Part 2: Corn Allergy-The Real Story

Being frustrated with doctors, pharmacists and the medical community that often have no idea how to deal with severe corn allergy, women have formed their own online communities to support and help one another. Nicole Jurain has collected hundreds of letters from moms and women concerned about corn allergies. Her Facebook page – CornFreedom is devoted entirely to this topic. Nicole and community are aligned with one mission: To have more inclusive labeling from the FDA.

Better, more inclusive labeling laws from the FDA is needed, specifically as it relates to corn or ingredients derived from corn, contained in food, products, and medicine. Corn needs to be included in the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. Consumers deserve to know what is in the food they’re buying.

If you or a loved one has a personal experience dealing with an allergy, please share your story on Facebook/MomLifeTV. For more information and support on corn allergy please contact Nicole Jurain on Facebook/CornFreedom

The following are the letters and heartfelt stories written to change labeling laws

My name is Lisa Fisher. I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota with my husband Keil, and our four children; Adrik, Jantzen, Keison, and Aubrynne. Aubrynne is our 3-year-old-daughter, and she is our allergy baby. She is allergic to wheat, cinnamon, food dye, kuzu root, chlorine, CORN, and others yet to be diagnosed. We learned of her wheat allergy first, and while a bit daunting, we realized it wasn’t impossible to manage because wheat is one of the top 8 allergens, and there is a huge “gluten free” craze happening.

A year later, we noticed many of her allergy symptoms occurring again. She develops a severe rash on her buttocks and hips, and the skin on her abdomen becomes bumpy and severely itchy. She gets a welt on her right cheek, and the skin under her bottom lip looks chapped. Her behavior becomes almost uncontrollable at times. Our normally sweet, well-behaved child begins to throw tantrums that last anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. All I can do is sit and hold her in order to keep her from hurting herself or breaking something. We finally diagnosed the corn allergy one afternoon when I made all the children popcorn for a snack. It was homemade in a kettle on the stove, and the only ingredients were corn, salt, and olive oil. Within 20 minutes, Aubrynne was covered in a head to toe rash. I knew immediately and without a doubt that her reaction was to the corn, and was grateful that we finally had an answer. Little did I know what we were in for.

Of all of Aubrynne’s allergies, the corn is by far the most difficult to handle. Corn is in absolutely everything. We can’t even buy her cheese without wondering if it has been dusted with corn starch. The list of corn ingredients and derivatives is over 200 items long. It has taken us well over a year to find toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner that she can safely use. We simply do not feed her anything that comes in a package anymore. It is the only way we know we can safely feed her. All of her foods are whole and cooked at home. We cannot even trust the products labeled “organic, allergen free” bought from health food stores.

Unfortunately, we live in a rural area, and the doctors, pharmacists, and compounding pharmacists in our area don’t have any idea how to help us. About a year ago, I took Aubrynne in to the emergency room in the middle of the night for respiratory issues. The doctor wanted to put her on an antibiotic, and looked completely baffled when I listed her allergies for him. He had NO idea which ingredients were derived from corn, and when I began to tell him, he finally shrugged and said, “well, it could just be viral; let’s give it a few days and if she’s not better then take her into her regular pediatrician.” Fortunately, she was feeling better within a couple of days.

A local compounding pharmacist worked for about 2 and 1/2 days trying to come up with a form of ‘Tylenol’ that would be safe for Aubrynne to take when she was running a fever. He called me several times to ask about different possible ingredients he wanted to add for syrup or flavor. Each time I had to tell him “no.” Finally, he informed me that I could bring in brown rice syrup and he would use that as a base, but that he had no idea how the medicine and the syrup would react to each other, so he could only put an expiration date of 30 days on it. Oh, and it was going to cost about $15 for a 4oz bottle. That’s not something we can afford to keep on hand, and by that point, Aubrynne’s fever was gone so we gave up.

It terrifies me to contemplate what will happen if she ever develops a serious illness or injury. Even IV fluids are not safe as they contain glucose which is derived from corn. We had intended to delay Aubrynne’s vaccinations when she was a baby, and now we have forgone them all together. Her doctors have no idea what is in the vaccines, and only offered to give me the insert so that I could research it myself before having them given. The doctor’s just shrug as if to say, “I don’t know, I’ve never heard of that, let me know what you decide.” It’s maddening, and leaves you feeling as if you are drowning, and the person with the life preserver is standing on the shore shrugging and saying, “Good luck!”

We have been told by a medical professional that Aubrynne’s pancreas is under a lot of stress and not performing as well as it should because of consuming foods she is allergic too. We have tried to be so diligent, but because corn is so prevalent and not labeled, it is almost impossible to avoid. We have recently placed Aubrynne on a Eubiotic Diet. This diet eliminates all red meat, all sugar, all grains except whole brown rice, and all dairy. Since starting this diet, Aubrynne has finally begun to grow again. She is extremely small for her age, and we realize that’s because her body has been unable to process much of what she was eating. Because of this diet, I worry less now about what she eats and more about other types of exposure to corn. With summer starting, I’ve been trying to locate a sunscreen that is safe. This is purely a guessing game, because companies are not required to label their products for corn.

Because Aubrynne is so young, this is basically the only way of life she’s ever known. She eats differently from everyone else, and she has to ask before she can put anything in her mouth. She can’t even play with balloons because they are dusted with corn starch. It breaks my heart for her that she’ll never know so many of the simple joys of childhood, and everything has to be different for her. We are a homeschooling family, and I am grateful for that because I cannot begin to imagine the nightmare it would be to try to send Aubrynne to school.

Lisa Fisher , Black Hills of South Dakota

My main issue with corn is that it is being overused. It’s in everything. It’s very difficult to avoid. I can’t eat out. I can’t eat at friends’ homes. I shop only at organic food stores, and I still check the ingredients just in case.

I have fructose malapsorption. Certain ingredients are especially troublesome for me, in particular HFCS and Sorbitol or other artificial sweateners that end in “itol.” To know my troubles, all you need to do is sit next to me after I mistakenly eat something containing any of those ingredients. You will hear a thunderstorm in my belly–a very loud thunderstorm that lasts until I run to the bathroom and go massive diarrhea. It’s not pleasant. I remember once getting a HFCS drink at the mall. By the time I got to Target, I had to go, and I had to go immediately. I asked where the bathroom was and made my dash with people laughing behind me at my predictament. Yes. They must have had a good laugh thinking this 40-somthing women had to run to the bathroom. I have heard some say that it’s impossible to have to go diarrhea so fast after consuming something one shouldn’t. Believe me, it isn’t. Those extra digestive juices rush out like water in a faucet, pushing everything in their path out.

I work from home. When I worked outside last year, I would get a tea and some food from Starbucks. Yes. It was boring. Yes. It made it difficult for me to eat out with others. But at least there is always a Starbucks around, and they no longer use HFCS. I feel for those who can’t have anything made with corn.

If HFCS is in practically everything, processed corn has to be in even more.

Some solutions: Stop subsidizing corn. Then wheat and other products will have a chance to compete. Demand all ingredients–and I mean all ingredients–be listed on the package.

Make sure corn is listed for what it is. If it is highly processed, it should be labeled as so. If it is a sryup, it should be labeled as so. If it is from corn, it should be labeled as so. Therefore, HFCS should not be labeled corn sugar. I have seen the ingredient corn sugar on the packages of Lay’s potato chips. It might take awhile for people to realize they are being fooled, but they won’t be happy once they find out.

Joy Ellen
198 Garner Dr Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Hi everyone,

My name is Ana and I am the mother of a 7 year old and a 23 month old. Both of them are very sensitive to corn. The oldest had all the Autism and ADHD symptoms since he was little. When my oldest son was born I gave him formula with corn syrup. I didn’t know anything about corn and food allergies. Since that day, he started having problems. When he was born he would eat and cry for hours. When he was a year old he started biting at everyone on his daycare. He stopped talking and had a lot of ear and throat infections. He was always congested, had pain in his joints, constipation and daily stomach pain. When he turned 4 he was still having all this problems and still not talking that much. He was put in OT, speech, special education, etc. None of it worked. When he was 4, I decided to do an elimination diet. With the re- introduction of the foods, I found out my son was very sensitive to corn.

I removed corn from his diet. He started talking, his behavior completely changed. He was a calm kid with no more pain in his body. His speech got alot better and he no longer had throat infections. He didn’t have any more Autism or ADHD symptoms. Now my son is one of the smartest kids in the classroom. He is reading at a fourth grade level(his a 1st grader). He is advanced in Math and all the other classes. My son now is doing 90% better with the exceptions of mistakenly eating corn. We have him in a strict corn free diet. However, corn is in everything, most of the time he gets a severe reaction. He cannot have fruits since they are washed in citric acid or gassed with ethylene, no matter if it’s organic or not. Right now we haven’t found beef for my kids since they are also washed in a corn solution. Every time they eat something with corn they both get sick and all the symptoms resurface. Please label corn. My kids need to eat!

Ana, Lake View, NY

Ok, so here’s my story! My sweet little boy around 3 years old started really having some behavioral issues. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and with his already anaphylactic allergies to wheat and dairy and highly reactive allergies to eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts I’d like to say I feel pretty “tuned in” to him! Everyone kept telling me that it was his age…”3’s are way harder than 2’s.” I just didn’t feel this was the case. I kept researching.

My infant son (exclusively breastfed) continued to have a red ring around his anus (off and on) and showed some signs of discomfort along with it (possibly belly pain, or just an over all agitated). I just could not figure out what I was eating that was causing it. When he (my infant) was around 6 – 9 months I fed him his first processed baby food (*gasp* I know!!), which contained both citric acid and ascorbic acid. He within an hour had “fire red” cheeks, and was acting completely “overactive”. This was around bedtime and he this night too was up quite a bit.

All through his infancy he has been up anywhere between 45 mins to 2 hours…hindsight the more corn I consumed the less he slept. So at this point I started researching corn, and found that corn often caused behavior issues…BINGO!! That explains my older son’s aggressive behavior and my infant’s overactive, agitated, behaviors. So naturally I pulled corn…with amazing results. I also had both boys tested for corn…surprisingly enough my oldest did test positive for corn! My youngest did not…although I continue to eliminate it because I KNOW there is an issue there!

Unfortunately even our allergist acts like there is hardly an issue with my oldest son’s corn allergy he says that often when they have grain allergies they will test positive for other grains even when they aren’t really allergic. I explained the problems/results I had witnessed and he said that that really wasn’t an allergy…UGH! I had to really stay on my son’s allergist to even get him medications that do no contain corn. So the plot thickens!!!

I of course eliminated corn for my nursing son…AMAZING…I never really realized how dry my skin was, but now without a pumice stone or even lotion, my dry cracked heels are smooth! My seriously dry, itchy shins and thighs always used to sport bruises from my scratching them so long and hard are no longer dry or itchy. My dry elbows, hands and knees…yep, you guessed it are smooth too! Now when there is an exposure I will get an instant migraine (still trying to figure out if this is corn or wheat/gluten or both…most often both are present when this happens), erratic behavior myself (very moody) and then my hands will dry out (it’s crazy almost instantly) and crack. And if I am exposed my still nursing son will then fall back into his up every couple of hours sleeping pattern, where otherwise he will usually sleep through the night or up no more than 1-2 times in a 12 hour period. We have been eliminating corn for the better part of 1 1/2 years…My infant son is coming up to 2 and is happy and healthy as ever, I have my sweet (oldest) boy back too who is coming up to 5 years old, and I am feeling better than ever when I didn’t even realize I was sick!! SO THANKFUL!

Rebekah Alley NC

To Whom it may Concern:

I have known for years that I had food sensitivities. My family is rife with allergies to multiple environmental and food substances. However, it was not until I started a high protein, low carbohydrate diet that I realized how significantly my food allergies/sensitivities affected my life. Now that I have eliminated corn and wheat, my health is improving significantly.

I have worked with my PCP and my allergist to determine which items to eliminate. Due to anaphylactic reactions, it will never be possible for me to re-introduce wheat in any form. Corn has been a problem for me before, when I was a small child. However, after not eating it for years, it was re-introduced to my diet when I was a teenager. Now that I have once more eliminated it, the chronic health problems which have caused me distress over the last several years are lessening or have totally disappeared.

Unfortunately, I do not test IgE positive for allergies. However, upon exposure I have hive reactions, anaphylactic reactions, and chronic reactions. There are measureable differences in my blood pressure and heart rate. But, because I do not have IgE mediated reactions, my reactions are considered intolerances and sensitivities. The entire list is included at the end of this letter, along with specific reactions.

I have seen multiple doctors. I have been on medication from oxycontin down to magnesium and supplements. NOTHING HELPED. I still had migraines 4 days out of 7. I still had fibromyalgia. I still contracted/developed bronchitis once every 6 weeks. My joints would swell…. Which occasioned a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. My hormones were out of alignment – and so I received a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Metabolic Syndrome, and pre-diabetes. I could not seem to lose weight – and so was put on medication for that. My blood pressure was erratic and could be contributing to the migraines, so I was put on medication. And the pills kept being prescribed…. And the diagnoses kept being applied… And I kept feeling worse and worse.

Then, I started the high protein/low carbohydrate diet through a local weight loss clinic which is physician managed. I lost 40 pounds. I felt better. The migraines went away… until I added back the second stage foods which had hidden corn and small amounts of wheat. An anaphylactic reaction to a sub which I should never have eaten (I was cheating) resulted in the suspicion that wheat was a problem. This was confirmed when I made homemade bread and broke out in hives from finger-tip to elbow. However eliminating wheat completely did not stop the migraines.

The neurologist prescribed Topomax. I had a horrible reaction. Talking with my allergist, we decided that trying to eliminate everything from my diet which had been previously diagnosed as an allergy or sensitivity might help. Within 48 hours, I was feeling better. Now, I feel better than I have in the last 20 years. The joint swelling is gone – unless I eat something with hidden corn. The migraines are gone – as long as I am not exposed to corn or other problem substances. I have energy, I can think, and I can function.

Wheat has been rather easy to avoid. It is labeled. However, corn is SO PERVASIVE and is hidden. Avoiding corn and corn derived products has been a huge challenge. Further, since corn can be hidden, it nullifies friends’ or family’s well-meaning efforts at providing safe foods and products.

I am lucky. While wheat causes anaphylactic reactions, corn does not. So, while I may develop a blinding migraine that disables me for several days, at this point my corn reaction will not kill me. Other people are not as lucky. It is my sincere and fervent hope that you will consider that there is a full spectrum of reactions to corn and corn-derived products. I do not ask that corn or corn-derived products be banned. I merely ask that corn be just as clearly listed/labeled as wheat, dairy, soy or other allergens are.

Sincerely,
Laura Ann Collins, Virginia

Allergies & Sensitivities:

Substance Reaction
Wygesic (Pain Killer) Paranoid
Flexeril (Muscle Relaxer) Hallucinate
Codeine (Pain Killer) Makes Extremely Dizzy and have Vertigo – lasts 2 days.
Torodol (Pain Killer) Obsessive-Compulsive and Nightmares
Neomycin (antibiotic) – allergy test positive Hives
Triclosan (Antibacterial agent in soaps, etc) – allergy test positive Hives
Thimersol (Mercury preservative) – allergy test positive Hives
Imatrex Injection and Nasal Spray Turns migraine into blinding migraine and leaves head feeling bruised. Feels like red ants stinging brain.
Band aid adhesive, tape adhesive Welts and itching
Tizanidine (generic for zanaflex) (Muscle Relaxer) Hallucinations, Extreme Sweating, Gland Infections?
Augmentin Bloody Diarrhea
Hydrochlorothiazide Severe hallucinations for 36-72 hours
Verapamil Causes very high blood pressure (200/150) after taking for 4 weeks. Blood pressure returned to normal 2 weeks after last dose.
Topomax (25 mg) 48 hours after first dose (i.e., after taking 2 doses) – extremely dizzy (could not stand up for more than 5 minutes at a time), hands and feet were numb to the touch and tingled, slept for over 16 hours of the day. Stopped taking it.
Ambien Cannot remember the 48 hours after taking it. Lost time.

