Alpha-gal stomach pain can last several hours which can be 2 to 10 hours or sometimes a bit longer after eating red meat or mammalian products and can appear 2 to 6 hours after consumption.
Alpha gal stomach pain is a symptom of alpha-gal syndrome which is a serious allergic reaction to mammalian products and can also cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The first signs of alpha-gal are.
Hives, itching, or itchy, scaly skin (eczema)
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts.
Wheezing or shortness of breath.
A runny nose.
Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
Sneezing.
Headaches.
A severe, potentially deadly allergic reaction that restricts breathing(anaphylaxis)
To test for alpha-gal syndrome a blood test can be done to measure and confirm the amount of alpha-gal antibodies that are in your bloodstream.
Skin tests can also be done to test for alpha-gal as well.
Medications that contain alpha-gal include (acetaminophen, lisinopril, and clonidine) and vaccines (influenza and zoster).
Butter does contain and have alpha-gal as butter is basically pure concentrated animal fat.
Alpha-gal does make you tired as symptoms of alpha-gal include, rash, headache, fever and fatigue.
Eggs do not contain alpha-gal.
Other foods that also don't contain alpha-gal include shrimp, fish and seafood.
Alpha-gal syndrome does cause joint pain and can also make arthritis symptoms worse.
It usually takes around 2 hours to 6 hours after eating the food that contained alpha-gal or around 3 months for alpha-gal syndrome to develop after being bit by a tick such as a lone star tick.
The odds of getting alpha-gal is pretty low and it's estimated that only 1 percent to 2 percent of adults will get alpha-gal.
Exercise can make alpha-gal worse and cause reactions so while it's okay to exercise you should not do too much exercise if you have alpha-gal.
Also alcohol consumption should be avoided with alpha-gal as it too can make alpha-gal worse.
To reverse alpha-gal you'll have to avoid foods such as red meats or any other foods or medicines that contain alpha-gal.
There's no cure or actual treatment that can get rid of alpha-gal and you usually have alpha-gal syndrome for life.
Alpha-gal syndrome is not curable and the only thing you can do to manage the symptoms is to avoid foods and things that trigger alpha-gal such as red meat or foods and medicines that contain alpha-gal.
Alpha-gal does tend to last forever and most people who are affected by alpha-gal have it for life.
The symptoms of alpha-gal include.
Hives, itching, or itchy, scaly skin (eczema)
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts.
Wheezing or shortness of breath.
A runny nose.
Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
Sneezing.
Headaches.
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) (also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
AGS is not caused by an infection.
AGS symptoms occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products containing alpha-gal.
Alpha-gal syndrome doesn't go away, but you can manage symptoms by avoiding: Meats, organs, and blood of mammals.
Dairy products. Gelatin and other animal derivatives.
In most cases, alpha-gal syndrome is a lifelong condition.
However, it does go away from some patients, sometimes after a few years.
Allergists can do an annual blood test to look at antibody levels against the alpha-gal sugar molecule to determine whether a patient continues to be allergic to red meat.
Gelatin-Containing Vaccines for Varicella, Zoster, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Induce Basophil Activation in Patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
A blood test for galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) specific IgE (sIgE) is the main test that healthcare providers use to help them diagnose alpha-gal syndrome (1,2).
In the U.S., this test is available via Viracor Eurofins Clinical Diagnostics.
Allergic reactions to alpha-gal can be treated with an over-the-counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Stronger reactions provoked by alpha-gal might need to be addressed with epinephrine.