Salicylates, I hate you.

[3speed]

I've been asked about this a few times recently, so I'm going to *gasp!* make a public post about the fun and joy of salicylate intolerance and chronic salicylate toxicity.

Salicylates are what makes aspirin tick.  In most people, it's an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.  Salicylates, over-simplified, are sunscreen and insect repellent for plants.

Comments

[pickleboot]

i am allergic as hell to aspirin. now this is making me wonder. but jesus, my diet is already limited as hell, and looking at the stuff i shouldn't be eating, i would be living on meat, dairy, and air. not good.

[3speed]

A thing to try, and the #1 rule I follow, is Cave-Person logic

[3speed]

Thanks! I give a lot of credit to my current doctor for empowering me and encouraging me to take an active interest in my health. The practice I was seeing before was super dismissive and rude. My body aches were because I'm fat. Who the hell knows what's up with the constant nausea and stomach aches, here's 5 different pills that won't work. Migraines? Oh, you can't take aspirin? Well, here's a two-pill sample pack and a small lortab script. Good luck with that. Oh, you still get them a year later? Well, we're done treating you. Yeah. Right bastards

[3speed]

It was a series of unfortunate events. It started when I was 15. I had bad cramps at school and didn't have ibuprofen or tylenol so I bummed some aspirin from a friend (I'd never taken it before) and had a pretty hideous reaction. I had similar, though less serious, reactions to things like Pepto and Icy Hot over the years, but generally found it easy to avoid the bad stuff. There were always options, yaknow? I guess my intolerance is getting worse with age. I've been able to use skin care products that either evaporate or that you wash off that contain salicylates, like Sea Breeze or the medicated version of St. Ives apricot scrub. A couple months ago, I used the scrub in the shower and started feeling really flushed, dizzy, and nauseous. But, having fibro, I didn't think much of it...it's like, great, I'm sick again, what else is new, right? And then it happened again the next time I used the scrub. So, I started double checking all of my skin products and giving anything that listed salicylic acid to friends who can use

[bella_phenomena]

Wow. Looking over that list of fruits & veggies, it makes me wonder what you can eat. Is this possible something that could go into remission?

I haven't tried eliminating anything other than from my diet (no lotions, soaps, etc), although I've always had sensitive skin, so there's lots of kinds that given me problems with itching.

I've given up wheat, dairy, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, candy. (The fun thing is that most gluten free products have potato in them, so I can't eat them.) I have a hard time giving up peppers since I love spicy food, so i try to limit them as much as possible. A month ago, we went on vacation, and it was so hard. The first day, accidently ate wheat, and i felt horrible for two days, after drinking lots of coconut water. Honestly, not being able to eat wherever we wanted really put a damper on things. And now, I dread being in a situation where I don't know what the food situation will be.

[3speed]

Yeah, my food options are pretty damn limited. But I'm figuring out how to get my salad/tomato/spicy food fix here and there. I'll be "good" for a few days then indulge in a small amount of whatever I'm craving. It's so strange to be "saving up" in my diet so I can eat a salad. LOL I just went on vacation a couple weeks ago and I figured out that I can find *something* to eat almost anywhere, I just have to be patient and read the menu thoroughly and maybe ask for a small substitution.

And I just found out my favorite shampoo has salicylic acid. RUDE. I don't even see the purpose of adding it to most things!