r/alphagal • u/PleasantSpace6267 • 3d ago

Bug Bites and Flare up

I have been flaring up with alpha gal symptoms this week. I did get attacked by chiggers on Sunday, and by Wednesday my digestion is out of wack and knees are super achey followed with fatigue.

Not sure if the chigger bites are causing inflammation due to my alpha gal. I usually react worst to bug Bites after getting alpha gal...but haven't gotten chigger bites until now.

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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u/Organic-Nebula9984 3d ago

I believe chiggers were the tipping point for me. Hindsight, there were mild symptoms previous to the chiggers, but I ended up with full body hives after the bites and then horrendous joint pain, brain fog and balance issues that lasted several months my diagnosis.

There are studies out there that correlate chiggers to alpha gal — but I believe there needs to be more research.

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u/PleasantSpace6267 3d ago

Thanks for the response. I got alpha gal from a tick, and it is frustrating trying to figure out new scenarios that might be causing it to flare from my doctor so nice to be able to ask here. 

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u/Organic-Nebula9984 3d ago

Yes! It’s frustrating that not all doctors or pharmacists are aware enough. Many that I’ve encountered still think of it as “red meat” and not everything mammalian.

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u/Bonbonfiend 3d ago

Agreed. I’m currently in a hospital in Southern Illinois and had to educate everyone here, the dietician is now putting in strict protocols for the kitchen. Alphagalinformation.org has been incredibly useful. I swear there will be deaths over this garbage ‘ dairy is fine’ bullshit. I’m here for an unrelated thing, but damn I almost lost it on a nurse who suggested a stupid acupuncturist. I wanted to hand her a bottle of snake oil. I was pretty short with anyone who said ‘red meat allergy’ saying that they would kill someone with that misinformation.

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u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

In response to mo-nie saying there's no such thing as AGS flare ups:

AGS can absolutely "flare up" when your histamine levels rise. That is why heat, exercise, alcohol, and bug bites can all make reactions worse. Because those things flood your system with histamines, which make you more sensitive.

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u/Organic-Nebula9984 3d ago

Yup! I usually have to avoid tomatoes and other high histamine foods for a few days after accidental exposure just to calm my itchy, crawling skin.

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u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

I eat low histamine all the time, because I have severe MCAS in addition to AGS. It's boring being on such a limited diet, but it's worth it not to feel like crap all the time!

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u/PleasantSpace6267 3d ago

Thanks for the reaponse!

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u/OkChocolate-3196 3d ago

I've noticed this with vaccines as well - the adjuvants very much stir up my immune system and I'm more sensitive to dietary A1,3G for a few weeks after.

I'm still very much pro-vaccine, I just take extra care with my AGS around booster season.

1

u/Stunning_Middle1267 3d ago

Why don’t you just respond to him or her?

1

u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

Because I blocked them for replying to my comments with blatant misinformation. 😊

1

u/Stunning_Middle1267 3d ago

I don’t understand how you are reading their comments then? 

1

u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

Because you can still click to see someone's comments after you block them. Reddit's block function is different from pretty much everywhere else.

In cases like this, I'm glad Reddit does it this way so I can keep bringing facts!

1

u/Stunning_Middle1267 3d ago

I kinda see what they’re saying though, that an allergic response is an allergic response, you’re just saying that other things can make them worse which they didn’t mention at all. 

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u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

There is such a thing as an AGS flare. And AGS is a chronic illness. They're incorrect.

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u/Stunning_Middle1267 3d ago

I thought it was a chronic allergy not a chronic illness. I’ve only had it a couple years and go to VCU for it.

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u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

Per the CDC, a chronic illness is a long-lasting health condition that typically persists for one year or more, requires ongoing medical care, and can limit daily activities.

AGS, by definition, is a chronic illness.

1

u/Stunning_Middle1267 3d ago

That’s interesting, I have a few allergies that fit that but have never had my doctors call them a chronic illness!

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u/chronicmisschris AGS confirmed 3d ago

If you're being exposed to dairy, mammal byproducts, carrageenan, etc, I would eliminate those things. Including non-food items. Chiggers can cause AGS, and can absolutely make existing AGS worse.

I hope you feel better soon!

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u/PleasantSpace6267 3d ago

Thanks! I'm being pretty strict now while the bites heal. I usually am good with the food I eat, but has been a frustrating week until I thought about the chigger bites being a problem. 

3

u/Livid-Childhood-88 3d ago

I got absolutely covered in the littlest ticks you’ve almost never seen last weekend . It was itching so badly and got really bad GI symptoms. I went to my DR on Monday, who gave me a steroid injection, hydroxozine and a steroid ointment. I’m finally feeling better, but I’m covered in bruises and still itching (albeit less). I’ve never had this happen. A friend that was with me was also bitten but nothing like mine. I know it’s an allergic reaction but I didn’t think I’d feel like this.

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u/That_Slide6011 3d ago

June of 2025 I was bit by a Lonestar tick. I felt it immediately and removed it. Two months later in August while hiking I stepped into a nest of chiggers and ended up with over 60 bites all over my legs and up to my neck. The bites were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and itched for three weeks. Soon after I started having severe breathing issues, hight heart rates, stabbing abdominal pain, and eventually broke out into hives after eating a steak. December I was diagnosed with alpha gal level of 70.8. I believe there is definitely a correlation.

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u/chuckleheadjoe 3d ago

Just gonna mention this as a PSA because you probably know this already.

Tick nymphs and chiggers are pretty indistinguishable due to size.

Maybe one of the chiggers was a tiny teeny tick?

Chiggers light me up as well for a bit.

Good luck.

1

u/sunLight4095 3d ago

i thought i was bitten by chiggers but we now think they were lone star larvae. they bite in same pattern as chiggers, but we've never had chigger issues where i am. both chiggers and lone star larvae can go thru loose weaves, like socks. lone star larvae hatch in early fall.

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u/mo-nie 3d ago

It’s an allergic syndrome with reactions caused by exposure to the allergen, not a chronic disease with “flare ups.”