IgG and ALCAT test results

[beadmama]

Back in November we had Dds (28 months and still bf) IgG test done and 90% of the foods were off the chart reactive. We just got her ALCAT (50 foods) results back and some of the foods on ALCAT were in the green but on the IgG they were in the red. I know the tests measure different things so which one should I focus on more? For example sweet potato was fine on ALCAT but high on IgG.

Has it been long enough for her IgG immune response to settle down seeing as we took out the highest offenders for the last 9 months? She is celiac and we have REALLY cut down on cc issues over the last few months so I think that the cc issues might have caused some of her IgG responses to be so vast.

I also did the ALCAT on myself for 200 foods so that narrows it down even more as I can't do beef so I have been eating lamb but on the test she can do beef but not lamb! I don't want to stop breastfeeding her so it just makes it a juggling act.

We are also waiting on IgE results which should be in on Friday. When I get those I will then sit down and figure out where to start on a rotation diet. I will have more questions then

I just started her on Custom Probiotics six strain and it has been a little tense but I am going to keep going with it as I know her gut is all out of whack and it will take some time.

Thoughts, questions or advise all welcome!

[BirthKathy]

Hi there,

We did all these tests as well, and it helped us choose which foods to start from, but we still have to trial each food individually. We started with foods that tested green or 0 on all tests. I haven't made it through all of the foods yet, but I have found many foods that my son reacts to that the tests said were fine.

We intended to rotate, but didn't have enough foods to follow the rotation diet. So once we had several foods, I started to limit each food to one meal per day. And we have some that I alternate every other day. Eventually, I hope to be able to alternate or rotate more.

We are now eating some foods that were 0, and some foods that were a 1 or 2. I haven't tried anything that was a 3 or above on any test. We did trial one item that was a low on the IGE test. That was corn, and my son passed that a few weeks ago.

So, in my experience these tests are very helpful as a guide, but you will need to trial each food and pay close attention to your symptoms and food diary.

[beadmama]

Thanks Kathy for sharing. I know to go slow and we will trial each thing appropriately. It is hard to wait as I am sure you know! She is also getting her 2nd year molars which just confuses things even more

I am using these test as guides of where to start trying things as well.

[kjbrown92]

How many foods did you have IgG tested? And what were you hoping to get out of the ALCAT test - confirmation of the IgG foods? Or more foods you could try? If 90% of the foods on the IgG were bad, and some of the ALCAT foods were bad, then I agree with PP - try ones that were okay on both tests (and on your test as well, since she still can be reacting to your reactions). Luckily my kids were older when we did the tests on them (I haven't done it on myself yet) but my kids have opposing foods as well, which doesn't make meals very easy. But we have enough foods to rotate (I tested 200 foods for DD2 and 150 foods for DS). I am off the top 4 food intolerances, which I think is what's right for me. I had them IgE tested as well, but everything was negative for those. My kids each had a false negative on ALCAT, but other than that it was accurate for us. We've never had IgG testing done on them.

[beadmama]

Hi Kathy,

There were 93 foods tested on IgG.

Because the ALCAT and the IgG test different responses I was looking for more safe foods to eat. We discovered that her immune system was in a very heightened alert due to a yeast and bacterial overgrowth (caused by the celiac) but we have that taken care of now so I was thinking her IgG responses may have gone down.

I want to be able to rotate foods as I am afraid of causing more sensitivities to happen and lose even more foods. How many foods do you need to be able to rotate?

What about the foods she was not tested for on the ALCAT but on my test are okay? Should I wait and try one at a time or just add them all in, start rotating and keep a food journal again?

Seriously we are down to 5 foods and this needs to change. I suppose I can do the safe foods just on her lists for herself and I, except the ones I have a problem with, for 3 months or so and then start adding in my safe foods off of ALCAT. How does that sound.

I am even considering ignoring the IgG results at this point except for the ones I know for sure like coconut. I am waiting on the IgE to add to my spreadsheet then I will post the link if you are willing to take a look for a better idea of what I am working with at this point.

Sorry this post is so disjointed. Trying to get it typed before the house wakes up!

[kjbrown92]

If you were looking for more foods to rotate, then more foods tested (on ALCAT or IgG) might have given you better answers. Even if they were "weirder" foods. You could either do the "tested safe plan" and start adding, or you could do the "not tested at all plan" and start adding (foods she/you have never had before). Either way, when adding foods, I'd keep up the food journal. 5 foods is a bland diet! When you're done adding foods, I'd look at it for you. Do you have the links to the food families chart to know how to break foods down for rotation? We have about 1-2 grains, a couple veggies, a couple fruits, mostly 1 meat, and a few miscellaneous things (spices, sugars, oils) on each day. When we were starting out it was hard, but we've gotten into a rhythm and we've been adding back foods. Have you done stool testing to see if good/bad bacteria is a problem in all of it?

[beadmama]

I wish we had done more foods as well maybe next time if we need to do it again. Thanks for the help in fleshing out ideas of where to start. When I get to a better place with more foods I will give a holler. I do have the family foods list. Do you eat the foods from the same family on one day? Like doing the broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower in one day?

I just got her IgE results and will start a separate thread about those questions.

No stool testing done yet. Where would be a good place to get that done to find out what bacteria she is deficient in? Good idea though to target the specific bacterias.

[beadmama]

I have spent the day going over all the food tests and known reactions and have come up with a list. It is still to small to rotate foods but hopefully I will soon be able to start adding foods. I am going with only the foods tested for now and I will then start trialing the green foods on my list and see where that goes. I am just gonna start eating the foods I came up with today and watch and see. Kind of scary but I got to expand and this is the safest way I can think to do it.

Thanks for the help!

[kjbrown92]

Yes all food families same day. For instance on day 2 is cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage. So day 2 we'll have broccoli (a couple different ways - like fritters and then steamed) then the next day 2, we'll have cauliflower a couple ways - like steamed and then mashed), then the next time we'll do cabbage (cabbage slaw or in pork - kraut slow cooker dinner). When I called ALCAT back, I said can we add 100 foods for DS without doing the original 50 over again and they said yes (because I wanted to test more foods).

[beadmama]

Gotcha! Thanks for the additional testing info as well I will remember that and may just do it. It's going to be a while until we can start rotating but I look forward to the variety!

[JaneS]

Yes celiac causes leaky gut so it makes sense that the intolerances were way high.

[beadmama]

Originally Posted by JaneS

Yes celiac causes leaky gut so it makes sense that the intolerances were way high.

Yeah that's what we figured as well. We are working on it and I think we are finally healing but it is taking forever or at least not as fast as I would like! Getting all the gluten cc out has made a big difference.

Would you say sticking to all the lows on the IgG is still a good idea? Maybe wait 6 months to try them again? I would imagine if we started eating them now it would just inflame the body again and impede the healing process in both of us.