How to lose weight and get your baby to sleep through the night

[onandon]

Elimination diet! I've never posted on the allergy forum but I'm beginning to feel like I really belong. We're on day 11 of our no soy, eggs, milk, corn, wheat, chocolate, peanuts, peas, tomatoes and cinnamon diet. My dd is reacting physically (hives, swollen tongue) to soy, tomatoes, and cinnamon and behaviorally to some others (hitting herself, spinning, running around destructively, fighting bedtime for 2-3 hours, signing "hurt" but not able to tell us where). We're in the big discovery process to uncover which foods are problems and which will be okay.

Unfortunately food allergies/intolerances run in both dh and my families. I outgrew my anaphlyactic egg allergy when I was about 20, my mom is anaphylactic to eggs. Dh is lactose intolerant, nuts and chocolates turn his mouth into all canker sores. His sister and dad can't eat dairy or soy. His dad can't eat chocolate. His mom has been recently diagnosed with celiac. Yikes!

I feel like we have a long way to go with dd, but since we've taken out those 10 foods her behavior has been amazing, she goes to bed by just nursing instead of nursing + walking + outside + potty + nursing, etc....for hours, she isn't fighting us, a stomach rash has gone away, and she really seems in control of her body and feels well.

I'm here looking for more support, food tips, info on "healing the gut," etc. I really want to get to the point where the three of us can eat the same food most of the time instead of three seperate meals. I started eating meat, just chicken so far, for the first time in 18 years since I have the fewest other food restrictions. Unfortunately since we haven't settled in our new food pattern, whatever that will be, I'm spending tons of time meal planning and shopping.

Sorry for my not so quick introduction!

[thepeach80]

I'm glad it's helping! It helped when I did the total elimination diet w/ Evan too, but not enough. Does she have an epi pen? Do you have an epi pen? I guess I'd be paranoid I never really outgrew the allergy and it'd come back and get me!

[onandon]

We don't have epi-pens. I never did, but always carried around a chewable pill called "allerest" as a kid which worked quickly. My mom carries an epi-pen. At this point, just for a couple of weeks, we're staying home so it's pretty low risk! I have an appointment next week with her pediatrician just in case.

I really worked on desensitizing myself to eggs by eating a little something (french toast, etc.) and drinking a TON of water with it, and eating a little more, and more and more, and as I got older I was able to eat everything including meringues and angel food cake. I think I partly outgrew it as I got older and partly forced it. I didn't eat eggs through my pregnancy or for the first 14 months of nursing as a precaution. My intuition tells me she won't have a problem with eggs for some reason.

What did you need to do beyond the elimination diet to help your child? What has helped your family?

[thepeach80]

Unfortunately, we decided weaning was the answer, so I weaned Evan at 12 mos. It was very sad and I cried, but he is doing great and finally thriving and sleeping and not in pain etc so it was the right decision. I did the total elimination diet for a month (carrotd, pears, turkey-which we now know he can't tolerate, and rice), but at that point I was just so tired. I was really good at the diet though, I only lost like 5#, lol. We keep hoping to start food trials w/ him (he's formula only at this point), but something keeps happening to push it back. I want everyone in the house at their best before we start so we can see a reaction easily. Both my kids had/have egg problems (my oldest outgrew it) so I think eggs are evil for kids. AJ is outgrowing his dairy issues, but soy still was a no go at our last trial. Oh well, life doesn't revolve around food thankfully (at least, I try to tell myself that).

[AnnieSnuggles]

Glad to hear your DD is doing better. I am also on an elimination diet with my 7 month old son. He is either allergic or intolerant to dairy, soy, egg, wheat, corn, yeast, sugar, barley, beans, nuts, and quinoa. His eczema has been a lot better. We see a naturopath and he is taking some probiotics. We put flaxseed oil on his skin. I am currently taking some digestive enzymes to help me digest foods. I will start taking cod liver oil soon too.

I am sure, like me, you will find a lot of useful information on this site.

Good luck.
Annie