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Original poster

Red meat intolerance, tick bite?

23 replies

Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 21:36

Over the past 2 years my Husband has developed what we can only assume is a red meat allergy/ intolerance, specifically with beef. Anywhere from 2 - 24 hours after eating beef he feels like he has immense abdominal discomfort/ trapped wind/ nausea, it usually results in him being violently sick.
It only used to happen after eating a rare steak, he was fine with well cooked beef (e.g. mince in chilli/ bolognese) but yesterday he had two small burgers at lunchtime, has been in agony all day today and has just been violently sick.

For info, he’s 35, fit, healthy and active, no other allergies. We eat a really healthy balanced diet, probably only eat white meat/ fish twice a week and vegetarian the rest of the time.

I’ve tried to research if this is a common thing and saw that there are possible links to developing an allergy/ intolerance after a tick bite. Or it might just be that as he’s getting older he just can’t digest it like he used to.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this or heard of it? We generally avoid red meat altogether but up until now, mince has been fine. I feel really sorry for him, he’s currently shivering in bed feeling very weak and wiped out from it.

OP posts:
Merapi · 05/08/2023 21:42

People can develop allergies and food intolerances all of a sudden, with no cause. Perhaps he needs to speak to a doctor to put his mind at rest.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 21:54

I always assumed there must be a cause for something like this to start out of the blue. Doctors is a very sensible path but actually persuading him to go is another matter! 😬

OP posts:
FizzyFucker · 05/08/2023 21:56

Has he travelled much in America? The tick that can cause the red meat allergy is found there. I met a man (in a professional capacity, I was preparing food for him) and he had the allergy, as confirmed by his doctors.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:02

FizzyFucker · 05/08/2023 21:56

Has he travelled much in America? The tick that can cause the red meat allergy is found there. I met a man (in a professional capacity, I was preparing food for him) and he had the allergy, as confirmed by his doctors.

We have spent a lot of time on the East coast because my parents live in New England, although our last trip was Dec 2019 so not sure that would stack up with when it started. Interesting to hear you’ve encountered someone with it though!

OP posts:
Kernackered · 05/08/2023 22:08

The podcast called Stuff You Should Know covered this in an episode about ticks. Worth listening to, I can't remember the details but it was the first time I heard of this.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:09

Kernackered · 05/08/2023 22:08

The podcast called Stuff You Should Know covered this in an episode about ticks. Worth listening to, I can't remember the details but it was the first time I heard of this.

Thank you! Will look this up!

OP posts:
Yarnorama · 05/08/2023 22:12

He needs to stop eating red meat and he also needs to seek medical advice as alpha gal syndrome can escalate to anaphylaxis.

Yarnorama · 05/08/2023 22:14

^if it is alpha gal syndrome, of course it might not be, but with the risks I'd be cautious until excluded/confirmed.

FlamingYam · 05/08/2023 22:18

Wasn't there an article on this recently as a man caught it in Surrey? I thought it was all meat products tho so no eating or wearing (or even looking at) meat products.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:20

Yarnorama · 05/08/2023 22:14

^if it is alpha gal syndrome, of course it might not be, but with the risks I'd be cautious until excluded/confirmed.

Since we noticed a link to what he had eaten and the sickness, he’s almost totally cut it out (just the occasional burger/ portion of lasagne!) but if he’s reacting to a small amount of mince now, then maybe it is getting worse. He doesn’t get any other allergy symptoms though - no rash or hives, itching, swollen lips, etc.

OP posts:
MadAboutIt · 05/08/2023 22:22

I was going to say mammal meat disorder.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:22

Upsizer · 05/08/2023 22:16

Really interesting, thank you! I wonder if our GP would be clued up on it!…

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:24

FlamingYam · 05/08/2023 22:18

Wasn't there an article on this recently as a man caught it in Surrey? I thought it was all meat products tho so no eating or wearing (or even looking at) meat products.

Oh, really? We’re in the South East. He’s fine with all other meat - just beef! No issues with dairy or other animal products that we’ve noticed.

OP posts:
crackofdoom · 05/08/2023 22:24

I have a friend who had Lymes disease, and is now allergic to pork. She would have caught it in France or the UK though.

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:29

crackofdoom · 05/08/2023 22:24

I have a friend who had Lymes disease, and is now allergic to pork. She would have caught it in France or the UK though.

Did her allergy start suddenly after being bitten or did it take time to develop? Hope she’s recovered okay from Lyme disease, it can be so nasty!

OP posts:
Yarnorama · 05/08/2023 22:35

He will need a referral to an allergy specialist. Hopefully the GP will do this without a fuss (I have a different weird allergy and it was a nightmare getting diagnosed so hope he has a better experience).

Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:38

Yarnorama · 05/08/2023 22:35

He will need a referral to an allergy specialist. Hopefully the GP will do this without a fuss (I have a different weird allergy and it was a nightmare getting diagnosed so hope he has a better experience).

I just need to persuade him to go, even though he feels so rough when it happens, he hates going to the Dr! Glad you got to the bottom of yours eventually.

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedwifey23 · 05/08/2023 22:51

FamalamResearcher · 05/08/2023 22:36

It may not be Alpha-Gal, but weirdly I was reading this just article earlier. (Health Rising is a brilliant U.S. site that is well respected in the Chronic illness community & releases regular blogs).

https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2023/08/04/alpha-gal-syndrome-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-fibromyalgia-mcas/

It sounds miserable. I hope you find out what it is. Good luck!

Another interesting article, thanks for sharing.
Yeah, it’s horrible when he feels really unwell with it but since we worked out the sickness only happened after eating steak/ rare beef, he just avoids it, so it’s generally not a problem. Seems like it would be well worth seeking a definite answer though!

OP posts:
Pinkitydrinkity · 05/08/2023 22:59

Yes I’ve heard of an allergy to red meat happening after a tick bite before! I’m not a medic so no idea how it happens but def heard of it happening.

scrivette · 05/08/2023 23:07

There was an article about this on Sky News yesterday. If you Google you should be able to find it.

MistyTrains2 · 18/10/2023 05:41

I have developed a sore throat every time I eat red meat and I am in Surrey. It has reached a point I am googling it and I need to see a GP :( I do find eating lots of veggies helps but think I need to check for allergies.

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