Corn Hives, Migraines
Eggs – Injected only. Can eat without problems Swelling, fever
Truvia, Stevia, Purvia, Etc. Blinding migraine for 72 hours, starts within 5 minutes of consumption
Strawberries Nausea and Diarrhea
Cantaloupe Migraine, Vomiting
Bananas Blisters in mouth
Sodium Bisulfite Blinding Migraine
Nitrates, Nitrites Migraine
Sulfates, Sulfites Migraine
Artificial Grape Flavoring Anaphylaxis
Bacardi Rum Anaphylaxis
Purple Grapes Migraine
All Wines, Balsamic Vinegar Migraine
Chemical Sugars, saccharin, sorbitol, nutrasweet, etc. Migraine, Diarrhea
Sugar Mood Swings & Migraines
MSG Severe Migraine
Wheat????? – blood tests show NOT gluten sensitive and no IgE allergy Mild Anaphylaxis, mild nausea, hives
Shrimp, real crab meat Mild Anaphylaxis, mild nausea
Agave Migraine, burning mouth
Soy (more than about a tablespoon) Gastrointestinal upset, including Nausea and Diarrhea
Lots of Chemicals and Cleaners Asthma, Migraines, Hives
Lots of Air Fresheners and Perfumes Asthma
Lots of Lotions Hives
Sun Sensitivity – STOPPED AFTER STOPPED EATING WHEAT ????? Hives in Sun, must wear 50+ SPF for a little sun exposure.
Dust Mites Allergies
Environmental – typical grasses, pollens, molds Allergies
Cats Asthma and Itchy skin, chronic bronchitis when exposed over several days
Lavender Eyes swell shut, wheezing, hives
Magnesium
250 mg capsule 1 x per day Daily – Prevents migraines – however, raised blood pressure 20-30 points.
Fennel Migraine, hives
Tea Tree Oil Hives, Migraine

HI–I saw your message on the Delphi Forum and wanted to write. I am self-diagnosed with a corn allergy after my Dr’s neglected to test and then did not decide to test for corn once I demanded I be tested for food allergies. They said that corn was not a common food to test for, so went for all the “regulars” and found nothing. I have had medical issues (reflux, GI distress, gall bladder attacks, liver pain, fatigue, muscle twitching, vision cloudiness, etc) for over 10 years and never once did a Doctor mention a possibility of food allergies/intolerances or test for one.

They were quick enough to remove my gall bladder when I couldn’t stand the attacks and pain any longer–yet, there were no stones and no explanation as to why my gall bladder “died”. That is when it all came to a head—I was in worse shape than ever after the gall bladder surgery and could not figure out what was going on!

I met with a Nutritionist who immediately said its an allergy/intolerance and started me on an elimination diet. It took me a year to figure it was corn, but was much better just being on a gluten free diet until I narrowed it to corn. Now, when I tell my Dr’s to be aware of my corn sensitivity, they ignore me—it is easy to see. I have given up on doctors since there is really very little they can do for someone with a corn allergy—they cannot prescribe anything and that is what they are trained to do.

For me, it is a daily battle trying to fit in with the rest of the world that does not have any idea what it is like to not be able to eat 95% of what is produced in the USA. We cannot even eat most fruits and vegetables—how can anyone understand that??? It is impossible to explain, except to those of us that have the allergy. I am hopeful you can make a difference for the many of us that are “fortunate” to know corn is our issue—think of how many out there are being medicated to worsen their condition when it is most likely corn at the root!! I think about that constantly—if it is in 95% of what the USA produces, then those that have no idea (like I didnt for so long) will only get worse. I pray you can get the word out!

Good Luck!
Keith Conroy

I was diagnosed through elimination diet suggested by my DO. And I only wrote a short paragraph, I think it centered on a situation where I traveled and realized the local water had been treated with a corn derivative (I couldn’t breathe after 3 meals’ worth of coffee/tea). I was able to research the treatment process and found a component that could be (and obviously was) derived from corn. I expressed concern that even water could be unsafe for those of us with a corn allergy.

Take care! Kim L., NC.

I was in the hospital about 9 years ago – short stay – that stay is about corn and being chemically sensitive more than the first stay but about the first stay

I had major hassled with dietician staff about food – finally they let me order what I wanted instead of their diabetic diet. I am not a diabetic but they put me on one for some absurd reason then wondered why I wasn’t eating. I won’t eat with artificial sweeteners etc. It did take 3 visits with them to convince them to listen to me and let me have what I wanted. I refused to eat juice packed fruit – why –– because I am allergic to apples. Juice packed fruits might contain apple juice. You know how long it took me to convince the blasted dietician to actually check the blasted label on what was being served? All she cared about was that it was juice in it – not what juice.

I refused to eat anything I had no idea what was in it or how it was fixed and really I wasn’t being obstinate; I was trying to be safe.

One night I was given a snack – hubby had gone to eat and drive home (hospital was hour and half drive home). The snack consisted of a roast beef sandwich and applesauce. I was pissed – I don’t eat apples; I don’t eat beef and both were spelled out on the chart as allergies. The nurse ordered it not me but no one bothered to check it – she didn’t – the diet staff didn’t. He came the next day and said he should have stayed and eaten it.

But this second trip to the hospital I had problems with food too. They had records from before but did they look them up? NO. I specially said no corn and nothing hot served on plastic /Styrofoam. There was also no beef, minimal dairy, real butter, no apples and probably a few other things. Oh they brought stuff on Styrofoam and hid it from me transferring it onto another plate – I could taste the contamination. They brought cereal and some kind of artificial fake dairy cream for the cereal. I pointed out on the list of ingredients the high fructose corn syrup.

Oh, that’s not corn I was told.

BTW hubby ate most of that breakfast as I was being discharged after one night and he was tired and hungry as I had called him up to come get me and he had to drive hour and half after not sleeping much the night before (in fact he made me drive home and I probably wasn’t in condition to do that as they still didn’t have my meds straightened out and some of them you just don’t quit cold turkey and they had done that to me).

I was diagnosed by accident 15 years ago. My 5 year old daughter was getting pinpricked allergy tested. I decided to get tested with her so that she wouldn’t be afraid. I turned out to be allergic to everything. The doctors gave me antihistamines before the test was over because I reacted so severely. I had just been diagnosed with a corn allergy and I didn’t know it. I went home heavily medicated and without paperwork. They prescribe me allergy shots for pollen, grasses, trees and mold. I took the shots for 3 months and then quit. I had two reasons for quitting. I found out that shots had a 30% success rate which is worse than flipping a coin and calling heads or tails and they took up so much time out of my work week I was afraid I was going to be fired. The job was more important to me than marginal improvement. I took prescription allergy medications instead.

Fast forward several years. I am chronically ill. I get a cold. It turns into bronchitis. I get antibiotics from the Doctor. I take them and am symptom free for two weeks and then the cycle starts over again. I know all the doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. I know which shift they work. They know me. They know that I hate the medicine and that I’m not faking my illness. My appointments become 5 minutes of face time every month because we all know the diagnosis. I just need someone to write me another prescription. One day in frustration I ask the Nurse Practitioner (Dale) to please help me find the root cause of my illness. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Bronchitis is a symptom and I tell him I’m willing to take any test to get off this chronic illness treadmill. I’m exhausted and I have two small children. He reads my medical records for a few minutes and then says, “You know that you’re deathly allergic to corn?” I tell him, “That’s silly, I’ve never heard of anyone being allergic to corn.” He tells me, “Well, you are. Go home and empty your cabinets of any food with corn in it.” I go home and when I’m done emptying my pantry, the only thing I have left is spices. I now have an inhaler at all times since corn exposure also gives me an asthmatic reaction.

A couple years ago I started getting sick again even though I had eliminated as much corn from my food and surroundings as I could. I discovered that due to the new environmental treaties all inhalers except one changed their delivery propellant and now use corn as a propellant and so my allergy trigger was in my albuterol inhaler. Working with my allergist we discovered one brand without corn. I hope it keeps its exception. I live in Virginia and travel 2 hours to see Dr. Layton because he is the only doctor who listens and responds to my medical needs. If the FDA mandated labeling of corn in all food and drugs I would call that a good start since I would still have to worry about the household products like shampoo, deodorant and perfumes.

Deborah Nalchajian, Virginia

We avoid corn here because of autism. My middle son is so sensitive that I have to make everything from scratch: lotion, lip balm – everything. If I don’t, then I get a mean child who I cannot discipline because he doesn’t understand right and wrong and doesn’t care about anything. When he is clean you would hardly know he has autism – he is so sweet. That is the difference corn makes for him. My other boys and myself are also corn sensitive, however we can handle citric acid and some of those types of things that are made from corn in moderation and be OK (I just need a lot of band-aids as my hands crack and bleed almost immediately on exposure), but not my middle child. Even citric acid causes behavior issues.

The challenge for us with the current food supply is that most of the time if I read the label and it looks clean, then I decide to feed it to #2, then I know within 5 minutes if it is really corn free because that is when the behaviors start to show themselves. With a small exposure, he can’t focus and forgets things a lot. With a large exposure he pushes or hurts people and laughs, tantrums, spins, can’t sleep, has no self control, can’t follow directions, has major sensory issues, etc. It is impossible to keep him clean for long because of other people that he may come into contact with using unsafe cleaning products, hand sanitizer, etc. when we go out anywhere. If it is on something and he touches it, we get the same result as a small exposure. My other boys can live in the world as long as they don’t eat anything corn-y, but #2 would be happier and healthier away from all the exposure that is the world right now. We as a nation really need to work on better labeling so that life with a corn allergy or corn sensitivity does not have to be a 24 hour 7 day a week job. Right now a person can’t let their guard down for a minute and stay safe from corn exposure.

Anonymous, Minnesota

I have a 5-year old son named Owen who has been allergic to corn since birth. It was a struggle to get a diagnosis other than GERD. Doctors wouldn’t take us seriously regarding his strange rashes & acidic diarrhea which burned on contact. We were continually labeled as nervous, first-time parents who couldn’t accept a child with textbook Acid Reflux. By 8 months, Owen was covered in a gradually worsening rash. Our introduction to table food further contributed to the stomach & skin problems, especially when he was given processed foods. We also noticed strange behavioral symptoms upon eating certain things, but again these were ignored as “typical” childhood behaviors or lack of discipline, even though he was a very well-behaved child. One pediatrician actually told us to get rid of our cats so the rashes could go away.

It finally took calling my own Allergist to get detailed testing and a diagnosis of corn allergy. Then our struggle with shopping & cooking began. Nearly everything contains corn, is packaged in corn-contaminated packaging, or is prepared on equipment where corn-containing foods are prepared. It became impossible to eat out, attend family get-togethers without major planning, travel to distant relatives…the list goes on. His corn allergy has worsened each year of his life, and now all of Owen’s medications must be specially compounded to avoid debilitating reactions. Corn goes by so may names that finding it is nearly impossible or takes tremendous time.

I want to mention the behavioral aspect of food allergy too. Owen is an easy child behaviorally—as long as he hasn’t been exposed to corn. If he IS exposed, he turns into a different child. He’s often called an angel by teachers, babysitters, & grandparents. However, if he ingests corn, he becomes very agitated due to severe itching, joint pain, & stomach pain. Teachers will ask me if he accidentally ate something corny the day before, as he was “off” that day, in a severe way. They’ll say “That was NOT the Owen we know!” He won’t be able to sit still, to concentrate or follow simple directions. He even has odd crying episodes & periods of extreme sadness when experiencing a reaction.

We were told many of these behaviors are typical of children with ADD or ADHD, and if we didn’t know of his corn allergy, he might be labeled as ADHD. Thus, we strictly monitor his diet/hygiene products not only to avoid causing physical pain, but also to avoid any behavioral issues that may result in problems at school or other situations where Owen must perform or pay attention.

For Owen, the social aspect of corn allergy is the most challenging. All a 5-year old boy wants is to be like his friends. This isn’t possible for him though, as play dates, birthday parties, holiday parties, or simple barbecues become another instance where he can’t eat what everyone else eats. He never gets a piece of the birthday cake, so we bring his safe cupcakes from home. He never gets to eat the candy at Halloween or from a birthday treat bag, so we have to substitute with something safe he CAN have.

He’s old enough to know he’s different now, and he struggles when other children ask why he can’t participate as they do. It’s easy to say to an adult that life isn’t fair, but to a child, life is all about fairness. As a parent of a corn-allergic child, this is my greatest emotional challenge, as Owen is quick to remind me it’s not fair that he’s allergic to corn and never gets to be “normal” like all of the other kids he knows.

Our life isn’t normal by far and never will be, and I hope one day that corn will be recognized as a Top allergen. I meet and speak to more corn allergy sufferers every month. It’s not rare, as the medical profession and food industry would have us believe. Most of all, I just want Truth in Labeling, so I can stop trying to find the hidden corn in everything and focus on being a parent, a wife, a friend. Instead, most of my time is spent as a detective, trying to keep my son safe from companies who refuse to admit how corn is a part of their packaging, their “natural flavors,” or their meat processing requirements. No food should be so hard to avoid, but sadly, corn is the best, well-kept secret of American food manufacturing and processing. Any increasing awareness of corn allergy is a welcome change to the current state of denial many of us parents have been subjected to.

Lisa in St. Louis

A Day in the Life with Corn Allergy Corn allergy.

At first, this diagnosis was overwhelming. It was consuming. It was defining. And yet, it was freeing too. It’s difficult to express how it feels to finally have validation. These symptoms, these real and debillitating, seemingly random symptoms, were not ‘just stress’. I did not need a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, or a really good massage (although that last one might have been nice!) I simply needed to change my diet, and subsequently my lifestyle.

The diet itself has been eye opening. I am blessed to live in a state where farmer’s markets and fresh produce are available year round. I can get to the health food store in under twenty minutes. So, while my diet may not be all that varied, at least it’s survivable. Our day to day life has evolved to include these corn restrictions (and the rest of the family’s restrictions) to the point that it’s matter of fact. I don’t share meals not planned with me in mind. I don’t eat at family gatherings, unless I bring my own food. I don’t eat out.

It’s not that big of an issue, unless other people ask questions and remind us that it is an issue. Our lifestyle, to the outsider, seems unique and quaint. We’re health nuts, who eat a lot of chocolate. We’re organic. We’re…well…different. Everyone’s different. So, in our day to day life, that part doesn’t bother me.

What I live in fear of are the few days a year when I can’t do it alone. The days when I need to go to the dentist, or the doctor. These are the days when I need outside help. The days I’m least able to self advocate, most vulnerable, and most desperate. You see, corn derivatives show up in medical supplies. Although I was diagnosed by a medical doctor, who urged me to look deeper, she herself was surprised by what I found. And insurance issues coupled with the economical downturn have forced me to seek medical care from new doctors, new health centers, new providers who are not so sure they really believe in ‘corn allergy’. Or, if they do, are fairly certain that corn derivatives rarely make their way into pharmaceuticals. Instead of a simple diagnosis and prescription, my office visits often end in a frustrating cycle that sends me back and forth between a pharmacist and the medical provider, with a nurse intervening who reassures me that my worries are foundless or simply explains that they don’t cater to those kinds of needs. (Only to huff and grumble when I ask them to direct me to someone who can help me, and how exactly I can tell the difference from the anticipated reaction to corn derivatives in the medication and a worsening of my condition that merits immediate medical condition. After two or three individuals have received the same question, someone eventually finds in my records that I do, indeed, already have a compounding pharmacy that does, indeed, manage to suit my needs. And after that…it’s only once or twice that the prescription gets rerouted to the wrong pharmacy.) As you might imagine, I’d rather avoid the fuss.

Day to day, I can make it normal to keep tabs on popcorn related fundraisers so I can make alternate arrangements for my kids that day. I can wear a mask to the farmer’s market and the mall that includes a movie theater. I can skip food related events or finagle my way through with as much finesse as I can wrangle for the evening. I can prepare 3 meals a day, forgo yeasted breads and make my own broth once a week. I can clean with vinegar and baking soda, and use safe soaps on my dishes and clothing.

But I can’t make my own medication. I can’t diagnose myself. And I can’t get help if and when I need it; unless the person I’m addressing takes my explanations and concerns seriously. I know how it sounds “I’m allergic to corn…wait, are there corn derivatives in that IV? In this pill? Are your gloves dusted with cornstarch?” But I’ve learned the hard way, time and again, that I’m not just paranoid. These are valid concerns.

