Anyone else on an elimination diet (Fed up or RPAH?)

[scarlettsmom]

Wow. That is really interesting about the cooking/freshness stuff.

It really is, and also the information about the skin.  When I was on my ED I remember sometimes I had the foods in different forms and would see a reaction and I really had no idea why - I'm wondering if it was in correlation to the freshness/way it was cooked/not cooked, peeled, etc.  Everything I ate was organic, but I never even heard about salicylates - this is SO fascinating.  Thank you so much for sharing this information and your journeys.

...and  to the dr who offered you a grilled cheese!  I know many many medical professionals don't believe that the proteins through breast milk causes issues, which is so frustrating.  Like you ladies I had to make a decision and trust myself and go with it for my LOs sake.  EVERYone thought I was nuts too, but that's ok, nothing can get in the way of a mama bear's instinct!   

Gypsymom - quick question about the rice milk - are you making it yourself or buying it?  The only reason I ask is that different brands have different preservatives in them.  I know you are SO restricted right now, but would hate for all your hard work to be undone because of the rice milk you're drinking!  On another note - WOOOHOOO that S's diapers are looking better and is doing well.   

[Gypsymom]

Gypsymom - quick question about the rice milk - are you making it yourself or buying it?  The only reason I ask is that different brands have different preservatives in them.  I know you are SO restricted right now, but would hate for all your hard work to be undone because of the rice milk you're drinking!  On another note - WOOOHOOO that S's diapers are looking better and is doing well.   

Unfortunately, I don't have time to make it, so I'm using a commercial product that has been recommended to me by a few different sources. It's called Rice Dream (I'm in Canada). Here are the ingredients:

Water, white rice, brown rice, safflower oil and/or sunflower oil and/or canola oil, tricalcium phosphate, natural vanilla flavour, sea salt, vitamins and minerals (vitamin A palmitate, ergocalciferol, cyanocobalamin, riboflavin, zinc gluconate), amylase.

I'm pretty sure we are not having a reaction to it and I'm happy that it has some added fat, as that is so tough to get enough of these days. I'll drop it if need be, but since I expect to be using such a product until he is at least six months, I thought I'd try for what I could live with longterm, first. This product is fresh in the dairy case and only lasts 7-10 days once opened (they do make a shelf stable one but I haven't tried it).

I would say that these last few days have been his best in a long while. Eczema is almost totally gone and every poop has been *bright* yellow - still a little mucousy and no seeds yet, but definitely really quite nice  Reflux is down too - hurray, although getting some happy spitting after feeds (I think he is hitting his 12wk GS and eating like mad).

[Gypsymom]

If you PM your address I will send you a copy of the booklet that goes with friendly food.  It will take a 12 days or so to get to the US from here though!  'Friendly food' is the cookbook, the booklet has shopping lists food charts, menu plans and eating guide basically tell you how to do the diet, the cookbook is supporting document.   Smiley

That would be grand. Shall do so directly. Also, would you like a copy of my allergen chart for comparison? I can scan it as it's only one page (done by a PhD/RD who specializes in Allergies).

Green beans are "low" in everything.

Thanks for the tip, although they are moderate for allergies. I was planning to try something new today since we seem to be stable... I hate to do it but even a couple of other foods would make my upcoming travel less daunting. I can't decide whether to try something that would really help, like eggs (but super allergenic) or bananas - or something less likely to offend, but not as nutritious or readily available, like asparagus or rhubarb. Thoughts?

[EloysH]

just quickly, banannas and asparagus are both considered moderate for amines and sals.   I am allowed to eat them, yeah!   same for sweet potato.   Will have to look up rubharb.

[Gypsymom]

Will have to look up rubharb.

According to this site, it's low but I'd need quite a bit of sugar and I've been keeping that to a minimum.

 http://www.lupuswa.com.au/aboutLupus/complementaryTherapies.html  (scroll down to the salicyclates chart)

Thought this bit was interesting... "Overall, most fruits, especially berries and dried fruits, contain high levels of salicylates. As a general guide, fruits with a less sharp flavour such as pears, pawpaw and mango are often lower in salicylates compared to those with a sharp flavour such as oranges, berries and pineapples.
Salicylate content is often contained in the peel of fruit and vegetables. Herbs and spices contain extremely high levels of salicylates, as do many brands of coffee."

It's all a bit confusing as some things are low sals, but high allergenic, etc.

[EloysH]

I'd like to see your chart...   on allergenic.... this diet is supposed to cover allergenic too

[EloysH]

It really is, and also the information about the skin.  When I was on my ED I remember sometimes I had the foods in different forms and would see a reaction and I really had no idea why - I'm wondering if it was in correlation to the freshness/way it was cooked/not cooked, peeled, etc.

