Teen With Solid Food Allergy On Why He's 'Blessed' Despite His Life-Threatening Condition

Alex Visker is severely allergic to solid food which resulted in him nearly starving to death. But despite his life-threatening condition he says he is still "blessed" to be able to live his life.

And we could all learn a thing or two from him.

For the 19-year-old, one bite of solid food can cause him to experience extreme headaches, bone and muscle aches, stomach convulsions, brain fog and anaphylaxis.

He is also allergic to environmental elements such as perfumes, paints, car filters, freshly cut grass, latex and car fumes.

Alex Visker

The 19-year-old stopped eating solid foods in 2013, and has relied on a feeding tube ever since. At one point Alex, who is 6ft 2in, weighed just 155lbs (11 stone).

Alex has approached dozens of doctors and specialists who have been unable to pinpoint his illness - leaving him still undiagnosed.

The teen, who is from Lehi in Utah, said: "I got to a point where I was just basically starving myself to death because food made me hurt and feel so sick.

"If I inhale certain perfumes I get what’s called brain fog which is literally the equivalent of not sleeping for like two to three days and not being able to think. If I eat tomatoes I actually get a high temperature.

"It’s changed a lot of things for me - I’ve had to rethink how I do a lot of things to make it work for me."

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Alex has experienced health problems his entire life, which began with a common peanut allergy.

His mother Jodie Visker, 45, said: "From the time he was really young he had a lot of symptoms. He had really bad headaches, so bad we had an MRI done when he was five.

"He’s had such a wide variety of symptoms it’s one of the reasons why it was so difficult to pinpoint what was happening to him.

"It’s heartbreaking. It’s been so hard to watch - as a parent you want to fix it, you want to take it away and find answers.

"We have had many doctors who didn’t have a clue what it was - they would throw up their hands and say ‘we don’t know how to help you'.

"People don’t believe you - teachers, doctors, neighbours - people just think you’re crazy or making it up."

Alex has three brothers Brady, Christian and Jamie who have grown up watching him suffer from the debilitating illness.

Brady Visker, 21, said: "I think the biggest memory of Alex was just complaining that he had a headache or being in bed all the time.

"I thought he was complaining to get out of doing stuff. It makes me feel kind of guilty as I look back.

"My mom came to me one day and made a comment that he was literally starving himself to death, he was literally dying, that just hit me that this was a serious problem."

Alex in hospital

Most recently, under the care of Dr Gleich, Alex has received some relief after being prescribed Xolair, a mast cell stabiliser injection he gets twice a month.

Alex said: "It overall makes me feel better - it’s mainly used to treat asthma but with my allergies it seems to help a lot.

"It helps me get out of bed and not go down into anaphylaxis."

Because eating solid food makes him severely ill, he gets his nutrients from a protein-free formula through a feeding tube that he utilises every day around meal times.

"I sit down at the diner table with my family and I have my tube out and I put food in and join in conversations," said Alex.

"I’ve never wanted my family to feel bad about me not being able to eat food."

The teen's rare illness costs his family $7,000 (£4,500) every month for the medications and formulas.

The illness has also caused Alex to miss more than 300 days of school in two years. Additionally, he quit playing the saxophone and clarinet because he was allergic to the reeds.

But despite all of the hardship, he has managed to graduate from high school with high grades and plans to further his education from home.

"When things are taken from you you realise how blessed you are to be able to do certain things," explained Alex.

"I am grateful that I have what I have and it’s a whole new perspective. My hope is that I can do computer programming, get a job from home, and one day start a family."

To help Alex's family with medical costs, donate here.

Best And Worst Foods For Allergies

Best: Fish(01 of07)

In some studies, omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to lower the risk of developing allergies and to reduce symptoms. Look for them in fatty fish like salmon, as well as in nuts. The anti-inflammatory properties of those omega 3s is likely to thank for that allergy relief.The downside is that it takes quite a bit of omega 3 fatty acids to see even minimal benefit says Neil L. Kao, M.D., an allergist and clinical immunologist in practice in South Carolina.However, in cultures where people eat more fish and less meat all throughout their lives, overall asthma and allergy responses are less frequent, says Bielory. But "it's a whole culture," he points out, not the difference between having a tuna sandwich for lunch or a burger. (credit:Flickr:stevendepolo)

Best: Apples(02 of07)

An apple a day doesn't exactly keep the pollen allergy away, but a powerful combo of compounds found in apples might help at least a little. Getting your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C mayprotect against both allergies and asthma, WebMD reports. And the antioxidant quercetin, found in the skin of apples (as well as in onions and tomatoes), has been linked with better lung function.Other good vitamin C sources include oranges, of course, but also more surprising picks like red peppers, strawberries and tomatoes, all of which contain a number of other nutrients essential to healthy living beyond simply allergy relief, says Bielory. (credit:Flickr:slightly everything)

Best: Red Grapes(03 of07)

The famed resveratrol, the antioxidant in the skin of red grapes that gives red wine its good name, has anti-inflammatory powers that might reduce allergy symptoms, says Kao.In a 2007 study of children in Crete who follow a traditional Mediterranean diet, daily fruit intake including grapes, oranges, apples and tomatoes was linked with less frequent wheezing and nasal allergy symptoms, Time.com reported. (credit:Flickr:eflon)

Best: Warm Liquids(04 of07)

If your allergies present themselves as congestion or a mucus-y cough (sorry), consider turning to one of the tried-and-true sips to ease cold symptoms: a steamy drink. Warm liquids, whether it's hot tea or chicken soup, may help thin out mucus to ease congestion. Not to mention, it'll help you stay hydrated. Not in the mood for soup? Inhaling in a steam shower can do the trick, too, says Bielory. (credit:Flickr:jseliger1)

Worst: Celery(05 of07)

Because some of the most common spring allergy triggers come from the same families of plants as various foods, certain fruits and veggies can cause what's called Oral Allergy Syndrome. Rather than sniffling or sneezing, these foods are likely to cause an itchy mouth or throat, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)."Corn is a grass, wheat is a grass, rice is a grass," says Bielory, "so if you're allergic to grass you can have a cross-reactivity to foods." Celery, peaches, tomatoes and melons might cause problems for people allergic to grasses, according to the AAAAI, and bananas, cucumbers, melons and zucchini can trigger symptoms in people with ragweed allergies. Typically, allergists will go over lists of families of plants with patients so you'll know what to avoid at the grocery store, says Bielory. (credit:Flickr:TheDeliciousLife)

Worst: Spicy Foods(06 of07)

Ever bit into a spicy dish and felt it all the way in your sinuses?Capsaicin, the compound that gives hot peppers their kick, really does trigger allergy-like symptoms. You nose might run, your eyes could water, you may even sneeze, says Kao.These reactions occur via a different pathway than true allergies, says Bielory. But if spicy foods mimic your already bothersome symptoms, you might want to skip the jalapeños until you're in the clear. (credit:Getty Images)

Worst: Alcohol(07 of07)

Ever find your nose runny or stopped up after a drink or two? Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, the same process that gives your cheeks that rosy flush, and might make allergy sniffles feel worse.The effect changes from person to person says Kao, but if you're already feeling sneezy before happy hour, it might be a good idea to take it easy, since having allergies may increase your likelihood for alcohol-induced sniffles, according to a 2005 study.There's also some naturally-occurring histamine in alcohol, made during the fermentation process. Depending on how your body processes it, this could also lead to more allergy-like symptoms after drinking, the New York Times reported. (credit:Getty Images)

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