So my pain killers are compounded, with weeks worth of effort put into the signature authorizing it. I can’t take most nutritional supplements although they’d do me good. And unless it’s serious, and I can convince a dr and a pharmacist to work together on a solution, I skip the meds and go to bed. it’s the one part of ‘normal’ I can never normalize. A simple sinus infection is drama. I don’t want to know what happens when it isn’t so simple.

From Lisa K. (Mistofviolets)
http://maybeitsstress.blogspot.com/2012/04/day-in-life-with-corn-allergy.html

Here is my story as a life long corn allergy sufferer.

I was diagnosed with severe corn allergy as an infant. I was very very sick due to the corn syrup added to my at that time home-made infant formula (1950’s). I was unable to keep food down and what stayed down was not absorbed and I was basically suffering from malnutrition. I was given hormone shots of some kind that were supposed to help with my appetite. I was diagnosed with “failure to thrive”. I was losing weight, becoming weaker by the day and it wasn’t until my mother took me off of the home-made formula and put me on regular cow’s milk (no vitamins back then) that I miraculously got well…within just a couple of days. The doctors back then were more knowledgeable about corn allergy than they are today. I was diagnosed with SEVERE corn allergy and I had to avoid all corn like corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, corn on the cob, etc. I was healthy and thriving as long as corn was out of my diet. It was very easy to avoid corn back then…not like today! The only long term effect of my illness as an infant was that my primary teeth came in rotten (black) and I had to have them ALL pulled at age 4. My teeth buds were not forming correctly because of the malnutrition.

It wasn’t until the mid-seventies that I started to have major problems (stomach, facial swelling, skin, eyes/vision, etc.). This was about the time that they started putting corn into everything. I had never had a skin problem in my life but I started to develop terrible acne, large painful cysts, vision problems (conjunctivitis, swelling of eyes, large painful cysts on my eyelids, blood red itchy eyes, photophobia, etc.) I had several surgeries on my eyelids to remove the cysts that had gotten so large that they were interfering with my eyesight. I saw a dermatologist for over 6 years and nothing she did helped my skin…in fact, all of the pills, lotions, soaps, creams, etc. made my skin much worse. She finally gave up on me and told me there was nothing she could do to help me. I kept on reminding her of my corn allergy and she just blew me off like I didn’t know what I was talking about. Corn allergy???? There was no such thing! My situation got so bad that some mornings I would wake up and look in the mirror and not recognize myself…one or the other side of my face would be swollen to twice its normal size and hard as a rock.

I was asked to be a bridesmaid for my best friend and I went on a very strict diet of just fresh fruit and vegetables to lose some weight. My skin improved dramatically! I started to keep a very strict diary of everything I ate and drank and it was soon apparent that anything processed in any way, shape or form would cause a break-out. I started to learn more and more about what is put into food…thank goodness for the internet (which of course didn’t happen until about the mid-eighties :o) I did have some set-backs over the years like the corny vitamins added to milk…it took me forever to figure that one out! Oh…and the corny additives to “fresh” meat was a real puzzle.

I am doing ok these days. I don’t have a lot of variety in my diet but that’s fine…at least I can leave my home without people staring at me. I do have a lot of scars from the years of cystic acne. If I accidentally eat something corny today I will break out like a teenager…sigh…

Thank you for listening and sharing my story. My goal has always been to help prevent someone else (especially a child) from going through what I have gone through for most of my life. I have been sharing my experiences, safe foods and help (hopefully) on the Delphi Forum for over 12 years now. I think my knowledge and experience is helping others.

Eldine Evans, Canada

Corn. I never thought that the fields I would pass by every day growing up would be the thing that would so greatly affect the lives of some of my closest friends. I can’t just drop by or take them out for a meal or even bring gifts to spoil the new baby. Corn is in everything and if I make a simple mistake, I can severely hurt my friends. I miss my friend. I miss her so much. Funny thing is, she is in the same place. Nobody fought or lost friendship. I blame corn. Corn has my friend imprisoned in her home. She cannot eat the majority of foods found in local stores because they are either made with a corn by-product or the packaging is made from corn. She cannot use any commercially made household products for the same reason. Even the scent of corn turns her body into a medical experiment gone horribly wrong. But that’s not the worst part. I fear for her. And the thought of it always bring me to tears. Corn could take her from us forever if she ever finds herself needing hospital care. The one place that is supposed to put us back together, is the scariest place on earth for her and the baby. Most medicines, including anesthetics, have some type of contact with corn. That never settles well with me. Never. We need alternatives. Pure, viable alternatives. I share her story with people to raise awareness. But we’re so far from a solution we desperately need.

**Wiping away tears,
Nichole Gates, Georgia, U.S.A.

Chemurgy is not new, making industrial and household products from crops and crop by products have grown, in use all over North America and beyond. Many products made from corn such as toys, office supplies, plastic cups, plates, medical supplies, and so many other products HAVE caused allergic reactions for people with corn allergies.

These products are usually not labelled, being green, environmentally friendly, made from plant sources, or biodegradable can be clues something is made from corn but their is no way of knowing from just looking at or reading a product to know if it is made from corn.

List of industrial and household products made from corn:
http://www.corn.org/products

More on Chemurgy:
http://chemurgy.blogspot.ca/
Karen, Canada

My father and I have been struggling with a corn allergy for almost 10 years. I am a 22 year old who has been working very hard towards a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering but due to all of the perfume and hand sanitizer on campus, I am no longer able to attend classes. I am unable to go grocery shopping by myself. My reaction to all corn derivatives is a neurological response. I get disoriented, I am unable to think, my muscles start shaking or get extremely tight and my eyesight become blurred. I am unable to drive after a reaction. At this point, I am basically home-bound because I get so sick during my reactions. I even react when I am sitting on the couch with all the windows closed the neighbors are doing their laundry down the block. My dad has had the allergy for about the same time as me but my reactions seem to be slightly more exaggerated. If the FDA would just label that corn is in products it would help both me and my father.

Kiah Smith, Colorado

I live in a corn intolerant, multiple food intolerant/allergic household. I discovered my corn and food intolerance during my pregnancy with my daughter in the Fall of 2009. I had always had difficulty eating some foods, this usually presented itself as a minor irritation from accidental exposure and a benadryl easily solved whatever issues arose. However I was not prepared for the intense onset of the reactions that occurred during my pregnancy, nor was I prepared for the severe change in my health and my daughter’s health and the lack of medical understanding post delivery.

During my pregnancy, I began having reactions to the staple foods in my diet. We could not pinpoint the route cause of the reactions, there was seemingly little to no correlation between the problematic foods. I began to keep a list of the foods that were inspiring reactions. I noticed a significant increase in swelling after each reaction, which was later labeled as pitted edema. I brought this to the attention of my OBGYN and she laughed it off and called me the “Michelin Man.” She told me that I would need to control my portions or I would get “too big” and have difficulty loosing the weight. I was barely eating at the point from the fear of increasing my swelling, developing more hives, and/or experiencing more dizziness and another severe migraine; I was afraid of over-medicating on benadryl while pregnant. Despite barely eating, I was still continuing to grow/swell at an accelerated rate. I was becoming ill and I had no help. I began to try to find the connection between my food intolerances/allergies/allergic reactions and that is when I became aware of pervasiveness of corn and corn derivatives in the entirety of food processing, manufacturing, and packaging. Corn was a definite trigger for me, more so than any other food and it was everywhere. I came to realize corn was in every single medication that might be used by the hospital should I need an emergency cesarean, but the realization came during my 8th month of pregnancy, it was too late to research other options and my doctors had no idea; these were the professionals who had accidentally used latex on my twice, and I have a known latex allergy. I had been told since by my two month check up that my child was abnormally large and I would need a cesarean.

When I found out that corn was used extensively throughout medication and dextrose/glucose IVs at the hospital…I was horrified. I tried on multiple occasions to bring this up with my OBGYN however she was not interested, she was also not interested in the fact that I wanted a natural birth. We decided to find a new OBgyn, found a Doula, planned to have a natural birth, but still meet resistance, after 26 hours of labor we were “encouraged” to let them break my water, and that’s when the “complications” began and my doctor and nurses suddenly went from explaining everything that was going wrong with the baby to having no idea what was happening….a cesarean was now our only option. I was given a dextrose IV which caused my arm and hand to go numb and stay numb for weeks, I was given shots of medication in my back (I still don’t know what it was) that caused my feet and legs to go numb for months, and the medication and IVs made my swelling exponentially worse. My feet began to rip open from the pressure. I began to lose consciousness immediately following the shot in my back, my teeth began to chatter uncontrollably, I felt a hotness run through every part of my body and suddenly my body grew extremely cold, I began to have the feeling of being far away and everyone’s voice turned into a whisper.

That was the most frightening moment of my life. I am unsure what happened after that, I remember waking up in the recovery room by myself and in pain, despite the pain medication. I actually had my allergen information printed on my hospital wrist bands and in the computer system, but never did the staff of the hospital or my doctors question the use of corn derivatives in the medications, it was a non-issue to them. Also, despite knowing of my food allergies in advance, the hospital still was incapable of preparing meals for my extended stay. I was given a prescription for motrin and percocet. Percocet is similar to loratab, which almost killed me once. The pharmacist caught that mistake. The motrin prescription was filled however the excipients in the medication included corn derivatives. I am still unsure how an entire profession can legally give you/use medication and use instruments (papsmear wands) that are derived from your allergen (corn / corn derivatives) and not expect a severely negative reaction. If corn is to be used so extensively in the medical field then it must be labeled to ensure the safety for ALL U.S. citizen, not just a few. It is time for the medical field to become more aware that they are participating in a grave disservice to patients and doing harm to thousands of people.

For the past two years I have been actively researching corn and corn derivatives used in the manufacturing, processing, and packaging of our food supply, water supply, personal care items, office supplies and all other facets of our lives. Despite my research, I am still finding it increasingly difficult to met our basic need of finding enough uncontaminated food. When corn is used derivatives are used in the processing of almost every food at the grocery store, it becomes increasingly impossible to find safe foods. Corn derivatives are:

• the edible food coating wax used on fresh produce
• the main ingredients in “veggie washes” for sale and used in grocery store
• the ethylene gas used to help ripen bananas and avocadoes
• a main ingredient for the production of most vinegar in the United States, which is included in many prepackaged and canned items
• the citric acid used in the production of ice for fresh and frozen fish storage
• the alcohol used to produce flavoring extracts
• a main ingredient in most alcohol beverages
• the citric acid washes and lactic acid baths used on all meat (organic and conventional)
• the dextrose used as the de-clumping agent in iodized salt, which is included in almost every prepackaged item
• the dextrin coating of rice and coffee beans
• maltodextrin which is used in most prepackaged items and almost ALL vitamins
• the citric acid used in most items in the grocery store
• the “natural ingredients” in alternative cleaning products
• the starch used to bind tissue paper and paper towels
• so many other uses and potential pitfalls for the corn allergic/intolerant individual

Every day we discover new and “improved” usages for corn and corn derivatives, nothing is ever labeled which can and does pose severe consequences to a corn allergic/intolerant individual. The symptoms of course allergy range from the typical allergy symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, swelling, anaphylaxis to more obscure and delayed reactions of abdomen swelling, severe back pain, GI issues, behavioral and cognitive issues. I know this because I experience the entire gambit of reactions. My reactions range from immediate headache which can turn into a migraine, to increased “brain fog” or the inability to concentrate and articulate my thoughts, hives and severe itching, difficulty breathing, on several occasions loss of consciousness, swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes, and throat, dizziness, delayed swelling and pain in my ankles, shoulders and abdomen, mock sinus infection, and sometimes uncontrollable cognitive changes. My daughter experiences a mock-cold, allergic shiners, a red rash around her anus, pale skin, rash, eczema, hives, behavioral changes, emotional changes, night terrors, an inability to concentrate and the inability to sleep well.

Please keep in mind that my daughter and I never “tested positive” to corn via a blood test. We were not offered a food challenge but we were offered a skin prick test. I was told by the allergist that they could “stop any severe negative reactions” to the skin prick test in the office. Having looked into skin prick testing to determine the raw materials from which the base/carriers for the testing ingredients were derived, and the drugs used to stop allergic reactions I was prepared to discuss with her those excipients and how they were derived. I wanted to better understand how corn derivatives were used and what our options were to avoid that food/derivative trigger. She had NO IDEA from what the excipients in the medications were made. She also had no idea what the carriers and bases were made from in the skin prick test ingredients. Despite my research of the use of corn derivatives in the testing procedure, she just didn’t think it was a real issue, because “not enough protein remained to pose a threat.” I am not a doctor, however I realize how my body reacts to substances and it DOES NOT follow the protein rule. I am not sure how to stress this fact enough to make some kind of testing for corn and non-protein related allergies mandatory in this country. Needless to say, my confidence in her understanding of corn allergy was swayed and we did not have the skin prick test completed.

Erica Hope Kassner, Alabama
cornfreelifestyle.wordpress.com

Since meeting my wife a decade ago I have learned many things that I never expected. If you met my wife as a senior in high-school as I did, you would likely have described her has as an active vivacious quirky extrovert. Class president, drum major, job, thrift store and clearance rack junkie, and full scholarship to the state university.

As I got to know her I began to learn about some the things that made her unique, quirks if you will… the unusual or unexpected. I learned things such as she was unusually sensitive to some smells, such as a propensity to faint if exposed to Tilex (not particularly helpful if it was her turn to clean the bathroom at the dining establishment where she worked).

I began to learn about the foods that she would avoid, or would bother her such as most raw vegetables (broccoli, celery, cucumbers, certain types of lettuce, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, etc) and several fruits (including melons, certain citrus, bananas, pineapple). Once I remember her enjoying a couple of pineapple triangles only to look at her moments later to see a line of blood begin to bead up across her lip from left to right. Being the ever positive person she is, her only response was, “Oh yeah, that happens some times, but I love fresh pineapple.”

I learned that her eye lashes seemed to grow the wrong direction, as she was perpetually obliged to defend herself from the latest rogue eyelash. For years we never suspected that this irritation could have been associated with food and environmental allergies.

I learned about her chronic dry skin and itchy scalp, as I became involved in helping her select and apply the next product that might alleviate this annoying ailment.

I learned about her “carpal tunnel” and the tendency for her hands and forearm to cramp if over exerted by practicing piano or clarinet, or lifting a heavy object. Over the last decade I have witnessed this condition slowly degrade to the point that lifting a dinner plate with a single hand is often enough to induce stabbing pain and discomfort.

I learned about her dizzy spells, blackouts, and visual anomalies. Many times over the years I have had to catch her as she fell to the floor from a seemingly unprovoked blackout.

I started noticing a pattern of eyelash pulling. I could never seem to associate it with anything that made sense. For whatever reason, watching her pull at her eyelashes made me cringe, so I guess that’s why it sticks out in my mind. Seriously, it was a significant life activity, eating away a few minutes, several times a day to find and remove the offending eyelash that turned against her and was stabbing her in the eye. We realize now that this was related to food allergies. This problem is now virtually non-existent, and only reoccurs when she has been exposed to an allergen.

I learned about her extremely tight muscles. For years we simple accepted that her calves, thighs, arms and shoulders were just tight for one reason or another. Not until recently did we have a clue that this was primarily inflammation associated with chronic exposure to allergens.

I learned that she has dealt with chronic constipation her entire life.

After getting married my wife began to eat less dairy since I am dairy allergic. After a couple of years she realized, the more she stayed away from it, the more it affected her. She often joked that she caught it from me. 🙂

I remember on our honeymoon, my wife made up a song to the tune of “Old Smokey” that went something like this: “If somebody loved me… they’d buy me some gummies.” I’ll spare you the rest. It was at this point that I knew that standing between my beautiful bride and her cravings for sweets was not a wise proposition. Unfortunately for me we were in the-middle-of-nowhere Tennessee at the time, so I had the pleasure of listening to the song a few more times. This did not strike me as odd, but over time I began to worry about the quantity of sweets she would consume on a semi regular basis. Laffy Taffy and chocolate oreo cream cake being two of her favorites. With a family history of diabetes I would naturally be concerned with a whole cake would effortlessly disappear in an evening. We knew that she had an addiction of sorts to this type of food, but didn’t really understand the addiction that people have to their allergens.

