Pittsfield woman has battled Alpha Gal for years

By Editor | May 13, 2026 |

The lone star tick is causing concern in the medical world as cases of Alpha-Gal Syndrome continue to spread. The male lone star tick, left, is small, about 2-5 mm in size, reddish brown and identifiable by scattered white, iridescent or cream color spots and streaks along their outer ages. The female is more aggressive of the two and bears a lone star marking on her back. The female lone star tick is an aggressive biter and can transmit diseases such ad Alpha-Gal Syndrome. (Submitted graphic)

By BETH ZUMWALT

Although Alpha Gal is making headlines now, Alisha McAllister of Pittsfield has battled the disease for approximately three years. It wasn’t until November, 2025 that she was officially diagnosed.
“I started having symptoms about three years ago,” McAllister said.” I was so run down, I had a rash, I had hives, my stomach hurt all the time, I had diarrhea and vomititing – flu like symptoms.”
McAllister, a nurse., said she first consulted her allergist and the allergist even mentioned Alpha Gal, but,didn’t test for it. It wasn’t until McAllister went to work and started talking to a doctor on staff that the pieces came together.
“Turns out she had been doing research on Alpha-Gal because a family member had recently been diagnosed with it,” McAllister said. “She suggested we do a test and sure enough, my levels were high.”
Since then, McAllister has had follow a super-restrictive diet. Red meat or the meat of any mammal, dairy products, some medicines, cooking oil, mixes all are prohibited. Non-food products such as shampoos, soaps, body lotions also have to be animal-product free.
“I even have to double check the labels on any chap-stick I use,” she said. My make-up, anything that touches my skin.”
McAllister said eating out is an issue, even though some restaurants have options for her.
“But if they cook my food on a grill or in a smoker where beef or pork as been cooked, event that small amount of cross contamination, can send me into anaphylasis. I have to carry an Epi-Pen.
If McAllister accidentally ingests something not on her diet, she becomes violently ill within 20 minutes of ingesting the food.
McAllister said Alpha-Gal is not currently curable, but, in some cases does run its course in two to three years.
“They don’t think mine will because I went so long before being diagnosed,” she said. “I will still get tested every year and I try to avoid ticks.”
But, being an avid gardener, dog lover and living in a rural area, that is easier said than done.
“I am an outdoor person and so are my husband and kids. Ticks are just a part of summer,” she said. “I picked one off our dog two weeks ago and another last week. They are in this area and they do carry the disease.”
While McAllister cans a lot of her own food and not just for the disease, she said food shopping when she has to go is a chore.
“You have to read every label, all the way through,” she said. “My daughter hates to go with me, because it takes me at least an hour or more to get through the store and items are hard to find.”
McAllister said she has an app on her phone and she can scan a label on a can, box or jar.
“Three boxes show up and if even one of those is checked,” I can’t have the item,” she said.
McAllister said there is a lot of research going on into Alpha-Gal and one study is being done in St. Louis. She has also heard a chiropractor using acupuncture can help alleviate the symptoms.