Warning: Lame Thread Ahead

[timvp]

I hesitate to even post this because it's so lame. I question my manhood just typing this out. But I need some ST advice.

In the past seven or so years I've been sick five times. I never have a cold or allergies or sniffles or anything except those five times. But those five times I've gotten deathly sick. Fever, body ache, headache, can't eat, can't sleep ... basically it feels like I'm dying for about 24 hours. Then it slowly goes away over the next few days. I don't go to doctors so I just lay in cold water until it goes away.

The third and fourth times I got sick it was after eating at PF Chang's. The third time I was so sick that I had to literally get up and leave before the entree was served. The fourth time was also at PF Chang's while I ordered the same food to figure out what it was that got me sick. As I reconstructed my prior visit, I noticed that it was that sauce tail thing the servers whip together in front of you that got me sick. I never use that sauce except for those two times. So yeah, that fourth time I realized what it was that got me sick too late and I ended up getting sick again.

Both of those incidents happened a couple years ago. Fast forward to a few days ago and I'm at a restaurant eating sweet and sour chicken and two bites into it I start feeling really sick so I stop eating it. Luckily this time (illness #5) wasn't too bad, comparatively speaking. I haven't slept too much and I have bad body aches but it's not like the previous four times where I'm thinking to myself that dying doesn't seem like a bad alternative. But considering I only took two bites of the damn food, it's still pretty drastic.

Now, realizing the food pattern and realizing it wasn't just some weird oriental herb in that PF Chang's sauce, I investigate those first two times I was sick. I figure out the dates of the first two times I was sick (2003 and 2005, respectively) and start digging through my debit card receipts to see if I ate out on those days. It turns out that I ate at Arby's on both days.

I've eaten Arby's once since then but I got the kind of roast beef sandwich that doesn't have that red sauce. Those two times I got sick I ate the Arby's sandwich with that red sauce.

So, to make a long and lame story short, I'm allergic to an ingredient that is in the PF Chang's sauce, a random plate of sweet and sour chicken and Arby's red sauce. Kori says the common ingredient is something chili based and she's probably right. But how the could it be in only those three things? I'm thinking maybe a red dye? I don't know.

What's also weird is that my symptoms don't really align with what the internets says about a food allergy. I feel more like I'm poisoned than I'm allergic to something. I don't have trouble breathing or the other common symptoms I read about regarding food allergies.

But now out of curiosity, I want to see if my hypothesis is right. I'm thinking driving through Arby's and getting one of those roast beef sandwiches with Arby's red sauce. If I get sick, I'll know the mystery is a step closer to being solved. My other idea is to go buy a variety of ingredients that could be shared in those three sauces and try them one by one until I get sick.

Kori is telling me just to forget it but I've come this far in this lame azz journey, might as well get to the bottom of it

So, does anyone have any idea what the shared ingredient is in Arby's red sauce, PF Chang's sauce and sweet and sour sauce? For the record, the sweet and sour sauce was more y than typical sweet and sour sauce ... and redder. And even though I'll regret it after getting sick, should I complete the mission to figure out what it is that poisons me?

[Dex]

Sounds like you got that there swine flu, son. God bless.

[angel_luv]

That is a lot a trouble to go to get sick.

Why not just avoid eating the posted above, offensive meals since, ultimately, you are going to need to abstain from them since they make you sick?

Wouldn't steering clear of y red sauces solve it for you?


Best of luck to you!

[Dr. Gonzo]

Kori is trying to kill you.

[timvp]

Sounds like you got that there swine flu, son. God bless.

lol swine flu

That is a lot a trouble to go to get sick.

Why not just avoid eating the posted above, offensive meals since, ultimately, you are going to need to abstain from them since they make you sick?

Wouldn't steering clear of y red sauces solve it for you?


Best of luck to you!

Thanks but yeah I want to figure out what exactly it is. I eat y, red things all the time in San Antonio. I'd have to move if I cut everything that might have chili sauce in it out of my diet.

I'm hoping it's red dye or something but that still wouldn't be too practical to figure out what I can't eat.

[marini martini]

Joe Chalupa's daughter has her first boyfriend, and you wanna get all the attention here???

[Dex]

http://www.rnraz.com/training/recipe...BBQ_Sauce.html

Is that the PF Chang's sauce you had?

From what I've been able to research (yes, I'm that bored at work)....

The only common elements between make-shift recipes for Arby's sauce and Sweet and Sour sauce are Worcestershire, Soy sauce, and maybe ketchup or some sort of pepper sauce (Tabasco, Cayenne, etc...). You'd probably know if you were alergic to any of these products already though, unless it's a certain type they are using.

Then again, like you said...it could be some weird factory coloring that they all add, which you'd never find on an internet recipe.

[I Love Me Some Me]

PF Changs....Arby's....sounds like you're allergic to crappy, over-priced food.


But...you should see an allergist, and they'll be able to tell you exactly what the culprit(s) is.

[mrsmaalox]

Not a food allergy but a food intolerance. Could be due to a lot of things: ingredients or just your digestive chemistry. The only thing that seems odd is the immediate reaction you had the 2nd time at PF Chang's. Might be emotional The only way to determine would be a process of elimination type thing, but without an exact listing of every ingredient in the tested foods, it's just going to tell you to avoid those foods---which you already know!

[angel_luv]

lol swine flu



Thanks but yeah I want to figure out what exactly it is. I eat y, red things all the time in San Antonio. I'd have to move if I cut everything that might have chili sauce in it out of my diet.

I'm hoping it's red dye or something but that still wouldn't be too practical to figure out what I can't eat.

You eat it all the time but you do not get sick all the time, so I don't see why/how your eating habits are suddenly going to be seriously interrupted, unless you overreact in nervousness.



