A woman says she's been 'forced' into veganism after developing an unusual allergy that's increasing across the US.
A health condition of nightmares for meat-loving Americans has been on the rise across the nation in recent months, forcing dozens to turn to a plant-based diet in the face of horrific itchiness and full-body hives.
For Daisy Holstine from Arkansas, who admits she loves a Whopper burger, that nightmare became her reality as she developed a severe allergy to meat and dairy seemingly out of the blue.
Speaking to The New York Post, the 36-year-old recalled: "I was waking up with my eyes swollen shut.
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"The hives were all over my body, even on my scalp, my hands, the bottoms of my feet."
It took weeks for Daisy to get to the bottom of her mystery illness, which medics confirmed as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a once rare condition that has exploded across the country.
Why it's increasing is all to do with the lone star tick, a parasite that thrives in the heat and comes with a nasty bite that saddles its victims with a life-threatening allergy to meat and dairy.
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These ticks are taking over far beyond their usual haunt in the Southeast, traveling as far as New York and Maine, which experts say could be due to global warming cranking up the temperatures and extending their time to shine beyond the summer months.
According to the Mayo Clinic, alpha-gal syndrome causes 'mild to intense' allergies to red meat and dairy products, and can even prompt anaphylactic reactions.
Daisy's initial symptoms
As for Daisy, she recalled first spotting a cluster of red patches on her skin when on a trip to Nashville in December.
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The Korean mother-of-two shrugged off the symptom as 'Asian glow' after drinking alcohol and popped an antihistamine which saw it go away.
However, days later it reappeared and by the next weekend, she said she was 'hiving out'.
"They were everywhere," Daisy said.
As a remote nurse case manager with United Healthcare, Daisy said she was 'pretty vigilant about bugs' and was skeptical when a doctor suggested testing for AGS, particularly as she hadn't noticed a tick or any signs of a bite like the typical bulls-eye rash.
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The mom also said she'd heard of the condition before and thought she would 'literally die' if she ever got that diagnosis.
"I’m a big red meat eater … if I’m going to a restaurant, I’m going to have a steak," she added.
"I could have cried getting that diagnosis"
Dermatologists then threw a spanner in the works by diagnosing her with chronic urticaria, or unexplained hives, which saw Daisy, driven by 'desperation' at this point, take on rounds of antihistamines, medication that suppresses the immune system and another powerful drug designed to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases.
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The concoction made her feel lethargic while her hair fell out, and still no cure for the mystery hives.
Eventually, ChatGPT advised her to try the elimination diet, cutting out gluten and meat, which saw her hives disappear. Meanwhile, medics broke the news that she did have AGS.
"I could have cried getting that diagnosis," Daisy said. "We finally figured out what the heck was going on with me."
She added: "At this point, as a medical necessity, I went vegan."
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"I can see the end in sight"
AGS doesn't trigger an allergic reaction to every animal product but Daisy found it easier to cut out everything than trawl through nutrition labels - even swapping her toothpaste and cosmetics to animal-free.
"That’s a big deal in Arkansas," she explained. "If you make that choice to be vegan for life, I think it’s very commendable, because it is not easy."
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While there's no cure for AGS, Daisy is optimistic that Soliman Aurricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) will help her reintroduce meat into her diet, which involves tiny needles being inserted into pressure points.
Daisy concluded: "I want a Whopper so bad, but it’s OK, I’m getting there.
"I can see the end in sight."
Topics: Health, US News, Arkansas, Food and Drink, Vegan
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