Hi -

My name is Mark Feblowitz, and I'm new to the list, although many of you
have seen my postings on the ASTHMA, ECZEMA, or ALLERGY lists.

I have adult-onset dairy allergies (at age 19), although I have always had
some difficulties with milk. The two major medical events at that time were
1) a shift to a vegetarian diet (which concentrated the amount of milk and
cheese I ate, and which I now no longer follow), and 2) a bout of German
measles, which may have nothing to do with it, but the doctors were never
sure.

My first symptoms came as rheumatoid arthritis, which was controlled
conventionally (but only marginally) until I stumbled on the dairy-allergy
link. I suffered through 4 years of pain, stiffness, hospitalizations,
non-steroidal anti-inflamatories; the works. I couldn't walk well, and
could barely climb stairs.  During this time, my allergies and asthma were
getting progressively worse.  When I moved to the Boston area, my allergies
and asthma took a sudden dive. My GP suggested that I try cutting out dairy
products, since many of his patients (even those "not allergic" to milk)
found some relief when they cut dairy products out during "high season." I
did, and the asthma and allergies got a bit better. But the big surprise
was that the arthritis went into remission. Within four months, I was
playing soccer. I tried a few more bouts of a dairy diet, only to have the
arthritis flare.

A few years later, I heard Dr. Art Ulene on the Today Show (so it's gotta
be true :-) talking about researchers discovering a link between dairy
allergies and certain forms of arthritis; I could'a told 'em that!

Since my first discovery (about 18 years ago), I've had no arthritis
symptoms (except for the time that I tried a new calcium supplement that
was buffered in lactose). Since then, my dairy  allergy has "progressed" to
the point where I am now anaphylactically allergic to dairy proteins.

I suspect that there  might have been something other than a simple,
IgE-mediated, type I reaction, especially since my symptoms were not
initially of the immediate-hypersensitivity variety, and were not triggered
solely by dairy proteins.

My favorite "hair-brained theory" (based on some reading I did a few years
ago) is that somehow milk products irritate or otherwise alter my
intestinal tract, letting larger proteins be absorbed into the bloodstream
than are normally allowed to get in there. They then migrate to my
connective tissue, where they are promptly attacked by my immune system as
being foreign. So far this is my favorite theory, but is by no means the
result of careful scientific study.

I also have a 10-year-old son, Josh, who was born anaphylactically allergic
to milk (and also eggs and nuts). Comes by it naturally, I guess. He has
the classic atopic triad: asthma, allergies, and severe atopic dermatitis
(eczema) which is why I'm on so many of these lists. I think the mechanism
that triggers his eczema is similar to the one that triggers my arthritis,
except it's his skin that gets attacked, and not (yet) his connective
tissue.

We've learned to cope. For him, it was easier, 'cause he doesn't have real
ice cream to compare against Rice Dream or real peanut butter to compare
against soy-nut butter. But we manage. There are new and wonderful
substitutes coming out all of the time, including some really great
chocolate sorbets that taste as  rich and good as chocolate ice creams. We
consume a lot of rice milk and a lot of calcium supplements. Since he's
also allergic to casein and I'm allergic to soy, we can't have soy cheese,
but Bertucci's in the New England area makes a great egg-free, milk-free
pizza. We buy a lot of kosher/pareve foods, make a lot of "whacky cake",
and make a lot of our own sauces. So, like I said, we cope.

BTW - I have nothing to sell, and I hold no interest in any medical or
related companies. I also am not a doctor, so I share none of my experience
as medical advice, but as a learning tool to help others - as a basis for
questions to their doctors - in their search for answers and for a more
"normal" existence.

I hope I can contribute some of what I've learned over the years, and that
I can also learn from all of you.


Sincerely,

Mark Feblowitz

Mark Feblowitz
GTE Laboratories Incorporated
40 Sylvan Road
Waltham, MA 02154-1120
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