I know,  fascinating isn't it!  The cooking stuff gets more complex -  the amines are really hard to avoid, for cooking meats, they can't be charred or borwned too much, or slow cooked either all of these create too much flavour and hence amines,  and you can't even eat the yummy juice that comes out of the cooked meats!   I'm really trying with amines as my LO's last really bad reaction came after I ate a slow cooked lamb shanks a few days in a row  then a porkbelly for dinner one night,  (pork is also natrually high in amines, then + the cooking method)  at the time I blamed garlic and salicylates, but looking back I wonder if it was amines.       I am hoping to do amines for my first food challenge in two weeks, - the count down is on.  Then maybe I can stop this cooking nonsense and go back to having yummy BBQ'd meats that are charred and yummy & crispy and burnt  

It's all a bit confusing as some things are low sals, but high allergenic,

I find that confusing too...how does that work?  I am hoping that LO only has a mild salicylate intolerance as they are soooo hard to avoid...  My DH is pretty much allergic to tropcial fruits so don't I think we have much chance it that dept.  Anyway, time will tell!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait.

[EloysH]

shannon can you look at Kirrys post on this board and look up pumpkin in your allergy list?

[Gypsymom]

I am hoping that LO only has a mild salicylate intolerance as they are soooo hard to avoid...  My DH is pretty much allergic to tropcial fruits so don't I think we have much chance it that dept.  Anyway, time will tell!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait.

I know! It seems like all the healthy foods (ie. produce) are problematic. I am excited for you to begin your challenges. I hope this crazy business isn't taking years off our lives, but I know I will never take for granted again what a blessing it is to eat freely.

[EloysH]

I was thinking the same sentiments today Shannon,  its my Birthday today and I gave up on the idea of a nice cake or meal out,  I just thoughy "this is the last birthday of self sacrafice, next one will be about me 100%  no bf'ing, no pregnancy, no ED!"   I did feel a pang when my sister sent me roses, they turned up with 3 Lindt chocolates  , I dutifully put them in the fridge to use for Ds1 treats.

Today I did feel a little annoyed too, Ds2's reflux flared, poos ok though.  He was clearly in pain today    Anywasy, will keep an eye on it, all LO's have bad days even on a perfect ED.  I really shouldn't even bother mentioning it until I get a run of bad days,  What about you... do you think the same, or do you worry/analyse/ about foods/causes after one bad day?

On a more sombre note, we might have to delay the first food challenge.  Ds2 vaccinations are on Tuesday, adn I need to wait till all reactions/symptoms settle before starting.  Last vaccs were problematic, it took 6 days to get over green mucus poos unsettledness etc  It seems my little man has a very sensitive GI.   You'd never know by looking at him, most of the time he is a happy chappy.

 

[Edesanja]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Eloise!!! Sorry you can't celebrate with food , but yip, next year you can go all out! Hope you still had a nice day with treats in other ways!

[Gypsymom]

its my Birthday today

Sending so many happy thoughts your way, my dear! Your longterm perspective is fab.

[Gypsymom]

I really shouldn't even bother mentioning it until I get a run of bad days,  What about you... do you think the same, or do you worry/analyse/ about foods/causes after one bad day?

I'm even worse than you. As soon as I get a bad stretch, could be even less than a day (or the eczema flares a little) I immediately look at my food log and try to figure out something else to drop. At this point, *I* am starting to NW due to hunger! Poops are green here again

[EloysH]

thanks luvs!

Oh dear, Shannon, green poop. how discouraging.   

On another note, I can't get it out of my head, I think Kai might have a mild case of tongue tie - after reading on the net how to diagnose it and it makes sense for so many things - short feeds,even though i am stretching him, NW'ing for extra feeds instead, doesn't take a dummy well, tongue doesn't seem to form a cup shape around my finger, doesn' make a point - is rounded.  If he does - how did we get this far?  Sigh.  Just another thing to add to the mix, like I don;t have enough on my plate with this diet already.     So I of to the docs as soon as we can get in, and off to see a specialist I think.  So many docs don;t recognise tongue tie, I would have to be sure to get a specialist oppinion esp if its a mild case.

[Gypsymom]

I think the green poop came from a soup an elderly friend made me. She said it was just homemade stock, salt, chicken, and rice noodles, but there must have been something else (frankly, I was thinking it tasted a little too good to be safe). Sweet potato, at least the orange kind is also suspect right now. Sigh. I'm happy that some others on the BC are getting good results with minimal eliminations, but it's still a bit discouraging when I've cut out almost everything and still can't get there 

Shannon,   dietician said not to get hungry, and to eat protein with every meal and keep snacking.

Hmm. I am already feeling kinda grossed out by my small list of foods so eating even more of them will be tough, especially as snacks. Right now the only thing I graze on is oiled rice cakes, babyfood pears or peaches, and rice milk. I occasionally eat a little nibble of chicken at breakfast or snack time but I can hardly stand to do that - I try to pretend it's a vitamin.

Rant... how can my thighs be still so plump and other bits of me have started to look a bit gaunt!? 

So many docs don;t recognise tongue tie, I would have to be sure to get a specialist oppinion esp if its a mild case.

Wouldn't that just be the limit to find that out now! I guess the good thing is that it's a pretty easy fix if it is?

Enduring severe eye-rolling over here and a few point blank questions about why we're not doing HAF with extended family in town. I try to just say EBF is our best chance for S's allergies not being permanent. I realized something a bit funny about it with them here though - not eating all the food is actually easier than having to shop for and prepare foods I can't eat.