Anyone have a sensitivity or allergy to pork?

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Just curious. I have some autoimmune problems and am recovering from Lyme disease, so I've been doing a strict elimination diet (the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol) and paying closer attention to how certain foods might effect my symptoms.

I noticed that after eating pork products, I seem to get a flare-up of problems, primarily joint pain and muscle aches, but also fatigue and trouble thinking clearly, ie. 'brain fog.' Last night, after having something with pork, the skin on my hands and arms got kind of itchy or prickly, too.

It's sort of strange, since pork is not a food that is even part of my elimination diet, which is supposed to include the most common sensitivities. I'm still probably going to eliminate it for a few weeks, then reintroduce it and see how I feel, but kind of hate doing that, since I am already so limited with food choices as it is. Also, with me, these issues could always be attributed to something else, too, and the pork could just be coincidental.

Anyone else ever have similar problems?

My roommate can't eat pork. I'm not sure what happens if he does, but I know he says it's not worth it.

Neither I nor my brother can eat pork: we both love it.
Years ago my OH tried desensitizing me to pork: the long-term result was disaster!

Was it ham/bacon/proscuitto? Perhaps you are sensitive to the ingredients used in cured pork products.

"Certain allergic individuals with reduced levels of the histamine degrading enzyme Diamine Oxidase develop sneezing, flushing, runny nose, headaches and wheezing after ingesting foods rich in histamine. This reaction seems to be quite common and is often confused with food allergy. Histamine, Serotonin and Tyramine occur naturally in fish, certain cheeses, cured meats, some alcoholic beverages and Marmite."
from http://www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/food-al ... rgy-guide/

Try eating a plain pork chop or pork loin to see if you can rule out the cured meat variable.

^^No, it was uncured and organic. (The diet I'm on has had me avoiding chemical additives, including nitrates, for the last few months). Good thought, though.

I have some autoimmune problems, some allergies, some intolerances etc. I have to avoid both pork and beef, because they give me chest pains and other symptoms, like sweating, fatigue etc. Pork is the worst of the two.

You can get a blood tests to see if you have a pork allergy. I believe it's called an IgE test. It gives you your results and a chart to compare your numbers to, so you know how you react to it. An allergist/Immunologist can easily order it for you, think a GP/PCP can as well.

Yeah, but I don't think there are any blood tests for sensitivities, though, and they can also cause problems for people. I did have a panel of allergy testing done a while ago, but that was for the most common allergens. Can't imagine pork is considered one of the most common allergens, though, so not sure it's been ruled out definitively.

Nope - no pork sensitivities. Unless it's hearing about bills that are full of 'pork' - damn politicians. My blood is starting to boil just thinking about it........ and I'm feeling a little light headed

i used to not eat it because i was obsessed with pigs