For years I watched her suffer from sever bronchitis multiple times a year. Month after month of watching her hack up a rainbow of mucus each morning when she woke up as I lay there patiently trying not to be disgusted by the inevitable ritual. Her doctors never seemed interested in more than the next round of antibiotics.

One year after she had started teaching a middle school she had a particularly bad bought of “bronchitis” and ended up in the school nurses office who checked her blood oxygen level. It was 83%. The nurse called me in from work and had me take her straight to an urgent care facility where she was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. Something we would have expected our GP to have caught just a couple of days before hand.

[pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, experience at school]
[visited doctors for years regarding these ailments and was never provided any tangible help. Multiple X-rays, EKGs, MRIs, visits to ENTs, and Neurologists, prescription after prescription.]

We say an ENT to make see if there was an underlying cause of her perpetual bronchitis, and laryngitis. Which was a problem for a music educator who needed to be able to sing. For a time we were concerned that her voice had suffered permanent damage from the chronic infections. After a few tests we were sent on our merry way as was usually the case, with no conclusions.

Her frequent blackouts and weakness in her arms and hands found us in the “capable hands” of a neurologist who did nothing more than a series of useless MRI’s which revealed a pituitary adenoma that they wanted to keep an eye on.

It was around this time we were beginning to wonder if some of her strange symptoms might be autoimmune related. An autoimmune disorder seemed to fit a lot of her symptoms, and plausible that it could have gone undiagnosed. Not being a trained physician, I had no real hope of sorting through her symptoms to find a real answer. I kept coming to the same frustrating conclusion that our string of lousy doctors came to in seconds… “those symptoms don’t go together” they would say before we had a chance to even list half of her malladies. Obviously there was nothing wrong with my wife since we weren’t able to provide and alphabetical list of symptoms matching something they see on a regular basis. Navigating this attitude in the medical community felt like a video game that sends you back to the beginning each time. Clearly if there is more than one thing wrong with a person, a doctor can’t be bothered to listen to your symptoms. So in an effort to help them help you, you start making your own diagnosis and try to focus on the symptoms they want to hear in order to get to a specialist or test that might provide some insight into what is happening to you.

During the 1st trimester of my wifes pregnancy I brought her a bowl of cheerios with soy milk (standard fare at our house during that time) and as if someone had flipped a switch my wife began to break out in hives! This was the event horizon, the turning point from which there was no return, of the roller coaster ride we have been on ever since. All we can do as we are surprised by each new turn is take a deep breath, hold on tight, and try to stay focused on what’s really important.

As an engineer who grew up with a dairy allergy, with a brother with environmental sensitivities, a father (a physics professor and master wood worker) who is celiac, and a mother with severe animal protein intolerance I felt prepared to tackle what appeared to be a simple gluten allergy presented as one of those amazing and weird transformations sometimes associated with pregnancy. What the next two years had in store for us I don’t believe anyone could be prepared for.

At this time we had no real inclination that corn may be a problem. In fact we turned to corn as a wheat/gluten alternative, particularly when dining out. With an amazing mexican cantina near by we tried to maintain our date-night ritual by choosing corn alternatives. In just a couple of weeks this resulted in disaster, this time clearly triggered by corn.

These are the days of old. And I only wish that I new how much to appreciate the freedom that came with them at that time. During my wifes pregnancy we started a long road of food trials and eliminations. After our daughter was born we were hoping that her sensitivities would abate, or at least not continue to get worse. We were also praying that our daughter
would not be born with the same sensitivities. Unfortunately these prayers were not answered.

The last two years since our daughters birth has taken us down a long and frustrating road of increased sensitivity for both my wife and daughter. Cross contamination during handling of virtually all food sources (including locally grown produce) leaves them with only a hand full of foods to eat, some of which are seasonal and VERY expensive. The combination of season food sourcing and evolving sensitivities has led us to waste thousands of dollars on food that was ultimately non-consumable. The worst of which was being caught without the possibility of securing an adequately balanced diet for several months until alternatives were back in season. The feeling of helplessness I felt watching my wife and daughter as they went hungry and either lost weight or failed to grow is unimaginable.

To add insult to injury, as if sensitivity to consumed items were not hard enough, their sensitivity to smells parallels none that I have ever even heard of. It started with perfumes, cleaners, and candles, anything with a scent. Then our unscented detergent, plastics, and rubber/latex. Once we identified a safe detergent we tried for months to re-wash bedding and clothing to remove the odor of the “unscented detergent”. A few articles were successful, the vast majority were not. My wife and daugher are no longer able to leave the home without reacting to even faint odors of the plethora of substances to which they are sensitive. For the last nine months I have only been able to take them out of our home once every week or two to the only local organic farm whose farming practices do not render the produce un-consumable by my family. We try to enjoy a few minutes outdoors as a family without the worry of smelling the neighbors laundry, pesticides, food, or vehicles.

I have had to completely remove all non-safe food items from the house, as the smells of them leak out of the packaging. I used to try to eat, for example, a can of unheated vegetables in a different room, and then brush my teeth and gargle with peroxide. It has been over a year since they became sensitive enough to react to this exposure, and they are much more sensitive now.

In order to re-enter our home, the bubble which is my families sanctuary, I must disrobe and seal my clothes in a plastic bag, and spend no less than 20minutes showering in a combination of safe soaps and peroxide. Upon a recent occasion I was away from home for 16 hours rather than the usual 8 hours, and found that 20minutes of cleansing was not quite enough.

Over the past year, piece after piece of furniture has been evicted from our home. Beginning 18 months ago we had to evacuate our bedroom because of contamination from unsafe products and have been sleeping on the couch/love seat/floor ever since. I have spent many hours of many many gallons of peroxide on our bedroom floor trying to make it safe for occupancy. We think we are there, but the rest of the furniture, with the exception of the mattress which will be completely encased, must go. It is amazing that 6 years after it was built that the plywood still has a distinct glue smell. By the way, glueless furniture doesn’t seem to exist, and neither does corn-free glue. Hopefully once we dispose of our bedroom set and save up for another $600 air cleaner we will be able to sleep in a bed again.

There really is so much more to tell, like the sinking feeling you get when you realize that you didn’t shower well enough and you see your daughter’s eyes turn black, and you see her break out in a rash and start scratching at her scalp within in moments. Or the tear you shed when you realize that you will never be able to decontaminate the Christmas present you bought for her 6 months ago. Or when you realize that you forgot to change the water filter and your wife will be ill and swollen for at least a week from ingestion of inadequately filtered water. Or the realization that your daughter is 2 and has never played with another child, knowing that you’re not sure how that would ever happen. Or the realization of how unwilling most of your friends are to even make the effort to video chat with you, much less take a shower when the come over to visit.

The next time you smell or eat something, I want you to appreciate the freedom that you have to do so, because I have seen the price of having that freedom taken from you.

Kevin Kassner , Alabama

After seeing my general practitioner, two allergists, and an environmental allergist, I was diagnosed w/ a corn allergy at age 32 by my new homeopathic doctor. The past nine months of my life have been an absolute hell that I never thought possible. I have many chronic illnesses, one of which is leaky gut (also diagnosed by my homeopath). Leaky gut is what she believes allowed my corn allergy to develop in the first place. There are therapies, supplements and vitamins that can greatly improve and even possibly cure leaky cut, however my corn allergy disables me from pursuing nearly all of these remedies because corn is in everything. I repeat: CORN IS IN EVERYTHING.

I’m so sick from this allergy that I cannot leave my home. Corn makes up the alcohol base for nearly ALL scents. Fabric softener, hair gel, hair spray, perfume, body lotions, etc. on another person make me so ill that I can barely stand up, develop a migraine and my thoughts become very clouded. When my neighbor does laundry, I nearly pass out and must lay down for several hours because I cannot stand. Car exhaust from ethanol gasoline can incapacitate me as well. There are no drugs or supplements to ease my pain or improve my situation because they too, include corn either directly or indirectly by way of inert ingredients or during the manufacturing process.

My husband has to go to great lengths to care for me and our children. We DESPERATELY struggle to find a nutrient filled diet for me and the rest of the family. They are not allergic to corn, but the particles from cooked corn or corn containing foods (so essentially everything on grocery store shelves) can also sicken me when I inhale them. We cannot even buy basic produce or meat at the grocery store, as these products are treated w/ lots of chemically derived corn based aides as part of their disinfecting and/or ripening process. Dairy and dairy alternatives are also off limits to me. Nut butters, seeds, rice, and other grains easily found in grocery stores are also contaminated with corn by way of processing aides and/or packaging. In order to get enough nutrition, we must grow our own produce or source it from a trusted farm that doesn’t grow corn on the premises, nor use any corn containing manure, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. This is not an easy task. Finding meat that hasn’t consumed corn nor been sprayed with citric (corn) acid during production is also an incredibly tall order. Some people never find a safe source for beef, as an example.

The general population continues to think of corn as a “food allergy,” but they should really reconsider that notion. From the prospective of those who must attempt to manage it daily, it is in absolutely every way an “everything allergy.” Want further proof? I’m allergic to all cardboard and paper products because corn is extensively used in the creation of these products. I have to wear gloves just to collect my mail. My own mattress and furniture have caused me great pain because of the chemicals used in the flame retardant spray. All of my toiletries contained corn. Those were expensive and painful lessons, but I have finally found replacements. A corn allergy forces one to eliminate and greatly restrict most of his/her life. Our family has exhausted tremendous expense, emotional strife and physical labor attempting to create a “safe” world for me, which has sadly turned into an insurmountable task. People with a corn allergy may technically be alive (for now), but most of us are not really leaving . . . and no one cares.

Laura Castle – age 33

I have had a debilitating allergy to corn for the last thirty years or so. I have been suffering since the 80’s with terrible pain and discomfort with no idea why. Actually, I saw many doctors regarding my bloating, constipation, diarrhea, bad breath, severe burning in my anus and urethra and had to endure embarrassing and unnecessary prostate milking done to find out what was the cause was. In fact, I was so raw there that I often bled and it was difficult to walk due to the pain. I was also put on steroid creams to deal with the problem. Of course, none of these helped and the doctors were perplexed. The doctors wasted my time and it was me, that finally discovered that corn products were what I was reacting to. The doctors didn’t even consider my diet! Off corn, I am fine and even though it took me twenty years or so to make the connection, that was the easy part. The only problem is that I am left with a very limited range of foods and can’t enjoy life like most people who can eat anything they want and enjoy going out for dinner on occasion.

The government decided at some point in time, that certain foods should be fortified with vitamins and/or minerals to prevent rickets and other related nutritional diseases. Most milk and all white flour products must be fortified by Canadian law (and American law to some extent) and the cheapest way to do it is to use corn derivatives thereby making most of Canada’s processed foods harmful to me and others with corn allergies. To add insult to injury, most other processed food products also contain corn. Corn has over 200 names is found in most processed foods. Most products in the store contain corn as a natural flavour, colour or a carrier. Citric acid, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, ascorbic acid are in almost every processed food and these are just a few of the names for corn. Again, because corn is a cheap commodity, these are typically derived from corn but they don’t necessarily have to be.

This means that I can’t consume any milk products, most soy milks, anything with iodized salt, yeast, orange juice, bread and baked goods, vegetarian burgers, french fries, chocolate, fruit in a can, ice cream products, vegetable juices and most drinks, candies, medicines and the list goes on and on. I also have to peel my apples as the coating may contain corn. I am left with only vegetables, skinless fruits, bagged lentils and beans (not canned as they may contain iodized salt which contains dextrose), plain nuts (again salted nuts typically contain iodized salt), and seeds to eat. Many meats like ham contains corn during the processing although I am a vegetarian so it doesn’t affect me. I don’t feel that my diet should be so severely restricted to government meddling. Even orange juice companies get away with lies and present their orange juice as being “one hundred percent” orange juice which is just not so. If there are very small amounts of corn in it, they don’t legally have to include it on on the label according to Canadian and American laws. That goes the same for any processed food product. How am I supposed to avoid corn when manufacturers don’t have to tell us the truth? Although, I don’t have a problem with gluten, I can’t buy any white flour products. I also can’t eat out at restaurants.

My point in writing is to bring attention my plight and the struggle that I, and others with corn allergies face on a daily basis due to our tainted food supply. I would like to see a world where there is a choice to have pure foods that are not “fortified” (aka poisoned) with chemicals and additives that stop us from enjoying what the average person takes for granted…safe healthy food. I do think that it may be beneficial to have an option, to have fortified and natural but I think that natural unfortified products should be available to all. It is a basic human right that is being denied to me and others with corn allergies. We should have complete disclosure of what is in our foods we buy even if it is a very small percentage of the food product. We have a right to know. Corn should be considered a top allergen. Remember the doctors didn’t discover my allergy, I did. How many more people are there like me suffering because the doctors don’t know why they are in pain. What are the real numbers of people with corn allergies? I think that it is a lot higher then people think.

Brian Knapp, Canada

My corn related experience is actually in the form of a corn intolerance, but not necessarily a corn allergy (we don’t know if it will pass with age). When my fourth child was approximately 2 weeks old she started crying more than normal and had terrible green, mucus-like stools. Her legs often bobbled up and down and I could tell she was in stomach pain. Unfortunately there wasn’t anything I could really do about it. Despite any gas relief meds that I could give her (and yes I was limited because she was a newborn), the only relief was time. So we listened to our poor little girl scream for hours at a time, unsure of what the problem was.

Shortly thereafter I was visiting our local lactation place, Milkworks (www.milkworks.org) and explained to the lactation doctor the problems that I was having. She immediately knew by looking at my daughter’s stools that it was an intolerance from something. Through a food diary and constant analyzing I was able to determine the culprit to be corn. After eliminating all corn (including corn products) from my diet, I’m pleased to say my 5 month old daughter is a happy and delightful baby.

One might think it would be easy to eliminate corn, but honestly, corn/corn products are in practically everything. It can be difficult to find items in the stores that do not have corn syrup in them, and sometimes impossible when you go out to eat. And with corn not being listed as an allergen, even online research prior to dining out is ineffective. Last but not least, its amazing how uneducated people are about corn/corn products in various foods. Corn is not always present in it’s obvious state and can be hidden in things like ketchup, bbq sauce, seasonings, bread, etc. in other forms.

Best of luck with your project.
Thank you
Jill Rink, Lincoln, Nebraska

Thank you for this!!

My son, Nate, now three years old, began screaming at two weeks. He was exclusively breastfed. I am a speech therapist, and recognized silent reflux symptoms immediately. At 4 weeks, when I brought my concerns to our dr, she said “just keep feeding him, its just colic, I promise he’ll be better by his 2 month checkup”. Still screaming almost all his waking hrs, I finally convinced the THIRD dr to give him reflux meds at 6 weeks. She insisted I put him on formula because he was obviously having a problem with my breastmilk. Oh, and she said it didn’t matter what kind of formula I chose. Knowing what I know now-WOW.

I went on an elimination diet, did not switch to formula, and asked her for a referral to a GI. She reluctantly gave me one and said all they would do is scope him and put him on prescription formula. Nate was still screaming from feeding to feeding (avg about every 2 hrs), unless he passed out from exhaustion first, had terrible diaper rashes and stools, and could only sleep upright on someone’s chest. Still waiting the month and a half it took to get in to a GI, WE discovered blood in his stool via hemocult strips we ordered online. Finally, with my extremely restricted diet of pears, squash, and potatoes, Nate started having better stools and seemed a little more content. At our long awaited appt, the GI thought I was nuts to suggest Nate had a problem digesting rice, although I had brought him two diapers proving that with rice in his diet there was blood and without it there was not (now i know it was the enrichment process and corn, and maybe not the actual rice). We also visited two allergists who told me to eat what I wanted and start Nate on solids. Oh and the second one said there was no such thing as “intolerance”. Still having no idea the issue was corn, I had to stop breastfeeding at 7 months because of my failing mental and physical health. We found ONE very expensive amino acid formula he could “tolerate”. Because he was “healed” at this point, the GI said insurance MIGHT cover it if I made him sick again and put him through endoscopy. Um, no. So we almost went broke feeding him. Solids were of course a nightmare. Nate had lots of “allergy ring” type rashes and terrible angry, ultra sensitive behavior that seemed to have no rhyme or reason in relation to his diet. Although his diet was very whole, I was unknowingly exposing him to corn at every turn with cross-contamination. We figured out the corn when he was about one and a half and made steps to ensure his diet was clean. SO HARD. We have had AAT (Advanced Allergy Theraputics) treatments in an attempt to reduce his sensitivity (along with other intolerances), but the corn just won’t leave us alone. Nate can now tell us when his tummy hurts, but often times the beast emerges, and we know we have to go back to the drawing board, despite his squeaky clean diet, and find the hidden corn. Shopping for food is extremely hard as corn in in everything, down to the packaging, and doesn’t have to be labeled. He can’t even enjoy a fresh apple because of the wax, even if it’s organic. Labeling would be nice, but it would also be great if food manufacturers found something besides corn to make, clean, package, or spray EVERYTHING with. There is a great lack of knowledge about intolerance in general, but what has surprised and disappointed me the most is the medical community. We have yet to find a traditional medical dr who comes close to not thinking we’re crazy, let alone actually understanding and being able to help. WHY????

