An Experiment in SAAT - My Alpha-Gal Story - Part 1

Eight years ago, my life changed in an instant. At 42, with no prior food sensitivities, I suddenly developed a severe allergy to mammal meat. The first episode blindsided me at Whole Foods.

I was training for a half marathon and had just finished a nine-mile run with a friend. We met our husbands for lunch at the brasserie, and I ordered a burger—something I’d eaten countless times before. Halfway through, my stomach cramped up violently, and I felt an intense wave of heat. I turned to my husband and told him, "I don’t feel good."

That’s the last thing I remember before waking up to paramedics hovering over me, asking my name and the date. My blood pressure had plummeted, and I had passed out for several minutes. My friend's husband thought I was dying.

Terrifying as it was, we assumed it was a fluke—maybe I had eaten something off or was coming down with something. I moved on, chalking it up to bad luck.

Weeks later, on marathon day, it happened again. After the race, the same excruciating stomach cramps hit, and once again, I passed out. This time, I was rushed to the ER by ambulance. They stabilized me, gave me fluids, and instructed me to follow up with my primary doctor.

My doctor ordered every imaginable test to rule out anything life-threatening—an MRI for brain tumors, epilepsy screenings, an echocardiogram to check my heart valves. Everything looked normal. His advice? "Start a journal. Track your symptoms and see if you notice a pattern." That was it. Good luck.

Thankfully, I was friends with a doctor at my gym who had a more holistic approach to health. When I told her what was happening, she offered to help. She ran extensive blood tests, uncovering imbalances my traditional annual physical had never detected. She put me on supplements and recommended an elimination diet—a grueling but eye-opening process.

Through strict food tracking, I pinpointed my reaction to beef. When I reintroduced it after a period of elimination, I felt like I had the flu—fatigue, aching joints, total exhaustion. At first, I thought I was simply sick, but when the symptoms returned after another exposure, I knew something was seriously wrong.

I told my doctor, and she began researching possible explanations. That’s when we landed on alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy triggered by a tick bite that makes people allergic to mammal meat and related products. Testing confirmed I had high levels of the antigen, though not high enough for an official diagnosis. And I couldn’t recall ever being bitten by a tick.

Regardless, I avoided beef and pork entirely, assuming all mammal meat might be problematic.

For five years, I managed just fine—until I didn’t. Out of nowhere, severe stomach issues returned. Another elimination diet revealed gluten, corn, dairy, and peanuts were now causing reactions too. With so many foods off-limits, eating became stressful and isolating. I developed an unhealthy relationship with food—fearful of it, resentful of it.

On top of the physical challenges, there was the emotional toll of constant questions and unsolicited advice. Well-meaning coworkers and friends asked what I could eat, offered suggestions, scrutinized my plate. I didn’t have answers, and their concern—while kind—only made me feel more alone.

Eventually, I got my symptoms under control and started low-dose allergy therapy (LDA)—a year-long treatment that was grueling but worthwhile. It helped me tolerate peanuts and corn again, though dairy, meat, and gluten still weren’t ideal.

Then, another breakthrough came when my doctor mentioned a patient who had seen an acupuncturist in Tennessee for SAAT (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment)—a therapy specifically used for alpha-gal syndrome.

I had heard of SAAT but hadn’t known where to find a practitioner. I called Dr. Jes at AcuChatt, and they got me in within the month. Having grown up with acupuncture, I believed in its potential—but I was only 10% hopeful that this treatment would work for me. Dr. Jes, however, was confident.

At that point, what did I have to lose?

I went all in.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I share what unfolded next.