This past week, my allergist got my lab report back. It looks like I am outgrowing my Alpha Gal issue. Testing for venison, lamb, and pork came back negative. My sensitivity to beef was at the lowest level on the chart that still shows as positive. This is good news. I have sampled pork a couple of times and have not had a problem. The culinary world seems a lot brighter now. FIRE UP THE GRILL!
The significance of this, as it relates to bowhunters, is that the Alpha Gal problem is caused from a tick bite. As outdoorsmen, we are all subject to be in tick infested areas. Use permethrin liberally on your hunting clothes. There is no treatment for this ailment, so, over time, you either outgrow it, or it never goes away (I got lucky). This stuff can be life threatening.
Great....i'd better start bathing in permethrin ..
Chuck that was me started to get a pronounced reaction around the tic bite
then the alpha gal struck as became sensitized to the tics saliva
The danger is real...and growing. My last two tick bites....bitten, but for for very long, resulted in me having reactions...like allergic reactions to the bite itself. Spray, spray, spray.
Just ordered 2 bottles of permethrin last night. Ticks are already out here in force.
Let's all be careful out there...
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20428705#:~:text=Once%20you've%20been%20diagnosed,ticks%20that%20carry%20alpha%2Dgal.
Bowman, there is no treatment for Alpha Gal, but some people's body seems to "outgrow" it. I guess it is just a question of chance. But, there is hope for sure. Funny thing, I just spent money on new epi pens a few days before the test results arrived. I thought this was primarily a North American pestilence. Does Scotland suffer from a wide range of tick borne diseases like America?
This has started to rear its head in Scotland over the last couple of years, where it was previously unheard of. Lyme disease was the biggest concern from tick bites until now.
Glad to hear that you are recovering, I didn't think that it was possible to recover from Alpha Gal, so there must be hope for many other sufferers.
I'm still suffering with it
been like 7 years now and still test dangerously positive
miserable way to live with not being able to ear red meat of any kind
and carrying an epi pen
miss my scrapple the most
Thanks for the heads up and your recovery!
I can’t imagine how terrible that disease must be as a meat eating hunter. Congrats on you recovery.