I found taking on the salicylates challenge too much at this point as i'm currently coming off my PND medication. However, the irony of that is that what is supposed to be a stressful uncomfortable time (as anyone who's come off these types of meds will understand) has not been! I have hardly even noticed the reduction in my medication and i am sure it is due to the food changes i have made which are:
Avoiding almost all the food chemicals listed in the book (colours, preservatives, antioxidents etc), especially Annatto which i've decided is evil. I particularly noticed it in the yoghurt i buy my boys, and DS1 gets hypo and irate afterwards. I am so glad i linked this. For myself i have almost completely cut out dairy. I only have about 200ml either in coffee or cereal, and for me thats been the hugest change... i am no longer bloated, bowel habits have changed dramatically, and when on one day i did have several serves of dairy i found myself moody and with toilet urgency! So i suspect i might be intolerant to anything more than tiny amounts. I have also cut out sweets & snacky foods instead eating almonds or fruit.
So this has been a great experience. I'm not sure when i'll get the energy to take on the salicylate challenge, but for now the benefits have been really good so i'll be sticking with it.
Tan, that is great!!!! You know, I found myself nodding all the way through your post LOL. So much of that rings true for me. I have been tested, only because DS was, and found that I am dairy, soy and nut intolerant. I do notice a big change in my levels of tiredness, grumpiness, and bowel habits when I have too much of those things, particularly dairy. You might find that eliminating dairy completely (or almost completely) will really help. Or you might find that the 200ml is something your body can handle. It's really just trial and error, as you know . Oh, and if you are dairy intolerant, there is every chance your boys are too. (Did you know that there are links between babies having reflux and being dairy intolerant?).
The salicylates challenge is massive, but I wouldn't be too worried about doing for now if I were you. It may not even be a problem for you. And you can spend time now looking carefully at the dairy thing, and additives, without being confused about what it causing what.
I am so, so glad to hear how happy you sound with all of this Tan, and really relieved for you that coming off your meds is going well. It's so good to read . You're a champ!
Yep Janie I am so sure Dairy is a culprit for many things here. I'm paying particular attention to it alone now and realised that not long after my morning coffee, i get the queasy tummy and bowel urgency (sorry tmi). When i was drinking upwards of a litre a day i was like this all day long, and i thought that was normal because i've been like that my whole life. I'm wanting to move now to cutting out milk as a beverage for myself completely and see how i go. Because the funny thing is that since cutting down the amount of coffee i drink, i'm not even craving coffee anymore either, i almost couldn't be bothered making it this morning... interesting.
As for the reflux, both my boys had severe reflux, DS1 we just plodded along with it and he responded to medication and grew out of it relatively soon. But DS2 we had so many issues, (being breastfed i did elminate dairy and did see improvement). We had him tested for dairy allergy (via a stool sample) but it came back normal, which was bizzarre because when i wasn't eating dairy and he was bf he was better. But i think intolerance is a separate issue and my paed never discussed it.... at the time i was also suffering PND so i probably didn't connect the dots either.
Gradually i'll look in to dairy for the boys because i know when DS1 has a milo (which is actually about 1/4 tsp of nesquick with 200ml of milk - the only way i can get him to drink milk) he gets very "roudy" afterwards, and somewhat definant. Yesterday i noticed it particularly because i have been taking note of what he consumes and how he is afterwards. At first i thought it must be the nesquick so i through that in the bin, but now i'm wondering if its the milk? We have aktivite as well which from the nutritional panel seems healthier, so through trial and error i guess it will be a long process of seeing what happens.
Anyway tomorrow will be our first shop scrutinising labels, and i'll feel a lot better once i know we have healthier things in the house!
I SO hear you on the "I've been like this my whole life so didn't realise it wasn't normal"!!! That's exactly how I felt when I discovered what a difference going without dairy made!