Are you allergic to peanuts? Is there a peanut product in those sauces?

[peewee's lovechild]

I'm allergic to red food dye.

It sucks.

I can only eat small quan ies of flamin' hot cheetos because if I eat alot, my stomach kicks my ass and I'm up all night hoping that death will take me soon.

I also have to avoid that red velvet cake because of the red food dye.

Maybe the Arby's stuff has some food dye in it.

[peewee's lovechild]

I'm hoping it's red dye or something but that still wouldn't be too practical to figure out what I can't eat.

I didn't read this post.

You're probably right about the red dye thing.

[Dex]

http://www.foodclassics.com/re3350/recipes.php

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/ccaar/arbys-sauce.html

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/sauc...eetsourveg.htm

I've solved it.

timvp is allergic to white vinegar. Racist.

[timvp]

http://www.rnraz.com/training/recipe...BBQ_Sauce.html

Is that the PF Chang's sauce you had?

From what I've been able to research (yes, I'm that bored at work)....

The only common elements between make-shift recipes for Arby's sauce and Sweet and Sour sauce are Worcestershire, Soy sauce, and maybe ketchup or some sort of pepper sauce (Tabasco, Cayenne, etc...). You'd probably know if you were alergic to any of these products already though, unless it's a certain type they are using.

Then again, like you said...it could be some weird factory coloring that they all add, which you'd never find on an internet recipe.

I don't think that's the right sauce. I don't know the name of it ... it's that sauce that they make at your table when you get there.

PF Changs....Arby's....sounds like you're allergic to crappy, over-priced food.

But...you should see an allergist, and they'll be able to tell you exactly what the culprit(s) is.

I don't go to doctors so I have to figure this one out on my own.

You eat it all the time but you do not get sick all the time, so I don't see why/how your eating habits are suddenly going to be seriously interrupted, unless you overreact in nervousness.

Are you allergic to peanuts? Is there a peanut product in those sauces?

I've avoided that PF Chang's sauce since then and I haven't eaten the Arby's sauce since I've gotten sick. I don't think it's a "sometimes" thing. I just think I rarely eat whatever it is that's getting me sick.

[timvp]

Not a food allergy but a food intolerance. Could be due to a lot of things: ingredients or just your digestive chemistry. The only thing that seems odd is the immediate reaction you had the 2nd time at PF Chang's. Might be emotional The only way to determine would be a process of elimination type thing, but without an exact listing of every ingredient in the tested foods, it's just going to tell you to avoid those foods---which you already know!

Hmmm .. sounds like a food intolerance. Thanks

And they were all immediate. I got sick right away in each of the five incidents ... four of which were unplanned. I literally start feeling sick within seconds.

[angel_luv]

http://www.foodclassics.com/re3350/recipes.php

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/ccaar/arbys-sauce.html

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/sauc...eetsourveg.htm

I've solved it.

timvp is allergic to white vinegar. Racist.

[timvp]

http://www.foodclassics.com/re3350/recipes.php

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/ccaar/arbys-sauce.html

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/sauc...eetsourveg.htm

I've solved it.

timvp is allergic to white vinegar. Racist.

Maybe it is white vinegar. I wonder what other type of food white vinegar is in. I know for sure its in at least the PF Chang's sauce and the Arby's sauce.

[SpursStalker]

I've solved it.

timvp is allergic to white vinegar. Racist.

I'd call those places and see if there is a way you can get the recipe for the items and see if there is similar ingredients. You can also go and get a allergy test done, just explain to your doctor about the items in question so he can specifically put those into the test ...

Hope you get it sorted out.

[timvp]

I'm allergic to red food dye.

It sucks.

I can only eat small quan ies of flamin' hot cheetos because if I eat alot, my stomach kicks my ass and I'm up all night hoping that death will take me soon.

I also have to avoid that red velvet cake because of the red food dye.

Maybe the Arby's stuff has some food dye in it.

Hmmmm ... yeah red dye made the most sense to me because all three sauces are red. What else is that red dye in? I don't eat cheetos or that type of cake.

[Kori Ellis]

[/lame thread]

[peewee's lovechild]

Hmmmm ... yeah red dye made the most sense to me because all three sauces are red. What else is that red dye in? I don't eat cheetos or that type of cake.

Red M&Ms, but you have to eat a loads of those.

Have you looked into MSG?

[balli]

I have no idea, but interestingly enough I've eaten at PF Changs only once and I got a mild stomache ache. I think I had some scallops, which was dumb to begin with. I never eat at Arby's because about half the times I have, I've gotten a mild stomach ache. You might be on to something. Then again, it might be as suggested above; an allergic reaction to generally ty food.

[balli]

They still make Code Red Mt. Dew?

[CuckingFunt]

But now out of curiosity, I want to see if my hypothesis is right. I'm thinking driving through Arby's and getting one of those roast beef sandwiches with Arby's red sauce. If I get sick, I'll know the mystery is a step closer to being solved. My other idea is to go buy a variety of ingredients that could be shared in those three sauces and try them one by one until I get sick.

Kori is telling me just to forget it but I've come this far in this lame azz journey, might as well get to the bottom of it

So, does anyone have any idea what the shared ingredient is in Arby's red sauce, PF Chang's sauce and sweet and sour sauce? For the record, the sweet and sour sauce was more y than typical sweet and sour sauce ... and redder. And even though I'll regret it after getting sick, should I complete the mission to figure out what it is that poisons me?

Or you could just go to a doctor or an allergist.

I hate going to the doctor and avoid it as much as possible, but it sounds better than restaurant hopping in an attempt to make myself sick.

[JudynTX]

@ Kori

I hope you sort out this dilemma cause PF Changs has some damn good food.