8 Months-chronic severe eczema - Page 4

[chlobo]

Just wanted to say about the almonds that some law was passed last year that requires *all* almonds to be pasturized. For some reason they can still call them raw but they are pasturized. this was due to some food poisoining. So stupid.

Anyhow, PJ, how is your son's skin now? Are you guys still doing well?

My naturopath has me giving 1/2 tsp high vitamin CLO to my 9 mo. old.

www.myvitanet.com is where I found discounted enzymedica. Not sure if its the cheapest but definitely cheaper than the manuf. website.

[PeonyJen]

Mary-I almost ordered the ChildLife CLO, but it's strawberry-flavored. I'm leery of that! But I'm assuming it's OK for your baby...
Thank you for the other information; that's very helpful.

[nalo]

Originally Posted by PeonyJen

Mary-I almost ordered the ChildLife CLO, but it's strawberry-flavored. I'm leery of that! But I'm assuming it's OK for your baby...
Thank you for the other information; that's very helpful.

Yeah, because I'm an idiot. I didn't even think about it and the last time we saw her ND (obviously, after I had posted that) she suggested I stop that one and pick one that is NOT strawberry flavored (luckily I hadn't given her much of it at that point). Sometimes I just amaze myself when something like that gets by me. She didn't respond to it or anything but of course I would not consider giving her strawberries now so I stopped that one right away. She is now taking the peach flavor Nordic Naturals. Be aware that the vitamin E in that one is derived from soy oil. I had switched her over to my pharmax but the flavor wasn't strong enough and she was not lovin' it. We avoid soy protein but allow soy oil and lecithin and both seem totally fine.
Sorry for almost misleading you...

[JaneS]

I would NOT give nuts or sesame to a baby, most especially one with an immune system dysfunction like eczema. All nuts can also be xcontaminated with peanuts. Allergy tests are notoriously inexact for this age level, so don't rely on them to judge a safe food for sure.

[Kiddoson]

Originally Posted by JaneS

most especially one with an immune system dysfunction like eczema.

I don't think it's immune dysfunction but rather immune immaturity.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Kiddoson

I don't think it's immune dysfunction but rather immune immaturity.

So how would that be treated differently?

I'm thinking dysfunction in terms of histamine production, gut flora imbalance, that kind of thing. Most of the immune system is centralized in your gut: GALT, BALT, MALT systems... which are gatekeepered by your gut flora too btw. An infant's immature immune system *is* their gut flora that acts as the barrier to outside world in the long hollow tube of the gastrointestinal system (see book "Bacteria For Breakfast" fascinating read on this topic).

[Kiddoson]

Originally Posted by JaneS

So how would that be treated differently?

I don't think it is, just seemed harsh to me to say a baby has an immune DYSFUNCTION. Immune system problems are serious and often life threatening, I don't think eczema falls in that catagorie IMO.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Kiddoson

I don't think it is, just seemed harsh to me to say a baby has an immune DYSFUNCTION. Immune system problems are serious and often life threatening, I don't think eczema falls in that catagorie IMO.

I certainly don't mean to be harsh! But I don't think I'm overstating it based on research and our own experience.

My DS's problems started out with chronic eczema. And now many years down the road we have determined he has anaphylactic allergies to peanut and sesame. Which are life threatening.

'The Allergy March' is also a mainstream term that describes the common progression that is seen with atopic children: first eczema, then food allergies, then asthma. Asthma can be a very serious condition.

[Kiddoson]

Originally Posted by JaneS

My DS's problems started out with chronic eczema. And now many years down the road we have determined he has anaphylactic allergies to peanut and sesame. Which are life threatening.

I see you are looking at the things that can be linked with it, not just the eczema itself. I was looking at the eczema alone since it often does lead to other things, it doesn't always.
Curious.... did you use steroid creams for the eczema?

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Kiddoson

Curious.... did you use steroid creams for the eczema?

Only for a few days here and there totalling less than a week, researching that and how dangerous Elidel could be certainly wised me up fast and led me beyond our typical Ped.

I think DS's problems stem from antibiotic laced colostrum he got at birth and a mama whose own immune system was wrecked by antibx before conceiving. I had thrush off and on while BF.