Allergy and intolerance are two different things. TBH, you won't have much luck with striaght HCPs getting the kids tested for for a cows milk protein intolerance. In fact they will likely scoff at you. I had to find a naturopath who was experienced in the area (he was recommended by a friend). I initially went just for DS, but he sent us both off for blood tests as he (and I) suspected I had an issue too.
As for looking for replacements, be VERY wary of soy. As I mentioned earlier, both DS and I are intolerant to soy protein as well, in fact I think it's DS's biggest trigger. Many people who can't handle cow's milk have similar issues with soy. There are other, safer, milk replacements out there.
Good luck with your first shop! You will find that it will take awhile, but you do get better, and faster at it with practice!
ETA I also referred an IRL friend who is a BBer to the same naturopath for similar issues, I will see if she's happy to post her experiences in this thread
After seeing the amazing results Janie was having, i booked my daughters into the same natropath.
The igG blood test is done at a pathology lab. It is a new blood test in Australia, has only been around for a little while. Although they have been able to test for allergies for a long time, they havn't been able to test for sensitivities. If you do a search for ARL pathology and igG you'll find a little info. I am of a scientific mind and like definitive answers so i didn't really have the drive or patience for an elimination diet. I liked the fact i got an answer from the blood test.
Turns out both my daughter and i have sensitivities. Soy and Dairy being the main culprits. Like Janie says, often a cows milk protein and soy protein intolerance go hand in hand. Since cutting these out my daughter has started doing formed poo for the first time in her little life! Not only that, she sleeps better and her general behavior is improved. Don't worry she still has 2 year old meltdowns, but generally she is better.
It is really hard to avoid soy, but for all our sake, it is soooo worth it! Perhaps you could ring ARL and see if there is a referring hcp in your area.
One thing i can tell you is that we can have A2 milk. It has a different protein in it and is often tolerated by those who can't have regular milk. We use it to make yoghurt with a goats yoghurt starter. We also have goat and sheep cheese instead or dairy and it is great. Important to noe though, not successful for everyone. I know Janie still can't have A2. All safeway and coles sell them, as do some independent stores.
(fak now) Non dairy alternatives- goat, sheep products. rice milk.
There is a great on line store called allergyblock where you can shop by ingredients you DONT want. Very handy!
Anyway, that's my story and happy to answer any questions i can!
F, that is a great idea to contact ARL and see if that's a way of finding a referring practioner!!!! Why didn't I think of that? Knew I asked you to pop in here for a reason .
WHY oh WHY haven't I heard of allergyblock??? Off to check it out now, thanks chick
ETA I just checked out ARL's website, and surprise surprise, they have a practitioner directory. I think there were 5 to choose from in WA Tan (I think that's where you are???). If you're interested
Last edited by Janie; August 28th, 2009 at 04:42 PM.
Faguni thank you SO SO much! Do you know how i'd go about accessing that kind of testing in WA? I was going to ask about the A2 milk also as i am wanting to get DS2 off formula but not keen on transitioning to regular milk. DS2 was on oat milk while i was pregnant and had a low BM supply and seemed fine on that. Can you elaborate on the benefits you've had with A2 milk if you get a chance? ie, any mental or physical changes? also would you think that is superior to something like rice or oat? we went with oat milk because it had less carbs than rice milk.
Ta for the allergy block info, off to have a look.
When bf i cut out dairy and replaced with soy, he was better but probably not optimal. And honestly i really don't like the taste of soy products.
I too am frustrated by the time and effort of the elimination challenges, so i will see if i can locate a practitioner here, there's never much of anything here in WA (no offence) but its taken me years to find good dr's etc.
Also i've asked the mods for a sticky support thread where we could discuss failsafe, food chemical avoidance and such, as would be a great resource and very helpful for me at least.
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. Oh, and if you are dairy intolerant, there is every chance your boys are too. (Did you know that there are links between babies having reflux and being dairy intolerant?). 
. You're a champ!
Knew I asked you to pop in here for a reason 
. 
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