to figure out because its a delayed reaction unlike other food allergies. I sure hope theres a cure someday. As of now I just need to stay away from any mammal meat.
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Some reports state that it "MAY" go away over time if not bitten again by ticks. But they are far and few in between. I've had this for at least 6 years but have been bitten by ticks and chiggers. Wife has not been bit by ticks and chiggers for at least 2 years and still has it. There is allot of unknowns with this. Not fun [down]
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The first person I knew to have this is my father in-law. He gets bad hives and passes out. He now carries an epi pen. Any bit of food that touches red meat will do this to him, I have to seperate and clean my grill when he is over and I cook. I thought he was the only one I knew with this condition till I found out my neighbor has it and there is a case of a high school student that my boss's children go to school with who has it. Hopefully there can be some medical breakthrough that can prevent and cure this condition. I live in a rural area and if I'm not physically in the woods hunting or walking around, I'm exposed to chiggers and ticks just doing yardwork. The scary part is so many people who live in the area have the same property scenarios and are also exposed and don't realize it.
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