[Abylite]

Is anyone really worried that these allergies and eczema will lead to asthma or do you feel you can "cure" it since we are "healing" them.....???? I wonder! As a peds nurse, I worry!

[PeonyJen]

HI everyone,
I am the original poster in this thread, and have obviously shied away.
I am still overwhelmed and over it all.
Elliot is now 10 months old and still suffers from eczema. The eczematous face has truly been the issue.

Anyways, we did do the 14 day trial of Neocate. He cleared up promptly on day 14, which was my birthday and a day of return to breastfeeding.
He stayed clear for maybe 4 days, then started to rash again.
But, when he was drinking Neocate, I was pumping and eating everything he is allergic to...cuz a girl's gotta eat.

It's one month later, and I cheat now and then, because I'm completely over this. He is nowhere ready to be weaned, but honestly, I am sick of breastfeeding. There, I said it. AND THAT IS ONLY FOR LACK OF FOOD. I love everything else about it.
The problem is that I don't know what the heck to eat. I eat chicken and sweet potatoes...and not to mention a cracker every few days, or a handful of Goldfish, or the 2 cookies I just ate moments ago.
I can't take any more of this crap. I can't take any more of the eczema.

I checked out a million books from the library 3 weeks ago, and have yet to even open them.

I bought some Enzymedica enzymes, and was taking the Lacto before every meal. The Digest Gold is far too expensive for me, even with the "30% off" websites. Geez.
But, baby's GI doctor prescribed me some enzymes, which I've been taking for the last several days. I don't even know if there are any allergen-fillers in them.
I know I have to order the CLO and all the other junk, but I can't afford those right now. I just can't do this sh*t anymore.

Elliot has barely had solids...he is not particularly interested.
We give him a bottle of Neocate at bedtime, and he eats about 3 ounces then.

So, that's where I'm at. Trucking along and starving.

ETA: I actually made chicken bone broth last night (non-organic chicken ). Is bone broth supposed to be clear, because mine is not. I couldn't get all the flesh off the bones, so I simmered alot of the gunk that was on the bones.

[tanyalynn]

Is bone broth supposed to be clear, because mine is not. I couldn't get all the flesh off the bones, so I simmered alot of the gunk that was on the bones.

Mine isn't really clear, certainly nothing like store-bought broth. I leave on bits of meat and stuff (cartilage, gristle, whatever) while I simmer it and it's always been fine. FWIW, I make bone broth with non-organic bones all the time--I can't afford organic bones, and we don't eat enough meat to provide enough bones for the bone broth I want to make. My decision for us is that the positives of the broth outweigh the potential negatives of whatever's in the non-organic bones.

I don't know anything about the other stuff, eczema hasn't been our challenge, but I just wanted to share a . I'm sorry things are so hard.

[changingseasons]

My bone broth isn't clear either. But I strain it through a cheesecloth and that helps a little.

Also wanted to send some hugs. I have been at that point SO many times lately... that I just can't take it anymore. My DP was eating hot dogs today, and it just made me so depressed... and I don't even really like hot dogs. It just the fact that I can't just grab something to eat. It is such a time-consuming process- planning meals, shopping for only specific foods, cooking everything I eat, watching everyone else eat food that I once loved... And then when DD's eczema flares up, I just want to completely give up hope. I often have to remind myself that even if I give up on BFing now, I still have to deal with the whole allergy mess when she starts solids, so I might as well fight my way through it now...

If it helps, I have a rotation diet thread on this forum somewhere. It actually helped me a lot to start it- because I was no longer endlessly searching for food- I had a plan, and knew exactly what I could eat each day. That said, I have cheated on the plan the last 2 days in a row , but overall it's going well. DD's eczema is clearing up, I have some food to eat (don't get me wrong, I'm still starving half the time), and DP can help out now that I have a list posted on the fridge of what he can cook for me.

[MilkTrance]

We are still doing the CLO (unflavoured Nordic Naturals) and probiotic (HMF by Genestra) and it seems to do the trick, as well as this great creme my ND prescribed. I will get the name. Works wonders.

Also straying from wheat and dairy helps. Hard 'cause it's such a big part of the North American diet...