Sincerely,
Carrie Olson

So, I’m severely allergic to corn (think anaphylaxis and I carry Epi-Pens) and it makes my life insanely difficult. It means that I have to read the labels on everything and constantly contact manufacturers to check on the origins of questionable ingredients. Some manufacturers are great and will get back to me, others will assign me a number and I’ll say “screw it” and stop buying their products.

My allergy makes eating out really tough and it also limits my choices to things like salads or a piece of plain meat on a plate, but, I love Indian and Thai cuisines and both of those tend to be low-corn or corn-free, but not all of the servers speak enough English to understand my needs. 🙁 It means that when my bf goes to Mexico this summer for a job, I might not be able to visit him without risking reaction as well! But it doesn’t stop with food.

I have to be careful with body products as many, especially makeup, contain corn-based products and therefore give me a bad rash! I’ve even gotten a rash and hives from things like corn pollen and popcorn fumes! It’s because of this that my dermatologist is considering having me get a 3 day long skin allergy test which I am trying to put off for as long as possible. I also have problems with food packaging as many plastic and paper products are now made from corn and even some of the waxes used to coat paper products or even the food itself is made from corn! I also just found out that many plastic medical supplies are made from corn which could make my life a nightmare; even some IVs contain dextrose which is why I wear a Medic-Alert bracelet.

It sucks being allergic to corn in a country where corn is ubiquitous, but it’s my life and in the two years since my diagnosis, I’ve learned to adapt.

Thank you for reading my story.
Liz A. Shuck-Me-The-Corn-Allergy-Info-Page, Connecticut, USA
facebook.com/pages/Shuck-Me-The-Corn-Allergy-Info-Page/219392411480260

Hi Nicole, hope this is what you want. So glad you are doing this project!

I suddenly developed an allergy to corn ten years ago at the age of 52 after not having any allergies previously except penicillin and wool (lanolin). I had come down with a bad flu virus, with a high fever (102) night and day for several days, then began noticing small painful pustules developing on my hands and could not imagine what they were from. Eventually as my reactions progressed, I completely lost the use of my hands and feet for about 8 months, took high doses of steroids (prednisone) which mitigated the response but did not take away the cause, and which caused other side effects. I discovered that exposure to corn was causing my symptoms when I bought a corn-based pillow and woke up after sleeping on it with the same blisters on my face and neck where it touched the pillow as I had been getting popping out systemically on my hands and feet. I googled “corn allergy” and found personal accounts describing in detail exactly what I had been experiencing, including the appearance and progression of the blisters (pustules) on my hands and feet. My doctor and the dermatologist she sent me to both said this skin reaction could not be due to allergy. The dermatologist said I had psoriasis (not true) and would need to learn to live with it. When I began cutting out obvious corn and saw improvement right away, I knew it was related to my symptoms. Nothing in my life had prepared me for the total revision of lifestyle this required. After eliminating obvious corn, I worked on reducing exposure to “hidden” corn, including citric acid, xanthan gum, etc. which meant stopping use of all processed foods. Over time I found safe (corn free) foods and personal care items (shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, toilet paper) and medicines (compounded ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.) and eventually had to eliminate travel, going out to eat, concerts, meetings, etc., in order to avoid breathing in corny perfumes and/or airborne vapors of corny food items. I tried the NAET treatments with no luck. The only thing that has helped me has been avoidance of the allergen, and this includes processed ingredients with “no corn protein left” but which cause major reactions. I can tell within minutes if I have accidentally ingested corn as my hands blister immediately. If I inhale vapor containing corn, my tongue swells up and my throat burns. I carry an epi pen but thankfully have avoided using it so far. If I have skin contact with a corny substance, I get a rash similar to a chemical burn. The most frustrating part of all this is finding safe products to use, as corn is not labeled as an allergen and is likely to be present in so many items. Many companies will state their products are corn free even though they contain corn-derived ingredients and will cause dramatic and harmful reactions. I had lost my trust in the medical community as well, since doctors seem not to know about corn allergy at all. I live in northern California.

Sincerely, Dottie Pendleton

Dear Corn Freedom,

I am writing in support of your efforts to have corn added as a Top Food Allergen, including appropriate labeling when foods contain corn or corn derivatives or are processed on shared equipment.

I am a mother of two children. Between the two of them, we have to avoid many ingredients due to diagnosed food allergies and sensitivities. I won’t list the entire digestive offenders here, but I will tell you that corn is one of them and that it’s not always easily identifiable in foods. In fact, when my child was first diagnosed with a corn allergy six months ago, I remember feeling very isolated and was actually terrified to buy anything at the grocery that did not come from the produce department. Corn was extremely difficult to identify on food labels, because it is not always listed as ‘c-o-r-n.’

I have learned that most people, if not directly affected with food allergies and/or sensitivities, often do not know how to read food labels. What do dextrin, maltodextrin, dextrose, fructose, treacle, invert sugar, invert syrup, glycerides, MSG, zein and xanthan gum have in common? They are often, if not always, made from corn. How about these? Baking powder, confectioner’s sugar, most commercial ketchup, unspecified starches, unspecified malts and countless other condiments and food additives are made from or contain corn. I do not have a science background, but I have learned to read studies and research results related to allergies and food. I have learned to read food labels, and I have taught my children and husband how to read food labels. Again, it would be nice if corn was easier to identify on food labels.

Through my child-inspired research, I have learned that there are many different types of reactions individuals can experience from a corn allergy. My daughter’s reaction to ingesting corn is severe abdominal cramping and vomiting. Obviously, we strive to avoid anything containing corn, even in trace amounts, because I don’t ever want my daughter to have to suffer like that again. It is completely controllable by avoiding corn. I just wish corn was easier to identify.

I have unfortunately experienced people’s indifferent attitudes toward food allergies and sensitivities. I have learned that some people actually believe that because corn is not listed on food labels as a Top Food Allergen that is must be me just trying to get attention for my child. Anyone who has the title of ‘parent of a child with food allergies’ knows the truth is actually the complete opposite of that. Most people do not pay attention to what is in the food they buy, especially for children’s parties. That is a whole other letter though altogether.

Rude under-the-breath comments and eye-rolling from fellow shoppers in grocery store aisles are common nuisances I often experience when I try to buy new things for my food allergic and food sensitive children. I know better than to buy anything new without thoroughly inspecting the ingredient list. So, while I’d like to say something like “Please feel free to just go around me (without your ugly comments and unnecessary facial contortions) while I’m trying really hard to keep my child out of the hospital,” I just try to stay focused on what I’m doing and just pray that they didn’t distract me enough to accidentally miss spotting something on the label that would make one of my children sick if ingested. Identifying corn as a Top Food Allergen would make in-store food label reading so much easier.

Honestly, I make most things from scratch because it is so difficult to avoid all of our food allergens and sensitivities, but some days I just don’t have 3 hours to make dinner. Occasionally, I like to just buy something already made. We view those foods as a treat, and it would make it so much easier if corn were listed as a Top Food Allergen.

Thank you for your time and efforts. I would love to help these efforts in any way that I can.

Blessings,
Lisa Dunham, Texas

Hi!

I’ve seen your recent posts about finding a contact who may be able to bring some light to the issues of corn allergy. I’m so grateful to you that you continue to pursue this. I wanted to give you a quick update on my daughter. Since the first letter I wrote to you, she has continued to develop new allergies. She can no longer eat peanuts or eggs. Currently she is covered with the worst rash she has ever had, and I’m not sure what is causing it now. I truly believe that her pancreas is lacking the enzymes required to break down these foods, and her immune system is attacking the food and causing these reactions. I have done a lot of research in the last couple of months. Of course, doctors just want to tell you to avoid those foods (we know how “easy” that is!) or they want to give her shots of the foods she is allergic to, in order to teach the body not to react. The logic of this is so foreign to me. I have recently concluded that I have to work on healing my daughter’s pancreas and gut. So, we are going to begin the GAPS diet. This is a huge commitment, as the author of the diet recommends staying on it for at least two years. But, I have to do this for my daughter. She is continuously developing new allergies, and she is quickly going to reach the point that she literally won’t be able to eat anything. I’m currently in the planning and preparation phase of this diet. There is a lot to account for, and a lot of expense, but I’m hoping to get her started in the next week or two. I just set up a blog last night where I plan to keep track of our progress. I’m hoping that it will serve as a way for me to keep a record of her symptoms, reactions, and hopefully improvement.

The most frustrating part of the whole situation (as I’m sure you know) is the lack of support from the medical community. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read that “there is no such thing as a corn allergy.” Really? Say that to my daughter’s rash covered little face. Doctors don’t seem to have any clue about how to help, and don’t seem at all interested in researching this issue. If they can’t throw a drug at it, they are at a total loss.

Anyway, that’s our most recent update. Again, if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know!
Lisa

My name is Cathleen Morrison, I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed with a corn allergy in 2008, at the age of 25. I grew up in Germany & Illinois, but I have lived in Nebraska for about 10 years. (And yes, I get that crazy look, followed by: You live in Nebraska?! And you’re allergic to Corn?!) Don’t worry, I still love Cornhusker Football! I was engaged at the time of my diagnosis and am so thankful to have a supportive husband whose life has changed completely with mine and a step daughter who has tried her hardest to embrace all of these changes.

It all started in April of 2008 when my lips began swelling up. It went away, but then my fingers swelled up and were hot to the touch. I didn’t know what was going on so I made an appointment with my primary care physician. I was given antihistamines, but it didn’t get better. The next 5 months or so were a living Hell. I had over 15 Doctor appointments. I was diagnosed with Lupus. I was diagnosed with Angioedema and a few other “diseases.” I spent many hours in the ER due to swelling of my tongue & cheeks and general pain. Because my throat wasn’t swelling, it wasn’t a real emergency. But I can tell you that I was very uncomfortable and very upset. I had horrible gas and bloating. My feet were twice the size. I had aches and pains up and down my arms and legs. All during this time, I was given Prednisone, Augmentin, Antihistamines (these are the ones I remember off the top of my head)… all of which were not helping.
Finally, in September of 2008 I asked my primary care physician to refer me to an allergist because I was doing my own research & being my own advocate and thought it was food allergies. I got the referral. I went. Within 2 hours I had been diagnosed with a corn allergy. As it turns out, all those medicines I was being given contained corn. No wonder I wasn’t feeling better.

At first I cut out the obvious things; corn syrup, corn starch, corn anything… soon I learned that corn was hidden. I actually obtained a list from the web that held over 300 words that mean corn! So, I learned to read labels. Over the last 4 years I feel like I have had to change everything about my life. I used to wear contacts, but my contact solution contained corn. I stopped wearing contacts & changed back to my glasses. Two years after this, my vision corrected itself. I have 20/20 vision now. I don’t know if the corn allergy affected my sight. No professionals were able to tell me if there was a definite connection. Below is a list of the products in my daily life that have had to be substituted with home-made equivalents or I have searched high and low for a corn-free version.

Shampoo
Soap
Toothpaste/ floss/ mouthwash
Lotion
Deodorant
Toilet paper/ other paper products
Make-up
Sunscreen
Cleaning supplies for the home
Dryer sheets/ liquid detergent/ powder detergent
Medications/ Band-Aids
And of course FOOD

Not only have I had to change all of the above, but my family has had to also, for the most part. My husband was using his same old toothpaste, but when he would kiss me, my lips would swell up. He had to change his toothpaste for the sake of kissing his wife! So, while I am the one that suffers the outward signs and behavioral problems, he has had to adjust his lifestyle to keep me safe & happy. My Mom is so amazing to me. When we have family dinners and even on holidays, she makes a version for me that is corn free. She somehow understands how hard this is and even if it’s a pity meal, I’ll take it!

The biggest change for us is eating, in general. I can go out to eat, but I order a salad and bring my own dressing. I try to avoid going out because socially, I feel awkward about it. It sometimes strikes peoples interest, but don’t count on it. It’s not just corn. It’s table salt, vinegar, most premade or highly preserved, boxed or canned goods, cured meat, frozen foods, sweet treats… ugh. So many things I miss. We do have one place, a locally owned little joint called Blue Planet Natural Grill. There are maybe 5 things I can have from here & this where I go for my birthday, anniversaries and eating out with friends. The owner, Jeff and all of his staff, are so friendly and actually take my request seriously when I ask for the whole wheat bun instead of their normal breads. I wish more places were helpful, natural & healthy like this one! (they even have uncured bacon!) Some of our best friends buy us gift cards to Blue Planet for Christmas and birthdays because they know how fun and special it is for us. There are also a couple other places in Omaha that are corn friendly, for me at least. I cook almost every meal in my kitchen. Most things are made from scratch and we eat a lot of meats from Fareway (great store), seafood, vegetables, whole wheats and natural dairy products. Whole Foods & Farmers Markets are a savior! (Even your fresh fruits from the store have wax on them that are derived from corn)

I am becoming more and more sensitive to corn every day. It took my body two and a half years to react to corn in my lotion and shampoo. We have Popcorn Wednesdays at my work and I have to stay out of the lunch room on those days because I get an instant headache. When I do ingest corn or its derivitives, it usually takes me a good 1-3 weeks to feel like myself again. I suffer a lot of different reactions when subjected to corn, but not alays all of them at the same time. The following have occurred;

Swelling of cheeks & tongue (no anaphylaxis shock)
Swelling of fingers, hands, toes, feet, ears
Facial redness
Diarrhea/ Constipation (depends)
Gas/ bloating
Headaches
Hives on scalp, forehead, arms, legs (especially shins), armpits
Irritability/ Lack of concentration
General anxious feeling

I have had to get all my medications made at a compound pharmacy. Thank God I do not get sick very often, but I always have Antihistamines on hand to help me recover from my reactions when I fail to read a label properly and completely.

My primary doctor & his nurses aren’t medically trained in food allergies and every time I go in I have to explain everything all over again. I have to tell them that I cannot have that medicine they suggested because it has corn in it and it has to be compounded, you cannot use that latex glove on me because it has corn starch on it…. If you aren’t educated, you don’t know, but I think primary care physicians need to have a little more education on food allergies/ topical allergies in general. I had a bad experience with the Allergist I was referred to (Grumpy Old Man) so I am actually in process of finding a new one. I have an appointment next week to get a serious grasp.

Since becoming allergic to corn I have developed sensitivities to rice, oats, bananas (although no latex reactions as of yet), pineapple, apples, oranges, grapes (raisins & wine!), cantaloupe… I’ve been told to check/ did some research on my own to look into an allergy to unripe fruit, of which all of this will be addressed with my 3-4 hour appointment with a new Allergist next week.

I have found Corn Freedom and Shuck Me!- The Corn Allergy Info Page on Facebook which are helpful with tips, reminders and also the sick relief that other people are suffering just like me. While it is becoming a large community I can vouch that as an adult, I have been bullied in reguards to my food allergy. I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it is to deal with this as an adult; where people are stuck in their ways and changes in their friends lifestyles bring out the UGLY in them. I have not learned how to handle it because I’m still so shocked by it. The way I dealt with it was cut those friends out of my life because my health and well-being are far more important. I actually overheard someone at my work ask another person if ‘so and so’ was allergic to anything because he was going to rub it all over his desk. WOW! These are adults, apparently. Kids are now learning, willing or not, about food allergies and bullying in school. I hope that the lessons will stick with them throughout their lives.

