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Stomach Pain Due To
Oral Allergy Syndrome

Stomach pain due to oral allergy syndrome (OAS) occurs to many people and they do not even realize it.

I suffer from this, which is not so fun!

If you have horrible hay fever, this could be the answer to your prayers.

What Is OAS?

Well, it is when someone has a reaction to a certain food(s) due to the protein found in it.

The individual may not necessarily be allergic towards say an apple but is allergic to the bi-product or pollen associated with the apple.

Also, the reaction normally occurs when the apple is consumed raw versus cooked but this can vary.

Having an allergy test done will help determine which foods one should stay away from based on the cross reactivity of the pollen.

Reaction From OAS

Since I am allergic to birch tree pollen, I have a reaction towards fruit that has the same protein structure as the birch such as an apple, cherries, almonds, etc. And then grass is the same. I am highly allergic to grass and have a reaction to tomatoes, barley, wheat, peaches, etc.

My reaction can consist of:

tingling lips and tongue
itchy throat
slightly swollen throat
cramps
stomach pain

But when it is cooked, say an apple pie or apple cobbler, I am fine.

So this is quite interesting...when I peel potatoes, I literally end up sneezing. I could not figure out why this was occurring but made sense considering I have OAS. When I eat certain peeled cooked potatoes, I do not have a reaction. But I noticed that if I eat certain cooked white potatoes or the small potatoes with the peel, my mouth starts to tingle.

It's really important to listen and take cues from your body.

How Is Histamine Related?

When OAS takes place, histamine is released in the body from mast cells hence where the allergic reaction comes from.

Additionally, when histamine is released inflammation takes place.

Histamine can be released in different areas of the body to include skin, stomach and throat.

For me depending on what I eat, all three areas could be affected.

Stomach Pain and OAS

If I consume foods that triggers OAS, abdominal pain can occur since histamine is released within the gut. This causes major inflammation.

Since my mucus production is through the roof, often times it will also drain down from my throat causing more mucus to accumulate in my stomach.

So that means mucus has already accumulated in my stomach, just to have more mucus drain into my stomach.

My stomach literally starts to get weird because it's reacting to the histamine. You know when your skin starts to itch when you come in contact with something. It's very similar but only occurring in the stomach because again when histamine is released, it can be released in the gut, throat, skin, etc.

Ugh, not so fun!

Update: I've discovered that there are food products that have certain ingredients that will trigger a reaction. It's very important to look at the labels before consuming.

Preventing OAS

The best way I prevent OAS is by simply trying to avoid foods that are related to certain pollens I am allergic to.

If I find that I have a tingling sensation when I consume a certain fruit, I simply stop eating it.

If you are not certain about the types of pollen you are allergic to, think about scheduling a appointment with an allergist or simply begin keeping a food diary. Whatever fruit you seem to have a reaction from, find out which pollen is associated with that fruit.

How The Use Of A Digestive Enzyme May Help?

I find myself having allergic reactions, none severe--consisting mostly of stomach pain and nasal congestion due to increase mucus, to many fruits and vegetables these days especially when they are in the raw form. During the cool fall and cold winter months, I don't have this issue but then again certain fruits and vegetables are not in season which is why.

The wise thing to do is to stay away from those fruits and vegetables and only eat the ones you can tolerate raw. It's really trial and error to determine what your body is reactive to.

When I notice a reaction such as tingling of my mouth and lips, I take a digestive enzyme which really helps me break down the foods. You can find them in pill or powder form. I've taken both.

If I wait too long to take the digestive enzyme, I experience the worse bloating, ugh! The digestive enzyme helps relieve a lot of that.

Update: Though I still love my digestive enzymes, I've been really trying to avoid foods that I have a reaction to. Again, its trial and error and being receptive to my body. Check back soon for more information on OAS.

Antihistamine and OAS

I have found that taking an antihistamine like Benadryl helps with OAS reaction. It calms my stomach tremendously, enabling gas to pass freely. It's very awful to have bloating with no relief.

Of course, I can only take Benadryl at night because it makes me very drowsy. I take others antihistamine as a preventive during the day.

I hope this information has helped you. Please comment and share if it has. xo, V❤️

About Me

I am a mom of two and wife who looks for natural options and who knows a thing or two about the neti pot as well as resolving my stomach pain. I love mine and can't imagine life without it. Sounds funny, huh? But so true!! Read more about me..