Got DS's IgG results...help please?

[True Blue]

I just got DS's results. Overall I'm pleased. Not many came up that we didn't know about. We already know he reacts to dairy, and since he hadn't had that for weeks before the test that came up negative, but I know that's how IgG works. Soy was low also, but I forgot to have him eat much before the test, so I'm going to have to food test that one again when we have a good baseline, because I had already eliminated it on suspicion.

What we do have, though, is Low for Corn, and Moderate for Baker's Yeast and Brewer's Yeast. Yeast? Really? Ugh. So...what do I do now? I know this test can be inaccurate, but I needed a starting point. I guess we go corn and yeast free for a while? How long? Will a week do it before challenging?

[True Blue]

The more I thought about it now, the more it makes sense...the yeast...he has very bad mold allergies. What are the thoughts on candida overgrowth? He has eczema that has gotten tons better by eliminating dust mites, dairy, and soy, but is still there a little.

[True Blue]

I went to give him his Zyrtec tonight only to discover it contains corn starch. Help?? He told me tonight he doesn't even remember what it is like to be well and not stuffy. It's been over a year now. He thought it had been this way since he was born.

[True Blue]

I just read a list of corn-derived ingredients. OMG, add that to soy, and wtf does he eat? Even baking at home is about to difficult. Do you think the test is enough to have to eliminate every single solitary trace of corn?

[mamafish9]

I think you should try to eliminate all traces of corn and yeast for a week (look at supps too, they almost all have corn derived ingredients). Then you can try trace corn and see if he reacts or not.

[LaurieG]

The IgG tests can give you an idea of where to start but they aren't super accurate. And from what our allergist told me and my own experience, it isn't necessarily true that eliminating a food for awhile will reduce the severity of the reaction on the test. DD was tested at almost 2 and had been off soy except for the random accidental exposure since 6 months and still tested a 3+ to soy. Her other biggie is dairy and the test only registered a few very low derivatives (cottage cheese and cheddar cheese) but had no reaction to cow's milk straight. So it is entirely possible he isn't actually reacting to those other foods. Still, I like to use the tests as a starting point to tell me what to eliminate when I'm stuck.

Corn is a biggie. Hopefully he doesn't react so you don't have to worry about it long term.

[True Blue]

Thanks. I knew about the possibility of inaccuracies, I was just hoping for a good starting point. Yeast, for example, I never would have thought of in a million years, but it is very possibly a problem considering his high IgE reactions to mold. Corn is out of left field but you never know...I'm willing to try it for a while to see. He has been so sick for so long, I feel awful for him. He actually told me yesterday that he doesn't even remember ever feeling well. The biggest reason I'm turning to food at this point is I feel like I have exhausted my solutions for his environmental allergies. Zyrtec only helps moderately, but at least it takes the itch out of his throat. We put hardwood in his room, his beds are covered for dustmites, I wash his bedding weekly and dust weekly and have an Austin Air purifier in his room (his barely even gets dusty with that thing in there). I just don't understand why I can't get him well here. We got him to a great baseline before we moved (with the exception of his eczema, which mostly cleared without dustmites, but has gotten even better now with the removal of dairy and soy, except for the new patch on his cheek that developed since we moved here to VA).

[Hedwig_Fly]

I know first-hand how hard it is to eliminate corn completely but I have to say for my DD2 it has been completely worth the effort. She never tested positive to corn on any of the tests IgE or IgG but from observation we know 100% corn is a no go. She had terrible eczema on the backs of her legs and bum, her cheeks always looked red and chapped, and even the pads of her feet and hands were leathery and cracking - all those either went away or got significantly better when we took corn out.

There are not many prepackaged foods that are corn free (and safe with all her other limitations) but we have learned to bake many yummy treats that she loves. A few of the Larry and Luna Coconut Ice Creams are safe for my DD2. We have found some Boars Head lunch meat and Applegate farm hot dogs she does well with too, it helps to have some faster foods around. However we now cook most food from scratch so we know exactly what we are eating.

Oh and the biggy in our house is making flat bread - she can't have yeast either along with eggs, peanuts, milk, gluten, soy .. on and on. Our flat bread recipe = 1 cup garbanzo bean flour, 1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1/2 cup potato starch, 1 tsp sea salt (safe), 2 TBSP olive oil, 1 tsp guar gum, 1 cup water - blend together. The original recipe you roll out but we didn't like doing that it was too hard so we add a little bit more water so the batter is like pancake batter. Heat Olive Oil in a pan 1/2 to 1 inch of oil and pour batter into the hot oil as if you were going to cook a pancake. Wait for it to be nice and crisp turn it over cook the other side until crisp. Ok we like ours kinda crunchy but you can just cook them to be soft. My girls like flat bread plain, with jelly, with lunch meat, with black beans and fish (alla fish taco's), with refried beans, guacamole and ground hamburger. You name it anything you can think to wrap up in it. We make a whole bunch and my girls will eat them all day.

Anyway - learning to live without bread was hard for us at first so flatbread it our way to cope

I wish you good luck and I hope your son starts feeling better. Lots of hugs and support as you work through this journey.