Because corn is such a huge component in foods and personal items, it is not impossible, but extremely difficult to fit this allergy into your daily life. Corn is so largely produced. If we grow a lot of it, it will be used. I believe there are things that are meant to have HFCS in them, have at it. Do it right though. But I also believe that it has become too prevelent in everyday items. The high exposure to HFCS could be the beginning. high fructose CORN syrup.

If corn was acknowledged as a top allergen my life would change dramatically. Proper labeling in general has become less of a priority, in my opinion. I cannot imagine how ecstatic I would be to go into a store & be able to see corn labeled. That would be such a relief.

Of course I always hold onto HOPE, but this is my life. It’s not easy. Learning how to deal with this has been one of my biggest struggles, but one of my biggest accomplishments.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Cat
Cathleen M. Morrison, LA Vista, Nebraska

My children are both allergic to corn. They are 6 months old and 2.5 years old. Although they test negative to standard skin and blood tests, multiple elimination diets and careful trials of corn containing products with our pediatrician have confirmed that they do not tolerate corn products, regardless of how sincerely a company claims that their product “contains no corn protein.” We discovered my older child’s corn sensitivity when he reacted quite badly to one of the elemental formulas usually suggested for children with severe food issues; the main ingredient was corn syrup solids. We returned to nursing him at 3 months, eliminating all corn from my diet, and my miserable, colicky son turned into a completely different child — one who was actually happy most of the time. I’m sorry to say that we still didn’t realize the can of worms we had discovered.

For a long time, we thought my son was allergic to everything: rice, pears, milk, flour, eggs, salt, etc. It took us months to discover that he wasn’t allergic to everything, it’s just that corn is IN everything — and it doesn’t have to be labeled or disclosed. In fact, he’s not allergic to any of the above foods, when we manage to find them corn free. The hardest part of all of this is that corn doesn’t have to be disclosed as being present in products, since it’s not recognized as a major allergen. According to some companies, it’s not an allergen at all, since the FDA doesn’t require it to be labeled.

Currently, there is no help for the corn-allergic individual. Corn based ingredients aren’t labeled as corn. Corn based processing aids aren’t usually included on ingredient labels at all. Few to none of the foods offered by my local WIC program, Food Bank, or other assistance programs from low-income families are safe for my corn-allergic children. We eat the same 15 foods day in and day out, because it’s the only food we can source safely, and it costs us $600-$800 each month to buy safe food for my family — a family of four with an AGI of 16k last year. Not even medicaid is a fail-safe here, because we have to have my children’s medications specially compounded for them. This usually involves using finding a medicine that isn’t processed with corn (no small feet) and then compounding the raw (bulk) active ingredient in a simple water solution. But compounds made using raw ingredients like this are not covered by insurance plans or medicaid. We paid $100 out of pocket last month to treat my son’s ear infection with a corn-free antibiotic, and my daughter’s reflux medicine costs us around $100 each month as well. As if adding insult to injury, we often don’t have prompt access to medicine, because companies do not keep corn information on hand, so it can take weeks to find a safe medicine once we have a diagnosis.

My biggest plea is to get awareness of corn allergy out there, and ask companies to label corn in their products. I’m so scared for my children, because I can’t protect them from corn right now, and they have their whole lives ahead of them. Please help me help them.

Deanna Dreher, Lincoln NE
We see Dr. Duensing at Pediatrics PC on 70th and A St. in Lincoln, NE

To whom it may concern:

This letter is regarding corn not being recognized as a top allergen. My daughter suffers from Eosinophilic Esophagitis and is allergic to all but 3 foods.

We are forever reading labels and corn is one of the worst offenders to her. Corn, corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin – you name it. ANY form of corn we have to avoid!

If she consumes corn in any form, she is extremely sick and this also causes her eosinophil count to go up as well. She has EoE, which causes her body to think food is a parasite and attacks itself. It causes her body to be allergic to almost all food and causes an over abundance of eosinophils (white blood cells) to thrive in her esophagus. This destroys her insides.

There is no cure and we will battle this for the rest of her life.

I beg you to please help get corn on the required list of allergy causing ingredients.

Thank you so much!
Susan McArthur, Florida

I hope this is ok. It was hard to sum it up while being able to add everything. I don’t have a “conclusion” paragraph becuase I didn’t want it to run too long. 🙂

Trevor was born June 13, 2007. Around 18 months, he started the terrible 2’s. And they just kept getting worse. So bad that at around age 3 ½, I had him evaluated by the local school district. He scored one point away from needing services for Asperger’s. My husband and I, still worried, talked to a psychologist. Our list of complaints were; social isolation, high anxiety, easily frustrated, very loud, impatient, inability to anticipate things, unmotivated, inability to make a decision, hates places with a lot of people, high energy, sleep problems, tummy aches, bored often, short fuse/bad temper, interrupts constantly, easily confused, loses stuff a lot, distractible, difficulty with transitions, yells a lot, demands all of my attention all the time. After testing, he was diagnosed with high anxiety, moderate depression and possible ADHD. He was 4 at this time.

Because his brother and sister have multiple food allergies, on a whim, we had him tested. He has many food allergies, but the two we found directly correlated with his behavior the most are corn and soy. Upon removing all his allergens, he is 80% better. Because Trevor is hypersensitive to corn, we have to buy special soap, lotion, laundry detergent and we have to be careful when going out in public. If someone has perfume on or if there is a popcorn machine around, we have to move him away quickly. I have to be prepared just to go to Target as they have a popcorn machine in the store. So I just bite the bullet. He has reacted to our local library and the Phoenix zoo due to cleaners and food smells that contain corn and soy.

He is starting kindergarten in 2012. We have decided to homeschool him. In a public school where there are chemicals used to clean, food being prepared, and other children who have corn, soy and other allergens in their school lunches, we don’t think that that environment is conducive of learning. He behavioral reactions would keep him from getting the most of his education.

Nikki Tomasky Sharp

Arizona Letter for Weston:

I wrote previously about my son Trevor. But I thought it would be helpful to write about our son Weston also. Weston was born April 24, 2009. He’s nearly 3 and we’ve learned so much through him! Weston, from the very beginning, had trouble growing. He lost his initial baby weight and by around 4 weeks, still had not gained it back. I breastfed tirelessly, but because he wasn’t gaining, the doctor had me supplement with formula. I started him on diary based formula, but that didn’t work. His sister had a dairy allergy, so I switched to soy. Everything got worse.

He was not sleeping, eating, his colic was very bad. His cheeks were always bright red, his rectum had the “ring of fire” which hurt for me to wipe him. He had chronic diarrhea, mysterious rashes and a bloated tummy. He started solids at 5 months. He could not tolerate the oatmeal or any of the foods we were introducing him. It wasn’t long before I discovered his corn allergy. However, I wasn’t aware of all the hidden corn yet. I was still filling him tummy with Zantac to help with silent reflux. Little did I know that I was filling his tummy with corn and making things worse. The doctor had us try him on Elecare, Neocate, Alimentum and all other medical formulas. He reacted to every single one. All of these contain corn. The companies claim that the corn protein has been removed, but that is impossible. Even the tiniest amount can lead to diarrhea and pain.

A couple years and tests later, we finally figured out what is wrong. He has several alleries, including corn. And his reaction is colitis. Inflammation of the intestines which cause severe pain. He still is failure to thrive. We try our hardest to avoid corn, wheat, oats, chicken and fructose (fructose intolerance). But corn is the hardest. It is not labeled. What is “natural flavor?” Where does it come from? What about citric acid, ascorbic acid, mono and diglycerides? Polysorbate, sorbitol, maltodextrin, dextrose? How is the layman supposed to know what these ingredients are? How is my mom supposed to prepare a holiday meal for us which is safe for my sons and husband (corn allergic also) when she doesn’t know what to look for?

Did you know that frozen fruits and vegetables companies often spray the frozen foods with corn starch to keep the food from sticking? And they don’t have to label it? Even though the CORN is in our FOOD that we are ALLERGIC to, they do not have to label as such because “technically” it is not an ingredient? How am I supposed to keep my family safe when I don’t even know where corn is?

Please help all of us corn allergy sufferers? It’s not about getting rid of corn, a wonderful renewable and versatile resource. It’s about simply letting the public know so we can keep ourselves and our families safe!

Nikki, Tucson, AZ

I would prefer you not use my name, but my state is Missouri. My 8 year old son is the corn-allergic member of my family. It has had the most impact of any of his allergies (he’s allergic to 6 of the top 8, plus several more) on our lives. In order to have condiments, I have to make them, and I frequently have to make ingredients to put in them, for example, I have to make sugar syrup to make ketchup. We already had to cook most of the time, because even when there was a safe processed food item available, we didn’t usually want to spend the money they cost. Now there are very few processed foods available at all, and because corn hides in so many technical terms used in ingredient lists, it’s harder to find things that are safe. If corn were a regulated allergen like wheat and soy, it would make my life a LOT easier. As it is, it is very difficult to read labels, and remember all the things that are supposed to contain corn–and then not all things that could be corn always are, so it would be nice if they had to say where they got some of those ingredients. And maybe if corn were a recognized allergen, more companies would start making purposely corn-free items, like ketchup that doesn’t have white vinegar in it. Of course, for us, with all the allergies we have to deal with, it might not help a whole lot, but it would be an improvement, anyway.

In response to your latest questions:
How was the corn issue diagnosed, or figured out? How long were you ill before you gained help or figured it out? How does corn effect your daily life? Have you been hospitalized or in a doctors office and had corn reactions but it was not understood by the physicians?

I suspected corn was causing my ds’s rash for a long time–nearly a year, but I was afraid of trying to remove it, and what it would mean for our family–you lose a LOT of foods without corn. Finally, I decided he was too miserable, we had to try it. I started removing obvious corn in January, and doing the research to find hidden sources. It took till March to get his skin noticeably clearer, but there’s been a significant improvement, now that he’s really off corn. He underwent a second round of allergy testing in January, too, and his corn numbers came in low enough that the doctor didn’t believe that it was the problem. I’m glad I did my own thing, because it was quite clearly the problem.

Not being able to use corn means if we want ketchup, taco sauce, salad dressing we have to make them ourselves. I have found vinegar-free salsa that is pretty good, and a couple of mustards that are tolerable, so I don’t have to make those. We have to eat almost entirely fresh, prepared at home foods, which is ok, but now we frequently have to make ingredients to make things with, which just adds a layer of complexity to everything. Perhaps it’s worse for us, because we also contend with wheat, egg, dairy and soy allergies, but it does help that those are clearly labled on containers, and it would surely help for corn to be, as well.

Peggy Kaltenbach Zinser

My daughter is the one impacted by the corn allergy. I am hoping she will send you a note as well. (Her name is Kayla Pingel). She has eosinophilic esophagitis, and her biggest trigger food is corn. She was diagnosed when she was 14, a freshman in high school. She became sick the summer before she started high school. We didn’t know what caused her reactions until her allergist did patch testing. She told me that the minute he put the corn on her back, it started to itch. Since removing corn from her diet, her illness is much more stable.

Kayla’s EoE was diagnosed by the GI. He was the first specialist we saw. Our family doc had no idea what was going on, so he sent us to GI, after a few months. The GI sent us to the allergist. The first one showed no reactions on scratch tests. He was retiring, so he referred us on to someone else (another allergist). He did more scratch tests, again, no luck. Kayla’s symptoms weren’t getting any better. I asked around at the hospital where I work, and another doc was recommended, allergist, so off we went to him. He wasn’t sure what to do at first with all the negative results. He went to a conference and they talked about patch testing there. When he came back, he said he was going to start patch testing. Kayla was one of his first patients that he did that on. He was the one that diagnosed the corn allergy… he is my hero! When Kayla started feeling and looking better, he told her one day how scared he’d been for her early on, as she looked so sick, had such pain and was losing weight. She was about 90 pounds and had big circles under her eyes.

She has no other grain issues (thank goodness!!) She is allergic to melons and pineapple. We’re not sure about potatoes, she wants to try them again this summer when she’s home from school. She was doing fine with them, but then had some pain. She’s not sure it was the potatoes, but stopped eating them.

Her allergist has been so supportive, as has her GI. Just a funny aside, I talked to another allergist once who told me that the corn allergy for EoE was pretty unusual. I knew at that instant that I would never take Kayla to see him as eliminating the corn was the turning point in helping her feel better, nothing helped until we took away the corn. After removing the corn, her last 2 scopes have shown no eosinophils in her esophagus…. and many, many of my EoE mamas have the same feeling about corn.

The biggest battle has been finding where corn is hidden. It is in so many foods, so her food choices are very limited. She has also had reactions from being around popping corn, inhaling the smell. She has had reactions from chewing on a plastic tube containing honey (a honey straw, but then chewed on the end, like a nervous habit??)

What would having corn recognized as a top allergen mean?? It would mean we wouldn’t have to second guess as much when buying groceries. I envy those that have their allergen listed on labels, and think how much easier their shopping experience must be. Kayla would also be able to make choices easier now that she’s off at college.

We are located in Michigan; she’s now a freshman at Western Michigan University. Please feel free to write back with any questions you may have for me/her.

I would LOVE to see corn listed on a label for allergies!!

Jennifer Sams Dollman

Hello, we have corn allergies to share!
We’re from Colorado in the USA and my daughter suffers from a true corn allergy, and I am also very sensitive to it. If DD eats it, she gets hives and welts, and has a one way, all access ticket to the bathroom for most of the day! Every year it still comes up on both the skin prick test and the RAST test, the past few have been performed at National Jewish.

We currently reside in Charlottesville, VA (when he started to get sick, San Diego, CA) but here is some of our story:

My husband is the one with the corn allergy. After he came back from his deployment (USMC) he started to get really sick. He was sick for an entire year, and during that time there were several ER visits, edoscopies, MRIs, and CAT scans. Doctors had no idea what was wrong, but knew it wasn’t cancer, so didn’t really seem to care. We decided to cut out gluten, thinking that it could be a food related allergy. When he got worse, we realized that something that we added to replace gluten was making him sick. We thought about what we were eating more of (soy and corn) and cut that out. Weeks later, he was a brand new man.

If corn was a recognized allergy, it wouldn’t take us forever to grocery shop! We could go out to eat (hopefully) and people would be more aware. People are so much more aware about gluten allergies, it would be great if corn could get the same recognition. With that recognition companies would hopefully start to create corn-free products, like medicines. Hopefully there would be more research, and solutions or medications would be produced so that when he accidentally ingested corn, he would have some relief from the weeks of sickness that follow.

Hope that helps, let me know if you need more info. Good luck with the Dr. Oz show and thank you for all the work you do to get corn allergies recognized!

A corn allergy has afflicted my son. My son is 2 1/2yrs.old and has Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) and his allergies include corn, among other foods such as soy and dairy proteins. His reactions consist of damage to his gastrointestinal system by inflammatory cells recognizing the corn as an allergen, his body reacts by violently expelling the allergen with profuse vomit until bile followed by diarrhea, this can cause severe dehydration and acidosis. A reaction that isn’t this severe (from cross contamination or trace proteins) will bring on continued gut inflammation which results in ongoing pain for him. His diet is very limited by his allergies and severely so because of his corn allergy and this country’s dependence on corn. Because of his allergy, he has even reacted to elemental formula’s that severely allergic children typically thrive on. These formula’s are not an option for my son because of the corn syrup base. This affects his quality of life because as an infant, he needed reflux medications but the effects they had on his body landed him in the hospital for dehydration and failure to consume adequate nutrition. He was taken off of breast milk and put on elemental formula’s- which he consumed as his only source of nutrition for the next 5months until we saw an allergist familiar enough with corn allergies to save his life and advise us that yes, with him reactions to medications (all OTC medications have some degree of corn ingredients) as well as his inability to tolerate an elemental formula – a corn allergy was typically at this root. Over the next months, we removed all corn and our sick little boy began to heal. We finally were in control of his allergies, by the recognition and acceptance of his corn allergy and a lot of mommy research- thanks to other families sharing their tools for how to thrive with a corn allergy, we were able to control his allergy. Finding a nutritionally adequate diet without a formula was another challenge we are continually battling. Recognition of a corn allergy would save my son from having to undergo numerous and invasive tests and procedures, recognition of a corn allergy would raise awareness and appeal to formula companies that there are increasing numbers of infants who have to choose between controlling an allergy and avoiding daily pain and reactions or nourishing their child- what kind of a choice is that for a mother? Allergists have a difficult time recognizing that formula can cause a problem for a corn allergic if they have not cared for a child with a corn allergy and this is further disillusioned because of the dependency of formula companies on corn syrup assuring them that “typically kids with corn allergies don’t react to our formulas”….when the lives of these infants tell a different tale. Parents are left to manage this on their own, risking malnutrition in an infant because doctors can not help, turn their backs on these children….because of the poor recognition and awareness of corn allergy and how many things have corn and corn derived ingredients in them.

