Illergic to PROTEIN???

Okay, it has been a little problem but I have overlooked it because of being so busy. Before surgery, I started my clear liquids and protein shakes and water. I noticed a rash on my arms and I thought maybe it was poison oak because if I see the stuff I break out. I went through surgery and it stayed the same, after I recovered I went and got a few shots and antibiotics for the poison oak but nothing worked. I then went through a two or three week spell of not eating, probably getting 15 g of protein a day ( I KNOW... ITS AWFUL) I felt completely awful from eating or drinking anything bu****er. The rash went away, I was also spending more time in the sun and thought the sun had dried it up. I started a new protein regiment and spent the same time in the sun and now the rash is back. I have no idea what is going on, my primary doc said maybe see a dermatologist but I have never had any kind of skin problems before of any kind. PLEASE HELP! I am turning into a lizard i think, and I really don't like lizards. They have to eat flies and stuff... lol little loopy this evening

While I'm not a doctor..   I'm thinking you can't be allergic to protein, because we have been eating it all of our lives, as ominvores we get protein from foods.   NOW..  you might want to look at the type of protein you are getting, you might be allergic to soy protein? or whey protein and might have to change the protein you are getting, but that is just my non-medical guess.

Good Luck!!!!!

Justin,

I have to agree with Amy. Maybe its the type of protein your using. Only way to know is try 1 thing at a time and see which causes the rash.

Thanks

Sher

What brand/type of protein are you using?  Does it say Whey Protein Isolate?  Rice protein?  Some people are allergic to milk and cannot use whey protein...  very few have I seen but it is possible... 

Justin,

It is highly unlikely that you are allergic to protein itself.  But, you may be allergic to an additive in the protein powder or protein drink.  I see where you brought the rash to the attention of your primary doc, but have you brought it to the attention of your surgeon?  If you think it is related to your protein, that is the first place to start, then move on to a dermatologist and/or allergist.

Justin....Okay...I have the SAME thing going on right now & I have NEVER had any type of skin issue.....Last Saturday our church had it's picnic at a farm in Franklin.  A day or two later I noticed small red bumps on my left arm....they looked like chigger bites &, because I was fishing, I figured that was what they were. 

My 3 year old had a cough & I took her to her pediatrician & noticed the pediatrician (who has lost about 100 pounds since last time I saw her---I didn't ask her about WLS, but really it's probable she had it)....had a bad rash on her right arm (inside) and so I asked her what it was.  She said that they were unsure, but they thought it was poison oak....and that poison oak was not contagious--that you actually have to come in contact w/the sap.  I showed her my arm & she said it looked like chigger/bug bites.

The next day my rash was worse...I went to my PCP & they said it was poison oak.  Okay...it did get worse, they gave me steriod cream.  Put it on....it got worse.  Rash started spreading....I even got three or four of the bumps on my face by my jawline.  I have never had anything like this.  So, the steriod cream didn't work---I went back to the PCP....they said that it was some sort of unidentifiable rash & that I needed a steriod shot...got that....then they prescribed topical antibiotic and an oral antibiotic.....been taking those...rash is still HORRIBLE and spreading slowly but surely....it is definitely NOT getting any better.

So...I don't think that I am allergic to protein.  Maybe it is a bad case of chiggers that I scratched or poison oak or (they even suggested) chicken pox (which I had as a child & have been vaccinated for).....what is interesting is that I have not had any protein shakes in months....but, on June 8th I went to GNC & bought two bags of Protein so that I could have them on hand for our trip to Disney World, just in case....I wanted to make sure at the end of each day I had gotten my 80gm of protein in while we were away from home.  I did have a few of the shakes w/in the last week or so because I have not been getting all my animal protein in &.....so, it sure makes me wonder.......Nobody else in my family got this rash...and we were all fishing from the same lake.....it is spreading on me, but nobody else.....I don't get it.  I am going to a dermatologist on Monday....I will let you know what they say....let me know if yours clears up......otherwise we are going to be sent to post-WLS leapor-Island.....xo, M.

Okay, M, if you and I have the same problem then I think it is def wls related. I need to speak with Doc Dyer asap. This is not poison oak, it just can not be. I have had three of those steroid shots, two regiments of intense steroids, cream and its still here. I have been taking in whey protein, so maybe that is what it can be. The only time it acts up is when i stay good on my protein regiment, the last few days I have slacked off and taken in as little as needed... I have felt like crap but the rash isn't spreading. This is the weirdest thing, I feel like I am going to be one of those zombies off of I Am Legend here pretty soon, I really don't feel like being shot by Will Smith any time soon! LOL Thanks everybody.

My honey has had some similiar symptoms for the past 2 years and I have done everything. I finally came to the conclusion that it was cinnamon. Then it was the laundry detergent and dryer sheets, so I switched to all free and bounce free. Then it was chocolate (CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT), so now nothing. He stays away from them all and he hasn't had a breakout for months. So to whomever suggested that you do the one thing at a time test is on the right track. Good luck, hope it's better soon.

Forgive me for my horrible memory...  but when Michaela was talking about her rash too, something sounded familiar.  I found a thread on another wls board where a lady had a rash too...  she said that the doctor thought it could have been something in the vitamins she was using, but quite honestly she never came back and posted what the problem was.  Another lady said that she too had a rash, and that she developed a rash one week after her wls.  The doctor had to give her antihistamines and finally it did go away but it took awhile...

I did find a site gastricbypassproblems.com that rashes can also be a complication of surgery. (How interesting)... 

You will want to check with your doctors and ask if they know anything about this.  Hopefully they will be able to guide you better, but hopefully it can be taken care of with some medication ....

I am going to call Dr. H's office tomorrow....and make an appt w/my dermatologist.  The rash is even worse today....and I have had the steriod shot & am slathering the antibiotic cream, steriod cream & Benadryl on it constantly.  It flares up & itches at strange times & it looks horrible, but it is mostly on my right arm.  I have three of the bumps on my jawline and two new ones on my stomach & one on my left leg today.....I really want this gone....I agree....Will Smith is going to track me down & think I am a zombie if this continues....