When My Energy Dropped, So Did My Tolerance: Living with ME/CFS & Allergies
Before ME/CFS, I never really thought about allergies. Hay fever season would come and go, a bit of sneezing, maybe some watery eyes, but nothing dramatic. I could eat what I wanted, drink what I wanted, and fill my house with scented candles like a normal person.
Now? Not so much. Somewhere along the line, my body decided it hates everything. It’s like my immune system’s taken it upon itself to cause me additional challenges.
When It All Started
When ME/CFS hit 4/5 years ago, I expected the exhaustion, the brain fog, and the endless naps that don’t actually help. What I didn’t expect was to become allergic or sensitive to what feels like half my food enjoyment.
At first, I thought I was imagining it. One day I’d eat something and feel fine; the next, I’d be doubled over in pain or flat on the sofa, wiped out.
After some late-night googling, I realised I wasn’t alone. Loads of people with ME/CFS seem to develop weird new sensitivities after getting ill. Apparently, it’s quite common for our immune systems to go rogue and overreact to things we used to tolerate.
My New Food and Drink Foes
I’ve now got a growing list of things I have to avoid, and honestly, it’s not only heartbreaking, but it’s just plain frustrating.
I’m now allergic to anything with high levels of MSG, which means no more Chinese takeaways for me, and that one really stings. The last time I gave in, the pain in my gut was so bad it actually scared me. I honestly thought something had gone seriously wrong inside. So much so, I can safely say I would never ever risk eating Chinese takeaway again.
Wine is now officially off the menu; red or white, it makes no difference. Within hours, I’m vomiting, my headache is pounding, and I’m regretting every sip. It never waits until the morning; it always hits the same night. Between my body’s apparent determination to make sure I never have nice things and the sheer amount of medication I’m on, alcohol has basically become off-limits.
I’ve also become lactose intolerant. Cheese, milk, ice cream, all my comfort foods, now cause chaos. And to make things extra fun, there’s something else (still a mystery) that makes my stomach bloat and has me burping non-stop. I’m currently trying to figure out what it is by elimination, trying to work out which innocent-looking food is betraying me next.
Before ME, I could eat and drink what I wanted. Now, I’m basically allergic to life. It’s not just an inconvenience; the reactions can knock me flat for days, leaving me exhausted, in pain, and horribly miserable.
How I deal with my new allergies
Here’s what helps me stay (mostly) sane:
Keep a food and symptom diary – it’s boring but useful. Patterns do start to appear.
Simplify everything – the fewer ingredients, the fewer problems.
Avoid known triggers – yes, it’s annoying, but not as annoying as being ill for three days after.
Plan recovery time – even mild reactions take energy to recover from.
The Reality
Living with ME/CFS is already a juggling act, and adding allergies and sensitivities into the mix just makes life that bit harder. Some days it feels like my body’s plotting against me, other days, I’m just grateful to make it through without reacting to something random.
It’s frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes heartbreaking.
So no, I can’t enjoy a Chinese takeaway or a glass of wine anymore. But I can wake up tomorrow without feeling poisoned.
If you’re going through the same thing, know this: you’re not being dramatic, you’re not making it up, and you’re definitely not alone. Our bodies might be hypersensitive, but that doesn’t mean we’re weak; it just means we have to live life a little differently.
About me
I am a married mother of four children. One of those four children is our granddaughter, for whom we are SGO (legal guardians)/kinship carers. I run a small business and enjoy writing, so I blog. My blog focuses on my family life as well as my experiences of living with chronic illnesses and disabilities such as ME/CFS, spinal stenosis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. Oh, and I am only in my mid-40s.