I maintain a blog to help raise awareness to my son’s FPIES, and it is found by multiple moms with similar stories – because their child is struggling with a corn trigger as well. That blog is: www.fpiesmudpies.blogspot.com
Thank you for your time and considerations.
Joy Meyer from Rochester, MN

My name is Dawn Porzio. I am a 49 year old married mother of a graduate student. Approximately 15 years ago I started developing reactions to various foods I ate. Symptoms included bright red flushing of cheeks, brain fog and rapid heartbeat. It was impossible to function with these reactions, so I began keeping a food journal and eliminating foods I reacted to. Initially this was wheat, dairy and non-organic corn. I could tolerate blue corn that was labeled Non-GMO organic.

I continued to experience poor health. Some of my diagnoses are: chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, esophagitis, acid reflux, depression, anxiety, migraines, chemical sensitivity, Lyme disease.

I began developing reactions to “smells” such as perfume, paint, mold, off-gassing of new fabrics including new clothing. Tongue swelling, flushing, brain fog and eventually migraine if exposed for longer than several minutes.

As you can imagine, this made it almost impossible to function socially, not to mention shopping and preparing my own meals was a full-time job.

As conventional MD’s had no idea what to do with me, I focused on nutrition, avoidance of allergens and alternative health care practitioners for some relief.

Presently I am gluten, corn, dairy and grain-free. I eat very little packaged foods mostly due to containing unknown corn. There are labeling laws for gluten and dairy because they are top 8 allergens. They are easy to avoid. There are no labeling laws for corn or corn derivitives. I have learned that corn is literally everywhere. It is incomprehensible to realize how much corn is in our foods, drinks, medicine, furniture, cars, water, clothing and affects all aspects of our lives. For those of us intolerant or allergic, the amount of physical & emotional suffering is presently unavoidable.

Please let’s educate everyone regarding corn allergies. Let’s pass a law to require labeling of corn and corn derivitives in our foods and products. Corn needs to be an FDA allergen. For the corn allergic, it’s a matter of life or death!

Thank you,
Dawn Porzio, West Milford, NJ
973-545-2387

Okay, you needed more corn stories right? Mine isn’t all that interesting but I’ll give it to you anyway and maybe you can use some of it.

I first developed seasonally (pollen mostly) allergies when I was in middle school. Easily treated with allergy shots. When I was about 17, I started getting headaches every day, after school. My mom thought it was because I was studying too hard or doing too many activities. I went to my doctors and they said it was just stress. Finally, my mom wondered if it was allergy related so my allergist tested me for foods. We found I was allergic to peanuts and I had been eating peanut butter sandwiches practically every day of my entire life!

Fast forward to 23, my first year out of college and in the working world. I had been having a lot of headaches on and off for the past few years but my mom was prone to migraines so I really didn’t’ think anything of it. Then one day, I got a burger from a local restaurant for lunch with my co-workers. I had two bits and all of a sudden this HUGE dizzy spell took over and I was sure I was going to pass out. I felt nauseous. It lasted for 5 hours. I didn’t finish eating it b/c it was obvious something was wrong with it (or me).

I saw my primary care physician (who really didn’t know me very well) and once again, the symptoms were blamed on stress. I tried to explain that since I was no longer in college and working two jobs (just one!) that I was the least stressed I had been since middle school and I wasn’t depressed. He put me on a mild antidepressant anyway. I took the pills for about a week before I trashed them.

Next, for my annual gynecological appointment, the doctor (who was great) and I discussed my headaches and dizzy spells. She thought it may be hormone related so we switched my birth control pill to a single-level hormone. We discussed skipping periods to see if that helped with the headaches.

Months later and no change. Finally my doctor referred me to this ancient neurologist. Of course, he asked my family’s medical history and my mom has always had bad migraines. Right away, he diagnosed me with migraines. I tried to explain that the headaches that I was getting weren’t at all like my mom’s. They weren’t light sensitive, I didn’t throw up, etc.. but he wouldn’t listen. He put me on Topamax. Topamax is an anti-seizure medication that is pretty serious but is often used in the prevention of migraines. He started me off at a low dose and after months of no improvement, he slowly upped my dose. MRI’s showed no abnormalities.

After about 4-6 months of being on the med and having no relief, my memory of how my peanut allergy started (with headaches) came to mind and I brought it up to my neurologist. He acted offended and said “That is absolutely not true. Food allergies never manifest themselves in headaches.” Knowing that was complete bull, I made an appointment with my allergist and never saw that doctor again.

My allergist was great. He KNEW that headaches and dizzy spells were common effects of food intolerance and he tested me. I found out I was allergic to a whole bunch of stuff: Practically all nuts and legumes, green beans, peas, CORN and SOY, hops, carrots, celery, parsley. Of course, ANYTHING you buy at the grocery store has either corn or soy in it and ironically, those two had the biggest reactions. So within the span of the year, I had unknowingly corning/soying myself constantly. (still wondering if I’m allergic to the GM versions or just the veggie in general, but that’s a whole other discussion).

At the beginning, I avoided the obvious offenders. You know, corn starch, and HFCS. Then, my symptoms would progressively get worse. I would get really grouchy and moody or even really hyper. I would still get headaches and dizzy spells. Sometimes, I would be so tired I would sleep for 10-12 hours a night. I would make myself throw up because I would get nauseous. I couldn’t think clearly and I would make really ditzy mistakes at work. I was having problems explaining my thoughts or telling stories. On really bad days, I would start stuttering (and I NEVER stuttered as a kid).

I finally started doing research and found the Delphi forums and lost of other great resources about 2-3 years ago, put together by people like you (THANK YOU!). All this time I had been so naive. I really thought that if the government approved drugs and food products they were safe. I learned so much in such a short time period that I actually rebelled a little but then slowly came around. I started cutting out more and more foods. I started to learn how to cook from scratch. I started shopping at my farmer’s market and buy grass-fed beef and got to know the people who grow my food. Now, I don’t see why I would every WANT to go back to they way I was eating 4 years ago.

Still then, I thought alcohol (except whiskey and bourbon) was okay. I had two domestic beers one night and had food poisoning symptoms for 15 hours. A month later I had two glasses of California Cabernet and had the same reaction. I mean really, there is corn in WINE!? The only thing I’ve drank in the past year and a half has been some safe vodka. And that kind of makes me sad. I’m too paranoid to try anything else.

My reactions are definitely less than they were. I cheat and drink Starbucks Frappacino’s. They don’t bother me TOO much and it’s literally the only “eating out” that I do. I had a really bad reaction to an antibiotic this past year and my doctor and I are still fighting about whether I was allergic to the med itself or the corn in it. I had to go to the ER and the doctor AGAIN said I had anxiety and said it couldn’t be an allergic reaction. My heart was beating very fast even though I was lying down, I couldn’t feel my hands and feet. I was so dizzy I thought I would pass out. I felt as if I had to throw up but I couldn’t. My head was pounding and my vision was blurry. My teeth were chattering and I was going between hot and cold spells. This is my basic corn reaction times 10.

I know it’s not like a lot of people’s corn reactions but even if it was, the doctors didn’t know what to do with me. If they can’t see a rash (which they asked about 902859038 times) and if I could breathe, then I must have anxiety and not an allergic reaction. It’s frustrating. I spent 2 years and thousands of dollars just trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I had no support from my family or boyfriend (who thought it was hormonal or all in my head) so I had to fight with the doctors and go with my gut.

I’m pretty much corn-free now. Except for the occasional Frappacino and products that sneak corn in on me, I’m pretty clean. I cook EVERYTHING from scratch (which of course, my boyfriend totally supports now) and I enjoy it. My problem is, I LOVE food. I would never starve myself so I have had to learn the hard way about what I can and cannot eat. Sometimes, I was stupid enough to eat it twice before I gave it up.

So I don’t know if this helps you. From what I’ve found in the fourms, my reaction isn’t as severe as a lot of people but to me, that is what makes it harder to diagnose. The doctors still give me the “she’s overreacting” looks when I say I need a prescription compounded or if I ask 590890 questions about ingredients. But I don’t care. I KNOW how it makes me feel and I KNOW that when I avoid it I feel like a new person with tons of energy. I’m only 28 and I want to feel that way.

Oh, and another thing I find interesting. When I was a teenager, I had bad acne. I mean it was normal for a teenager but I would get huge cysts on my face. THAT was awful. I found it was triggered by dark sodas, specifically the caramel coloring in sodas. So from about 13-23 I was on antibiotics consistently to treat my acne. I have always hypothesized that the antibiotics weakened the state of my liver, by becoming more permeable allowing histamines to react to foods that it shouldn’t. OR-was this an early sign of my corn allergy that really didn’t manifest itself until I was much older? Since I’ve stopped eating corn, no cysts.

And what causes a person to develop so many allergies later in life? Many kids are born with then or get them before age 5. Not me, I’ve grown into them. And they don’t seem to be getting any better.

Okay, I’m done rambling now. Thanks for reading and I hope this helps. Thanks for all the info you share and keep it up! I really appreciate it.

Kim Owens

My husband, started getting sick with such a wide variety of symptoms that started to quickly appear. Our doctor was concerned, but due to the huge complexity of the symptoms, he was having to do a process of testing and then the waiting game to see if my husband responded to new medications or if they started new symptoms.

We discovered Celiac disease and we all went gluten free. Many of his symptoms improved, yet many started getting more severe. Through many late nights of researching, I would bring my findings to the doctor’s attention and with me keeping a journal and keeping note of ingredients and reactions, we were able to see the foods that caused reactions were also ingredients in his medications. (sulfites/sulfa drugs, corn, gluten, salicylates, and other foods)

Trying to find medications has proven to be so difficult due to being allergies to sulfa and penicillin. The newer drugs can’t be compounded due to patent. Due to the new over the counter releases, the compounded equivalent medications are no longer covered by insurance and are cost prohibitive. We have to pick and choose which medication we can pay for on any given month.

To add to the frustration, I often have to be the gate keeper of alerting the pharmacist or doctor that one of the ingredients can’t be used because that is an alternate name for a ‘corn’ based process to acheive that ingredient. (I have some college, but feel as if I need to have a science degree to be able to navigate the grocery store and the pharmacy.)

My husband had to quit work because of reactions from everyone’s smell, their touching his desk. He is now my ‘bubble man’ and I have to keep the home safe since any adventures out in the world send him in to severe reactions.

This has become a life consuming venture because the labels are so vague and deceptive. I have to drive over 50 miles to find foods in 5 different speciality stores. I have to spend hours reading labels and making phone calls from the grocery aisles to ask about questionable ingredients.

Linda Harris, Alabama

Our journey into figuring out the food intolerances started when my son was two months old and he received an MSPI (milk soy protein intolerence, also falls under the non-IgE allergy catagory) diagnosis. Since I was nursing, this led down a long road of an elimination diet to figure out what else he was intolerant to, when eliminating milk and soy did not resolve his symptoms. I finally went to a TED diet, eating only rice, millet, turkey, lamb, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sea salt, pepper, and pears. Within those items, there are still so many ways that corn can sneak in, so it took about a month on this before I figured out all the ways the corn was sneaking in and finally my son was the happy baby that I had been seeing glimpses of this whole time.

My son’s symptoms were pretty typical for protein intolerance / non-IgE allergies: blood and mucous in the stools, very frequent loose stools / diarrhea, very gassy, lots of gut pain, the red allergy ring around the anus, etc. As he has gotten older, we also notice behavioral changes (very aggressive, very emotional, acting out, etc.) when he has any trigger foods. In addition to his non-IgE allegies, he also had reflux, which is nightmare to try to find corn free reflux medications! Luckily, we finally found one he could tolerate. He is starting to tolerate some corn derivatives, but only small amounts each day. Due to this, I make all my son’s food for daycare and send it with, which is very time consuming, but well worth it to ensure that he has safe meals to eat which are also nutritious and look the same or similar to the other kids meals, so he does not feel left out.

I have always had tons of external IgE allergies and always had the sinus issues, headaches, etc., but had never been tested for any food allergies or even thought about food potentially being an issue. However, when I was on the elimination diet, I really realized how poorly I had felt prior to the diet. I was even able to give up my daily asthma inhalor (Advair) and I was very dependant on that before the diet! I was able to figure out that corn was my main issue as I was adding foods back in. With the additional of some corny foods to my diet, my asthma symptoms were coming back and had to rely more on my inhalor again. I also notice that when I eat corn, I also have gut issues (pains, gassy, bloating, loose stools, etc.), headaches, sinus issues (mostly very congested all the time), and just feel so much less alert than I am when I am off corn.

My son has a wonderful pediatrician now, that we switched to when he was about 6 months old. Before that, his original pediatrician was not helpful in pursuing his additional trigger foods. Luckily, we have a wonderful food intolerance support group, primarily geared toward breastfeeding mothers, which really helped me to figure this all out. His current pediatrician is knowledgeable about non-IgE allergies and is always willing to sit down and discuss any food issues, which is very helpful in working through this. My son and I have also been seeing an allergist, who had also tried to be helpful with this and agreed that we were on the right path through this journey. I am due for another appointment in the very near future and am planning to ask him to do a skin prick on corn this time to see if mine are really non-IgE or actually IgE. Sadly, I am actually hoping for IgE, so hopefully I can try to use that as a reason for the special foods and claim them on my taxes. Haven’t explored that enough to know if it is possible since corn is not a recognized Top allergen, but hoping that it will work. As you are well aware, trying to buy things that are corn free is so much more expensive, so hoping to get a little relief there!

That is our story. I hope that this will help out and that this issue can get some big attention! Do you have an email address to send letters to? I know some other mom’s in the support group mentioned above, who have corn intolerant little ones too, who may be interested in contributing their stories. I will inquire with them and see if they would be interested.

Rhonda Bunte. Nebraska

I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder and was put on antidepressants. I kept telling the doctor that I knew I did not have anxiety and that something I was eating/being exposed to was the culprit in me feeling anxious and out of control. My anxiety would come about an hour after I would eat or after I was out and about running errands. It was not to a specific place. I reluctantly took the antidepressants and quickly knew that I did not have a chemical imbalance. As we all know, there is no way to determine the levels of serotonin in the body, but the symptoms were far worse and even different symptoms were popping up with taking the meds.

Long story short, I did some research on my own and starting coming across people who shared a similar story as me. This is where I happily met Nicole. I went to my doc and asked about the possibility of corn as being a trigger for my anxiety. The doc replied that I was insane for even thinking so and dismissed my theory. I went to a new doctor and was given Zyrtec to try to combat my allergy. Although it helped, it did not cure the reaction. I now stay away from anything I can that contains corn. If I do happen to ingest something with corn or come into contact with something airborne, I usually exhibit anxiety symptoms within 24 hrs. It is easier to deal with now that I know what is causing my anxiety, but it doesn’t make it right. I am constantly rearranging my life around the possibility of coming into contact with corn.

I have switched from doctor to doctor and have not gotten one yet who fully understands my sensitivity. In meeting others on the cornfreedom website I began to realize that there are many suffering just as I do. I would like to see more research done on the subject and more awareness to the public. It took me years to understand my allergy triggers and they are changing every day with every product that come into contact with. I believe with awareness and further research there will be a link to many unresolved health problems and an allergy or sensitivity to corn. Having a corn sensitivity or allergy is a pain to say the least. Its not about just avoiding the yellow ear of corn. Its in our shampoos, plastic bags, detergents. Cleaning products, home building supplies, school essentials like paints and glues all contain corn among billions of other everyday products. I recently went to the movies and was sick for a week due to just smelling the popcorn in the theater. It is a constant struggle to stay away from corn filled products. Someone with perfume might set off an allergy for me. Eating something in a restaurant every single time causes a reaction. Corn allergy sufferers cant live a normal life.

