How to introduce eggs back into my diet without getting sick?

[Wugmama]

Hello,

I apologize up front because I realize this isn't that appropriate for this forum, but think some folks here who have gone from vegan to vegetarian may be able to help me.

I have been off of eggs and dairy for over 2.5 years due to my nursling's allergies.  I was told it was okay for her to have eggs now, so I baked a cake using eggs.  The first piece of cake I had, all I could taste was the eggs.  About 24 hours later I got stomach cramps and stomach flu like symptoms.  My LO was fine though.  Afterwards, I was advised to have a tsp of raw egg in a smoothie and that was it for a week then slowly build up from there.  I'm scared though, not really wanting to sign up to be sick.

Has anyone btdt?  Suggestions?  I never had problems with eggs before, I can do this, right?

Thanks,

Tracy

[bodhitree]

The stomach cramps and other symptoms might not have been related to the eggs--it could have just been the plain old stomach flu, or even something else that you ate, especially since it was 24 hours later. My experience has been that if I eat something that doesn't agree with me, symptoms show up sooner, like within a few hours. Of course, your system might run differently than mine. I just wanted to say I don't think you necessarily need to be scared of a repeat performance. Probably what I would do is make something that requires eggs and just use a little egg and substitute the rest (like with flaxmeal). But then, the idea of raw egg in my smoothie kind of grosses me out, which I know doesn't apply to everyone.

[Shaki]

I agree that the stomach cramping could have been unrelated. But then again everyone is different so who knows...

I went about 10 years (maybe more) not eating eggs in their "pure" form (quiches, fried, scrambled, poached, hardboiled whatever...any egg dish) although I did have them in baked goods occasionally. I did start eating egg dishes again when I was pregnant with my first. I did not have any cramping or reaction when I started including eggs again. BUT I prefer to eat eggs in a vegetable packed frittata, so that the egg is basically binding a savory vegetable cake together rather than being the main focus of the dish. I also like quiche now. Still can't eat fried, scrambled, hard boiled etc that's too much pure egg at once for me, I kinda can't take it--it's too intense or something. I'm not sure if this is more a "food quirk" or that my system gets overwhelmed by too much egg...don't really know.

So I guess I would suggest just trying some simple pancakes or baked goods with eggs in them a few more times and see if you react the same. If your body gives you the all clear you can move on to frittatas and quiches. I personally would skip the raw egg thing. That sounds harder to stomach than a couple bites of pancake.

[mumkimum]

I re-introduced eggs like Shaki mentioned -  5 years ago (after about 8 years of rarely/never eating them except sometimes in baked goods).  Initially I had veggie-egg scrambles that were mostly veggies with one egg (homemade fried rice might be another option).  It took a few months until I really enjoyed them again (I was pregnant and kinda craved them but also found it hard to eat them).  I wouldn't really go along with the raw egg idea either.

For years, though he continued to eat eggs, dh has tended to get bad stomach reactions pretty often - gassy, pain, crampy - usually later in the day if he'd had eggs.  We have to get really high quality eggs (organic cage free vegetarian feed store bought eggs, or practically the same in farm fresh) and those haven't bothered him.  He can't eat them every day or with other things that bother his stomach.  My guess is that something in the chicken's feed might be what really irritates him having eggs - so trying different eggs and taking it easy and slow with re-introducing them is probably the best method.    

[capewell5]

I have the same problems with eggs (i can taste them in everything & i eat them on fairly regular basis 2+ times a week) unless they come from one particular local farm.  They don't feed soy & allow them to free range and scratch for bugs & this is the only difference i see from regular eggs sold in the store.  I also would have a natural aversion to consuming any amount of raw egg, especially if it came from a supermarket, but that may just be me lol.