Showing posts with label A mother's desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A mother's desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son.. Show all posts

Sunday, May 5, 2019

A mother's desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son.

            An allergy to corn should be considered a potentially life-threatening diagnosis since hospitals have not been mandated to stock corn-free foods, fluids, or medications for the safety of corn-allergic patients (corn/corn-derived ingredients are ubiquitous, and corn allergen warnings are voluntary). We are currently required to supply our own previously-prepared corn-free products while hospitalized. My argument is: What if our admissions were due to an emergency?

            It is a daily struggle to survive with an allergy to corn.  We can consume very few processed foods, and no commercially-processed non-organic meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, or produce due to government-authorized corn-derived acid washes. Due to the high probability of corn cross-contact, all organic foods must be soaked in a bath of filtered water, Bragg’s apple cider vinegar (in the U.S. white vinegar is derived from corn), and baking soda.  Many people allergic to corn struggle just to find safe drinking water due to corn-derived purification chemicals, and many are required to have their medications compounded to exclude corn (used as a common filler). Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of compounded drugs.  The testimonies from parents of corn-allergic infants (many of whom have been diagnosed with “failure to thrive”) are heartbreaking. There are no commercially-manufactured corn-free infant formulas, and hospitals are ill-equipped to treat/nourish these poor babies.

Reprinted with permission:  A mother’s desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son.

M.R., Wausau, WI

“My corn allergic son (F.R.) cannot tolerate ingesting any bottled water or tap water. We had to purchase a ProPur Nomad with G2 filters. All food preparation and cooking or any oral contact (oral hygiene) has to be used with this safe water. I am breastfeeding him and I cannot ingest any other source of water either. We also use a ProPur shower head filter for showering/bath due to his open skin/sores with eczema (reaction to corn).
Anytime we travel, we have to take both filters with us.”

Additional Testimonies Reprinted with Permission:

J.V., San Antonio, Tx
“I bought bottled water in Port Saint Lucie, FL and continue to buy here in San Antonio TX. I end up with stomach issues when drinking tap water.  I just moved away from PSL but I also had contact reactions and sometimes airborne when they would "purify" the water more.”  “. . . this area that we are talking about also had issues with water (algae).”

K.B. Port Saint Lucie, FL
“I’m also in Port St Lucie! My son is ingestion reactive and I am contact reactive.  It’s VERY bad with the algae! This summer was rough for us with respiratory issues from both the blue green algae and than red tide”

A.M.
“My baby reacts to tap water and brita filter as well.”

A.L., Pueblo West, CO
“We have to filter our water or it causes stomach distress. Prior to that, I had 1-2 brands of bottled water.”

M.A.G.
“The water at the ski areas is good. Denver not so much.  The only safe water is Voss that I've found so far. You know what, my legs will physically burn when the tap water hits my legs. It's crazy.” .

M.P., Texarkana, TX
“I have to buy distilled water since it’s the cheapest safe water for me to drink and to wash my face with. Tap water causes hives, skin discoloration, and itching. I have to keep a towel beside the shower so I can dry my face in case it gets wet (which causes my face to burn).”
“Update. We live in the DFW area now. I can wash in tap water now with no itching/burning. A ZeroWater pitcher has been a game changer and I don’t have to have distilled water any more. If the water has not been filtered and I ingest it I still get sick, but it doesn’t cause a bad topical reaction. We are hoping to move soon so there’s no telling what the next tap water will do to my skin.”

T.G.B.
“We can not drink Brita filtered water or chlorinated/floridated water- corn allergy kids react. We have safe well water or spring water.”

L.J.
“I can’t drink tap water or bottled. I have a zero water filter pitcher, so far it’s safe.  The filters are on the expensive side, compared to a Brita.”

W.T.
“The Zero is worth it tho - they give you a tester so you can see how much is taken out of the water - it's amazing - and that helps with knowing when to replace - and I like the spigot on the bottom for filling your glass right out of the fridge.”

B.P., Lewiston, ME
“My son is allergic to corn and I wasn't aware it could be in the water and could be the underlying reason of why he is still being triggered thank you for this information I will get on getting a water purifier asap,”

E.Y.B.
“My doc thinks I’m allergic to my tap water. I’ve had success with the Crystal Geyser brand that I have to drink and cook with. Currently looking into getting a house filter and have to get shower filters as I’m skin reactive in the shower and washing dishes.”

“Does anyone have any recommendations for a whole house filter? I ordered a shower filter and I'm doing Crystal Geyeser Springs water for drinking and dishes right now, but I'm super skin reactive to the water in my house. My Doc recommended a whole house filter but I'm getting overwhelmed with all the choices and the price points. I'd preferably like something without activated carbon but at this point I need SOMETHING! Thanks in advance for your suggestions! I appreciate them!”

A.S., Vandemere, NC
“I react to tap and bottle water. Lips, tongue and throat burn. I have a filtered pitcher in my fridge that I use for cooking and drinking. We are trying to decide on a whole house system that will do the job without breaking the bank.”

B.B.
“Last year, I was so, so scared because I could not find a water safe for me to drink. I had one quart of safe water left that I sipped on for four days, while trying to find some, when I actually should have been drinking way more than the quart every day because I have a problem with very painful kidneys without a lot of water.

I finally learned about Crystal Geyser and that many people tolerated it. I had to drive to another town like 25 miles away to find some though.

It would take very little to bring us to the point of having no safe food or water! Just add corn to the rest of what little we have left, and Boom!That is unacceptable!”


T.C.
“Im currently taking compounded benadryl and claritain daily while I try out bottled water and water filters to find water that is safe for me to drink. I had to stop eating for a day just to figure out it was the water that I was drinking that caused me having allergic reactions, feel miserable, and extremely fatigued daily for two weeks.”



Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
Twitter:  @CornAllergy911



Corn products/derivatives to avoid if you are allergic to corn

Corn Allergy Statistics (Monthly)

Corn Allergy References, Studies, Statistics, & Petitions
(Includes my submission to The Joint Commission, Congress, FDA, & U.S. Dept. of Health requesting emergency mandate that hospitals stock corn-free foods, liquids, & drugs.)

Removing a Food Protein Does Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic

"Corn: It's Everything," Iowa Corn

Vinegar
"Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace chemicals that may include flavorings. .... Apple cider vinegar is made from cider or apple must, and has a ... or sukang basi), although it also is produced in France and the United States. .... regions, because of its low cost, is barley malt, or in the United States, corn."

Cross-Contact of Allergens:

Cross-Contact or Cross-Contamination: What’s the Difference?

Avoiding Cross-Contact
"Learn how to prevent cross-contact, which happens when an allergen is accidentally transferred from one food to another."

"The problem is compounded by the fact that few outside the allergic community understand the danger of cross-contact, the term used when trace of an allergen that is not an ingredient finds its way into a product causing the potential for a reaction. As such, it is imperative that organizations and businesses that serve the allergic community take the initiative to fully vet the products they recommend with their respective manufacturers. To do otherwise is to put the community risk."
https://snacksafely.com/2019/11/advisory-to-those-preparing-holiday-meals-for-guests-with-food-allergies/?fbclid=IwAR0WazdB37INNG132nQ3tq1chWxijcQMSieH9tDm1MFnvfB5J29R7vGBoAQ



Update April 15, 2020
This blog post has been forwarded to all Senators of the 116th Congress, in addition to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


DIRECTIVES FOR TREATING A HYPOGLYCEMIC CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENT

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