Need some advice on next steps

[waluso]

I could really use some advice on next steps. I am still on a TED but DD unfortunately still isn't at baseline. Yesterday morning and the night before she had some really good poops (yellow, no mucous, little smell), but then she had 2 green stinky poops last night and a yellow stinky poop this morning (she usually only poops once every 1-2 days when she is not having a bad reaction so all this poop is unusual). And her face rash is still there (but lighter) and the red ring around her anus is still bright (although it had gotten better).

I don't know why she had a few good poops then got worse again (but still no or little mucous). I had cut out all sweets and fruit earlier in the week, but did introduce bananas on Wed so it could be that. Also, yesterday I had a lot of dried bananas. But I don't know why she would be so close (while I was eating bananas) then get worse.

The other piece of the puzzle is I think I have a yeast problem. There are no current outward signs of a yeast infection, but I was on birth control pills for over 15 years before getting pregnant (after I stopped it took me a year to get pregnant), had antibiotics many times over the years, have had bad environmental allergies and asthma since I was 8 years old (which seems to be worse in damp weather), took steriods at times for asthma, have not really had healthy eating habits, and craved sugar (and of course satisfied those cravings) all during pregnancy. Also, right after DD was born, my lactation consultant thought I might have a yeast infection because of ongoing nipple pain so I took GSE both internally and put a diluted solution on my nipples and in DD's mouth, and I used APNO (initially for nipple trauma due to poor latch and then for potential yeast infection). This went on for 6-8 weeks. I don't know if I actually had a yeast infection, but I do think those things damaged her gut further (I also had an oversupply issue which I also think damaged her gut).

So now I am cutting back again on the fruit and sugar (I usually have some maple syrup in the morning with pancakes or quinoa flakes, but no other sugar). I am also still planning to switch out turkey from my TED to see if that helps, but I am wondering if I should also start taking candex or candidase. I have been avoiding supplements till I get to baseline but I just don't know if I will ever get there. If I do have a yeast issue, can I even get to baseline without addressing the issue?

I also may start taking probiotics again, and I am going to start making kombucha and water kefir. I'm just really struggling here with next steps. Do I continue to focus on the TED, or start focusing on gut healing and address a potential yeast problem?

ETA: Her poops smell like vinegar, which I heard can be a sign of yeast. Is that correct?

[joybird]

How long have you been on the TED? I am not a real fan of TEDs for long periods of time once it becomes obvious that they are not working. They are definitely helpful if there are a few problem foods that can be identified that way, but if you don't find a pattern and figure it out pretty quickly, it can become quite detrimental to be depriving the body of the varied nutrients it requires to function properly. Then things just get worse - the body becomes worn down and it sets the stage for a cascade of other problems.

I'd start to focus more on healing whatever problem is causing the intolerances, and in order to heal the body needs the building blocks to do that with, which are the nutrients found in food. From what you describe, it sounds like yeast could easily be part of the problem. If you think it is, you need to cut out all sugar, even the maple syrup at least for a time. You can use stevia for sweetening. No, its not the same but you get used to it quickly.

[changingseasons]

I agree- it sounds like you need to cut all the sugars, probably even the fruit. If you just introduced banana, it could have taken her a few days for the reaction to show up.

I've never had outward signs of yeast either, and never had any problems with sugar or fruit... until now. Now when I have any kind of sweetener, I get a rash. And DD has started to react to them too- including maple syrup, and even a really bad reaction to stevia. And DD reacts to pretty much every fruit. I do use blueberries in my buckwheat waffles, and she seems to be ok with them, but I don't use many.

Make sure that you brew your kombucha and kefir for as long as you can (without it tasting like total vinegar), so that most of the sugars are gone before you drink it.

[waluso]

Originally Posted by joybird

How long have you been on the TED? I am not a real fan of TEDs for long periods of time once it becomes obvious that they are not working. They are definitely helpful if there are a few problem foods that can be identified that way, but if you don't find a pattern and figure it out pretty quickly, it can become quite detrimental to be depriving the body of the varied nutrients it requires to function properly. Then things just get worse - the body becomes worn down and it sets the stage for a cascade of other problems.

I'd start to focus more on healing whatever problem is causing the intolerances, and in order to heal the body needs the building blocks to do that with, which are the nutrients found in food. From what you describe, it sounds like yeast could easily be part of the problem. If you think it is, you need to cut out all sugar, even the maple syrup at least for a time. You can use stevia for sweetening. No, its not the same but you get used to it quickly.

I've been on the TED for over 2 months, although I have slipped a bit at times (but never into the top 8+ some others). So I think it's time to do something different. It is really hard for me to cut out all sugar and fruit but I know I need to do it. I may also try stevia.

Originally Posted by changingseasons

I agree- it sounds like you need to cut all the sugars, probably even the fruit. If you just introduced banana, it could have taken her a few days for the reaction to show up.

I've never had outward signs of yeast either, and never had any problems with sugar or fruit... until now. Now when I have any kind of sweetener, I get a rash. And DD has started to react to them too- including maple syrup, and even a really bad reaction to stevia. And DD reacts to pretty much every fruit. I do use blueberries in my buckwheat waffles, and she seems to be ok with them, but I don't use many.

Make sure that you brew your kombucha and kefir for as long as you can (without it tasting like total vinegar), so that most of the sugars are gone before you drink it.

That's really interesting that you now get a rash with sugar. I have never loved sweets, but that's all I craved during pregnancy and I have a really hard time giving up fruit. I wonder if that is a sign of yeast?

I still have to figure out how to make the kombucha and kefir. I also ordered a copy of wild fermentation but it hasn't arrived yet. Don't you add fruit to it? If so, what fruit are you adding?

[changingseasons]

What I've learned is that if you are craving something really bad, you are probably allergic to it. Or it is feeding some other problem (like yeast), and your body craves it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

I add a few blueberries to my kombucha for a second ferment (to give it some nice color, a tiny bit of flavor, and some good fizz), but you really don't have to add anything. The kefir I'm still working on. I've actually never kefir before, but I just got some new water kefir grains so I'm brewing some right now. From comments that I've read, it sounds like it really needs something added for flavor, but a lot of people seem to like ginger, so I might try that first rather than fruit. I don't want to push my luck with the blueberries.

[lastrid]

Dried fruits (the banana chips) are often dusted with things that are not listed on the label. I would steer clear of them unless you are absolutely certain they are only dried fruit and nothing else.

Was your daughter ever at baseline? What exactly are you eating at this time?

[waluso]

Originally Posted by lastrid

Dried fruits (the banana chips) are often dusted with things that are not listed on the label. I would steer clear of them unless you are absolutely certain they are only dried fruit and nothing else.

Was your daughter ever at baseline? What exactly are you eating at this time?

I wondered about the dried fruits. I am going to stay away from them.

DD has never been at baseline. She's been close at times but we never got there. Currently I am eating turkey, zucchini, quinoa, winter squash (I added this back in a week ago), olive oil, and sea salt. I know she reacts to dairy, pork and rice, and I suspect she reacts to many other things but haven't confirmed them.

[lastrid]

Is your turkey organic or pastured? Are your zucchini organic? Conventional zucchini can be coated in wax that can be corn derived. Cheaper olive oils may not be all olive oil, they may be cut with something else.

That's all I can think of, other than rotating things out one at a time.