Can you help us solve this mystery?

[PhrenchMama]

My daughter of fifteen months is still not sleeping through the night, and has an extremely itchy rash on the inside of her elbows, back of her neck, ankles, and bottom. I am aware that she is allergic (not intolerant) to eggs.

We have been to a naturopathic doctor who suspected food allergies/intolerances. I have been tested and we are currently both off of all gluten, dairy, egg, yeast, processed sugar as well as a myriad of other things. I've been feeling ALOT better, but my daughter continues to have issues. She mostly eats rice cereal, sweet potatoes, apples, prunes, occasionally hempmilk, carrots, and spinach. She has been breastfed since the day she was born.

Any thoughts, intuitions or ideas as to what this could be? I can't stand to see her so uncomfortable, and it's so frustrating not seeing any results after all the dietary changes we've made. Plus I could really use a good night's rest!

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks so much!

[mamafish9]

I'd say most likely is that she is still reacting to something one or both of you are eating. Soy and corn would be the other two most likely intolerances. Supplements can be sources of hidden dairy, soy, and corn, and sometimes gluten (if you post a link to what you are on, the mamas here are good at spotting that stuff!).

Did she have this rash before she started eating solid foods, or was it there when she was still exclusively breastfeeding?

[kjbrown92]

I'd say soy or corn too, because they're big ones. Are you keeping a food journal? That often helps figuring out good days/bad days.

[Koalamom]

Also while you are waiting to figure it out, adding in some omega 3's can helps reduce inflammation of the rashes- making it easier to deal with.

[karika]

When we first went GFCFSF here we all experienced some itchy rash. It went away quickly. I suspected yeast and treated for it. I use GSE in OJ, but my dd1 is almost 7 yo. If dd1 gets any amount of dairy, she will get a rash patch on her somewhere. I had an itchy rash on the tops of my feet, which showed up after I trialed canola oil again (in our Earth's Balance soy free spread) and went away again when I stopped canola again. I agree there is still something working out of her system. How long ago did you stop the dairy and soy? It may be just the last bits working their way out. Or it could be yeast. A probiotic would be safe for any age IMO. I would look for a vegan one, then check for gluten. I hear Kirkman Labs has some that are good. I would also avoid any with the strep strains in them. The colonizing bacteria would crowd out the yeast if it is an imbalance. I like this woman's site for good real information. This is the yeast and bacteria page http://www.danasview.net/yeast.htm I hear epsom salt baths are good too. Make sure you get pharmaceutical grade to avoid contaminants like mercury.

[PhrenchMama]

thank you all for the replies! we have been keeping a food journal of her very limited diet. i also suspected corn, so neither of us are eating that. soy i only do very occasionally; although i have to wonder if it's in more than i'm imagining. she is on a probiotic already, but i would definitely agree that i should up the omega 3s. i've checked my supplements very carefully for any dairy, gluten, soy, or corn, and none of them contain any of that.

we go back to the doctor next week, and i'm really wanting to get my daughter tested for yeast or bad bacteria issues. thanks karika, for the site regarding many of those issues.

thank you to all who replied. i'll keep you posted on any new developments.

with gratitude!
-s.

[mamafish9]

Originally Posted by PhrenchMama

thank you all for the replies! we have been keeping a food journal of her very limited diet. i also suspected corn, so neither of us are eating that. soy i only do very occasionally; although i have to wonder if it's in more than i'm imagining. she is on a probiotic already, but i would definitely agree that i should up the omega 3s. i've checked my supplements very carefully for any dairy, gluten, soy, or corn, and none of them contain any of that.

Are you journaling your diet?

Also, even supps that say dairy/corn/soy free, etc - many of them have ingredients derived from those foods, but they meet federal standards for parts per million - and usually they just have to be free of protein from those foods. The problem is that some intolerant people react to parts other than protein. So almost all vitamin C is derived from corn, for example, and E from soy - and there are people on this forum that react to both.

What probiotic is your daughter on - does it have FOS or inulin in it? A lot of kids react badly to that as well.

Can you give us a little more history - has she always had this rash, or did it occur over time? How does it relate to when she started food? Did taking out the foods you have removed have any noticeable effects on her?