My children and I are all sensitive to corn, and we are sick of the government ignoring the request to at least include corn allergy warnings on labels. Its not as obvious as you’d think. No one with a food allergy should have to second guess if everything they come in contact will make them sick. The growing use of corn products in everyday items as well as the rise of corn allergy sufferers needs to be addressed. People need to be aware of this allergy/sensitivity and the many faces that it presents itself as. Dr. Oz we are asking that you help to shine a light on this subject. Help us to spread the word about corn allergies and sensitivities. It will help thousands.

Thank you so much,
Christi Barron, Alaska

I am in Nebraska. I just want to tell you that M.Ds or allergist didn’t find this out. I had to find out on my own found out by powder sugar!. I research EVERYthing related to food allergies. Since our household has two weird allergies ‘brown rice and corn’ I have had to read, read, and read. I feel I am more educated on the subject then doctors! I just wish more research was done on food allergies and acidophilus. It really is helping alot! Yet I support this sight because there is a lack of awareness on food allergies in the general populations.

I would also be willing to go on Dr. Oz! I will even take my little Dean in and show the public how he reacts to even brown rice in 10 minutes! What is sad…there is even tension between siblings because of these food allergies. They think I can magically fix this by going to a few doctor visits. Some people say” Oh, what is an itch going to do to your son.”  As if they felt he needed to eat the allergic food to fix his allergy. Too many people read about small dosage thinking they can be the one to administer that. Yet, when I have been reading: I see a controversy on avoidance versus small dosage! How dare they  tell me a case of eczema on my kid is fine……ugh!

So my symptoms would be really bad lower back pain about 10 or 30 minutes after eating. THEN!, I would get a yeast infection and then a uti. Then the antibotic would give me another yeast and then I would finally clear both up at the same time. It took me two weeks to get my symptoms resolved. Cheese and cream related items used to do this as well. Yet again the accod. enzyme/probotic helped! Advanced allergy theraputics out of Omaha got me to eat ice cream after 4 years. She did also treat corn! It is better, yet every now and then I feel like it is not 100%. The yeast infection would arrive within 10 or 12 hours! The uti was slightly after…for sure next day.I became sensitive to corn a year or so ago. I discovered a sensitivity to frosting first. I at the time was also allergic to milk, which HAS been cured! Yet, I discussed this with the doctors. The most common response I would get is the bland stare. As if they don’t want to tell you it is in your head, or it is because they probably only had one semester in college getting educated on alleSo, I diagnosed this MYSELF!

Turns out that powdered sugar is mostly corn starch. I had troubles with Tylenol too, because it HAS corn starch! I had to get a liquid gel ibu. A great deal of deli meat, soups, etc. would have this corn starch. Chips also became problematic. My symptoms are little embarrassing to mention over FB, yet I did confirm by just licking a spoon of straight corn starch. Within 10 felt symptom. I have increased my diet with acidophilus which has help tremendously to my allergies. I have two boys with peanut allergies. One of the two boys also has an allergy to brown rice and soy. Egg and wheat he has out grown. I HATE food sensitivities and allergies! They interfere with my quality of life in addition to my children’s. So Corn Freedom, THAT is my story! Our family has had allergies going on 4 years.

Jamie Young

Hi!

I’ve seen your recent posts about finding a contact who may be able to bring some light to the issues of corn allergy. I’m so grateful to you that you continue to pursue this. I wanted to give you a quick update on my daughter. Since the first letter I wrote to you, she has continued to develop new allergies. She can no longer eat peanuts or eggs. Currently she is covered with the worst rash she has ever had, and I’m not sure what is causing it now. I truly believe that her pancreas is lacking the enzymes required to break down these foods, and her immune system is attacking the food and causing these reactions. I have done a lot of research in the last couple of months. Of course, doctors just want to tell you to avoid those foods (we know how “easy” that is!) or they want to give her shots of the foods she is allergic to, in order to teach the body not to react. The logic of this is so foreign to me. I have recently concluded that I have to work on healing my daughter’s pancreas and gut. So, we are going to begin the GAPS diet. This is a huge commitment, as the author of the diet recommends staying on it for at least two years. But, I have to do this for my daughter. She is continuously developing new allergies, and she is quickly going to reach the point that she literally won’t be able to eat anything. I’m currently in the planning and preparation phase of this diet. There is a lot to account for, and a lot of expense, but I’m hoping to get her started in the next week or two. I just set up a blog last night where I plan to keep track of our progress. I’m hoping that it will serve as a way for me to keep a record of her symptoms, reactions, and hopefully improvement.

The most frustrating part of the whole situation (as I’m sure you know) is the lack of support from the medical community. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read that “there is no such thing as a corn allergy.” Really? Say that to my daughter’s rash covered little face. Doctors don’t seem to have any clue about how to help, and don’t seem at all interested in researching this issue. If they can’t throw a drug at it, they are at a total loss.

Anyway, that’s our most recent update. Again, if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know!
Lisa

I have had food allergies and intolerances since I was a toddler. I’ve also always had digestive problems and problems with personal care products and perfumed products. Every few years my allergies seem to get worse. In 2009, I had an allergy test done that also tested for food allergies. That test showed me as allergic to corn. I didn’t really think about researching how having a corn allergy would affect me at that time. So I just limited my exposure to the few things I knew were made out of corn (ie. cornbread, popcorn and corn on the cob).

In April of this year, I discovered that I was tolerating Lactaid milk quite well. So I bought some Cinnamon Chex and ate some for breakfast one morning. After about 30 minutes, I began to feel very sick to my stomach, dizzy, my stomach began to cramp up, I became sick to my stomach and developed a terrible headache. I had diarrhea and became even more dizzy. I had to work in the afternoon, so I took a nap hoping to feel better. When I awoke I didn’t feel much better but had to work. Just before I left I looked at the ingredients on the box of cereal to find it had a lot of corn in it. I concluded it was the corn in the cereal that made me sick and that it should circulate out of my system as the day went on and I would feel better eventually. At work, I drank lots of water trying to flush my body out. By the end of my shift, I didn’t feel much better, so I went to the doctor.

I ended up on medical leave. Since April I have been to several doctors, including specialists, which all kept telling me that I sound like I have allergies and that they believed that allergies were part of my problem. My primary doctor sent me to have another allergy test, which revealed more food allergies and severe environmental allergies. I decided it was time to start learning more about corn allergies. Once I started researching it and learning, a lot of things I suffered with started to make sense. I began looking for replacements for all of my personal care products and learning to make corn free versions of lots of foods I eat. I also began taking allergy medications. I have started feeling better. Many of the little problems I had have either gone away completely or greatly improved. I returned to work a few weeks ago.

The problem I continue to run into, is that as soon as I leave home I start to have allergic symptoms again. I also begin having symptoms again as soon as I encounter strongly perfumed products or if I accidentally use or eat something that I thought was corn free. It is easy to accidentally overlook at ingredient. There are also still a lot of things that I don’t know are corn based or derived. So I use or eat something thinking it is corn free, develop a problem, so I start researching the ingredients to discover another ingredient that is actually corn. It is very difficult to find replacements for everything in my environment and food that contain corn. I also have not received much support from friends and family. My husband acts like it is too much of a hassle to deal with or he ridicules me, insinuating that my allergic symptoms are either all in my head or that I am over-exaggerating. I’m over-exaggerating is the attitude I have been getting from everyone else too. Fortunately, my corn allergy is mild enough that I don’t suffer from anaphylaxis from corn exposure but I have realized that I suffer from lots of other little irritations that I don’t believe I should HAVE to suffer from, especially when I know I have the power to eliminate them. I worry that because I have other food allergies that have got worse over the years that if I don’t stop my exposure to corn now that my allergy could get worse and I could start to suffer from anaphylaxis in the future.

What I really wish is that all ingredients that are derived from corn or are corn derived had to legally be labeled, so that we could all avoid purchasing or using those products if we choose to or need to instead of having to spend countless hours of our personal free time doing research and contacting manufacturers to learn this information. I have yet to find an affordable, corn free shampoo. I have spent months looking and am losing a lot of hair from my head. I wonder if it is due to the corn in my shampoo and conditioner. Today I spent half an hour at a beauty salon talking with a shampoo manufacturer’s educator to try to determine if a particular brand of shampoo I was told is all natural is corn free. She was very nice and contacted the company’s chemist to ask him, only to find out they do not make a single corn free product. Even though she was very nice and I appreciated the time she spent to try to help me when people do that I feel like I am wasting their time, plus my own, once I find out there is corn in the product. All of that time spent searching for information could be avoided if manufacturers just labeled the ingredients. Not to mention, I feel uncomfortable always having to explain my questions and my allergy to complete strangers all of the time. It really isn’t anyone’s business that I have allergies or what my symptoms are, and it is kind of embarassing having to tell someone I get a rash or diarrhea or whatever my symptoms are. If I could read a list of ingredients and things like hydrolized vegetable protein instead said hydrolized vegetable protein (corn based) I wouldn’t have to expose my personal health concerns to strangers in public. I could simply and quietly make the decision that is best for me.

Tammie

I felt compelled to write you this email detailing a little bit of my struggle with corn and living corn free, and although I am not currently a mother, my husband and I are looking to expand our family very soon. However, we have serious concerns about corn in medicine, vitamins, etc and the pregnancy and birth I could potentially go through if something happened to complicate it.

I found out two years ago that I had a severe allergy to corn, however, I’ve struggled with corn since I was about 10. As a child my mom did what she could to limit my corn intake and stop it (we thought) by not eating corn tortillas, corn chips, drinking soda, or eating candy. But my health continued to depreciate, and rapidly so while I was in college. I can’t tell you how many doctors I visited, told my symptoms to, and yet, not one, not ONE, ever thought to test me for allergies. Instead, without even running blood work, or asking follow up questions, they each told me I had either a sinus infection or I was “run down”, I needed to stop doing so much. I would look at them incredulously and say, “I can’t even get out of bed, what is it that you think I’m doing every day?” I actually had one doctor recommend that I see a therapist, and if that didn’t work, she would put me on anti-depressants. Seriously? The symptoms, by the way, that I described to her were that I was tired, the skin under my eyes was black as night, my tongue was swollen and white, and when I ate certain foods (I couldn’t pin point which) I couldn’t swallow or breathe. I had 5 doctors visits in 3 months, and they all said the same thing, so I gave up.

A few months later, and a week before my wedding, I went into anaphalytic shock while out celebrating Fathers Day, and had to be rushed to the ER. They found that I had food stuck in my esophagus and I proceeded to have my first EGD (first among many). I was told afterward that not only should I be allergy tested, but that I also tested positive for Eosiniphilic Esophagitis, where my body released a certain type of white blood cell when I ate something I was allergic to, and these white blood cells attacked my esophageal lining, thus causing massive scars and scar tissue build up. I had to have my esophagus stretched at the age of 27 and may need another procedure in the next year. I also found out that I’m allergic to corn, tree nuts, carrots, cantaloupes and banana’s, in addition to many other allergies to medicines including latex.

Now, as a 27 year old, and my husband who is 28 and is serving in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, we’re looking to start our family and have kids. But with my corn allergy I’m worried about the what if’s. I have no option but to have a natural birth, but what if my doctor or nurses don’t want to honor that? What if they think I’m overly dramatic? I can’t have an epidural because it contains citric acid, I can’t have pitocin because it contains both ethanol and citric acid. I can only have a saline IV. I’m ok with that, but because of my limitations I’d like to have my birth in my home, with people I choose, and with people who will honor these choices because they know it’s life and death for me if I have an allergic reaction. However, with our Tricare military insurance (and please know that I’m incredibly grateful for this insurance. It pays for nearly everything and covers so much, and I’m glad our government provides that for our military members and their families) but it also limits me. I am unable to have an at home birth, I’m only able to give birth where Tricare tells me I can, with a doctor they give me.

This worries me. What if something happens during labor and delivery? So far no one has been able to share with me what options I have, what medicines would be used, or what procedures are followed. It’s important because I need to look into every medicine to see if it contains corn.

I know this seems like I’m worrying too much. But believe me, us corn allergic folks are really having a tough go of it. I’m not asking for the system to change. I’m not saying that GMO corn is terrible and has done this [well, maybe it has a little ;)] but all I’m asking for, is that corn be thought of as a serious allergy and that anything ANYTHING derived from corn, that once was corn, came from corn, etc, etc be labeled as corn derived so that people can be more aware.

Thank you for reading this and passing it along. I’d be happy to share more of my story, troubles and triumphs, just let me know!

Warm Regards,
Jessica Shea

Hi, I also have corn allergies. I’m 55 and believe I have been allergic to corn my entire life. Yes, she has poison oak, that was California doctors during my childhood. Other doctors said the growling in my stomach was just caused by too much acid, take Mylanta. Nevada, where poison oak doesn’t grow everywhere it was contact dermatitis, the allergists said, see a dermatologist. Nope, it’s an allergy see an allergist. Tests said it wasn’t Lupis. Acid reflux, feeling like a heart attack, tests said not a heart attack. Raise the head of the bed, don’t drink with meals, don’t eat or drink for an hour before sleeping.

June used to be bad for me, swollen joints, ballooning skin, cracking open because even our skin can only stretch so far. The back of my knees cracked open, beneath my butt cheeks, fingers hands, toes, feet, and everywhere the corn was trying to escape from my pores. To my body it’s like battery acid, burning and itching everywhere. Yes, even using the bathroom was a chore. Corn in urine burns gross seeping, bleeding rash.

Steriod shots and steriod creams. Lotions, potions and allergy pills. Not a food allergy, it’s something you’re coming in contact with. Okay,I will give them that, to a degree but I was working in a grocery store, and the corn needed messed with it had to look neat, the bread needed put out. Corn meal needed stocked, candy bars, cookies, ice cream, stuffing mixes, canned corn, cold cereals, hot cereals and everything that touched my skin. So I wore long sleeves to work. Sometimes my eyes would be almost swollen shut, looking as if I had been hit between the eyes.

Cheap perfumes, cleaning products, air fresheners, the list goes on and on with all the irritants, since I now know it’s corn, my life is much better, but still some help from the FDA would be nice.

Once I wore short sleeves and did the corn, after I figured it out, and my arms immediately turned red. I showered, changed my clothes took Benadryl and returned to work never to do the corn again.

Yes, my entire life I had corn allergies, now that I have figured it out and don’t eat it. I can eat strawberries, pineapple, cuties and many other fruits that I couldn’t eat previously. Apples, yes they must be washed with soap and tap water. Not bottled water, even the inside of the bottles are coated with corn.

Claritin, Benadryl, Alavert, all with a corn base. Most lotions and potions are even with a corn base. For heartburn now I take a spoonful of Daisy Sour Cream, which isn’t very often because not eating corn I don’t have reflux. My skin is clear and has been much better since 2001 when I ate the only snack supplied, Corn chips and salsa and nearly had to be hauled away in an ambulance, that was my biggest clue.

Not long ago a lady who had eaten corn chips got in my car and I couldn’t think why my eyes were burning and my throat, after taking the third cheap dephenhydramine,(smaller than Benadryl = less corn) it finally occurred to me it was the corn on her breath.

One of my granddaughters even has a corn allergy, she gets a runny nose and a rash from even a small amount. If your child is allergic to nuts you can have them banned from the classroom but how about Valentines day when all the children bring in candy. She came home and announced, “Guess what I got for Valentine’s Day, CORN SYRUP, Corn syrup and corn syrup!” So then she showed me each thing and thankfully there was one thing she could eat in her valentine box. Or birthday parties when they bring in cupcakes, with powdered sugar with corn starch in the frosting and corn starch in the cake.

How I found this site was I couldn’t figure out why flu shots always made me so sick, duh? That four letter C word. Thankfully I figured it out before we got my precious granddaughter a flu shot.

Yes, we need to have all corn listed on the labels as CORN, or even processed on equipment that was also used for corn.

Dorothye McKay