Help at last!

[azhorsegal]

Well, I just had my first "alternative" doctor visit and it was VERY interesting. His name is Donald Baker, DC, NMD and he's in Mesa, AZ. He tested my daughter for allergies and it was a way I'd never seen or even heard of (maybe some of you can tell me if you've seen it done this way). First he checked her "system" to see if everything was online sort of speak. He did this by having her lay on a table and then tapped a pressure point in her ankle and then tried to move her arm while she tried to hold it against her body. Before he tapped her ankle she was able to hold it strongly against her body, but as soon as he tapped her ankle she could not hold her arm, it became very relaxed (lack of a better word). It only lasted for about five seconds though and then she was able to hold her arm against her body again. He said these are the points that are used in acupuncture. He did a few other things like that and said it looked like her small intestine had a fungus, but it could be cleared up by avoiding certain foods for three weeks. He said she probably got the fungus when she was on the antibiotics for her strep a few months back, but could have gotten it several years ago (when ever she was on antibiotics). No way to tell, but did believe she had a fungus now. Then he checked her for food allergies and the way he did it was very interesting. He held a vile of food over her stomach with a magnet above the food (acting as a conductor). If my daughter was able to hold her arm firmly agains her side (like she did earlier) then her body had no reaction to that food. If her arm all of a sudden went limp (or relaxed) then her body was having a reaction to that food (he was not tapping her ankle at this point). I honestly do not know if I would have believed it, unless I saw it with my own eyes. Come to find out my daughter is allergic to Corn, MSG, Oat, Spelt, Wheat/Flour, Barley, Rye, Kamut (not sure what that is), Equal (Aspartame) and Splenda. We also need to avoid all sugars and other foods, like carrots and cantaloupe to clear up the fungus, but once that's gone she can go back to eating those foods. The hard part is most people that have to avoid Wheat can use corn flour or other things with corn to replace the wheat, but in my daughter's case she's reacting to both. So it's going to be tough to find what she CAN eat. She can have milk and peanuts, so at least those two foods are ok. Does anyone else have a child that's allergic to wheat AND corn? Oh, and she can't have oats either, which means her favorite breakfast, oatmeal, is out. The doctor said he really doesn't like calling it an allergy, because it's really all about the immune system.

 

What is your opinion on how the doctor did the test? My husband is VERY skeptical and doesn't really think this doctor knows what he's talking about . BUT, the neurologist and pediatrician was not helpful at all and didn't give us anything to work with. I was already starting to elimate some foods in her diet and at least now I have a clear target to look at. I for one really liked this doctor and he was recomended to me by a friend who said her friend just couldn't say enough good things about this doctor. So we'll start the diet plan he gave us and see what happens. Like I said, since I've eliminated some of the foods like corn syrup, MSG, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, for the past 5 days, the last 2 days her tics have been VERY mild. Time will tell, but I'm already a believer in what she eats CAN trigger the tics (and her eczema).

[Chemar]

I like the sound of your naturopath!!!

 

As strange as it may seem, yet the principles of ancient Chinese medicine, and especially as related to the meridiens in the body really do have remarkable results.

We have clearly seen this with my son, and also with myself and other members of our family

 

I do feel for you tho in having to eliminate so many foods....but I also agree with your doc in that once you have taken care of the gut/immune issues, these foods may no longer be reactive.

 

Millet is an excellent alternative to wheat and corn flour, and I know there are a number of threads here re substitute foods. I seem to think Claire did some excellent posts on this too

 

congrats again on the way you are forging ahead on this. Your child will reap the benefits

[Guest]

Glad your daughter's doctors appt. went well. I'm allergic to wheat & corn along with many other things. Just don't ever buy any vitamins from your doc unless you can't get that type some place else. I had a doctor do this type of testing except for vitamins. I do believe in this type of testing (muscle testing), however I don't believe a doctor should ever push you to buy his vitamins.

 

Here's a site that may come in handy when looking for cooking tips/recipes without wheat/gluten, corn, etc.:

Wheat/Gluten Free Recipes

 

Carolyn

[azhorsegal]

Glad your daughter's doctors appt. went well. I'm allergic to wheat & corn along with many other things. Just don't ever buy any vitamins from your doc unless you can't get that type some place else. I had a doctor do this type of testing except for vitamins. I do believe in this type of testing (muscle testing), however I don't believe a doctor should ever push you to buy his vitamins.

 

Here's a site that may come in handy when looking for cooking tips/recipes without wheat/gluten, corn, etc.:

Wheat/Gluten Free Recipes

 

Carolyn

 

That's the thing that actually made me feel like this doctor was legit, he didn't push vitamins on me at all, as a matter of fact said he really doesn't like someone as young as my daughter (7 years old) taking the suppliments. He said if she can just stay off the certain foods for three weeks, that's feeding the fungus she has it should take care of itself, going back to those foods once the fungus is gone. Though the Glutin and Corn free diet is something long term. I forgot my check book and I owe him $125. He didn't have a credit card machine so he just said to mail him a check. So at this point this doctor has REALLY impressed me.

[Claire]

My long post got deleted...no time to rewrite. Many people here have done this type of allergy testing and were happy with it. We did IgG/IgE blood tests.

 

Xylitol --sugar alcohol derived from bark not corn--is a great sweetener for yeast issues. So is Stevia. Great for yogurt smoothies with low glycemic fruit (e.g. berries)

 

Google AIA + corn-free + wheat-free for the book I got on recipes when my son had both issues. Wheat-free is much much easier than corn and wheat free.

 

Good luck.

 

Claire

 

ps Yeast is not always so easy to get rid of...2 years of work didn't cure my son's...especially if there are metal issues. Ask your doc next time, and please read the intro links I posted....

 

I do disagree with him re vitamins (no offense to your doctor). Yeast interferes with nutrient absorption...most of these kids have vitamin deficiencies. There are blood tests available to check it out.

On the other hand, I think doctor supervision is key for supplementation and would never suggest ignoring a doctor that you like. Just keep your mind open over the next few months as you see how this works out.

[Guest]

I just wanted to mention that I meant not letting him push you into buying the vitamins he may sell. There are many great over the counter vitamins at stores you can buy rather than buying expensive ones from the doctor. I had a local doctor that I went to until I realized what he was doing that pushed his expensive vitamins and said that store bought ones aren't good enough basically. I've had other patients tell me that this same doctor wouldn't prescribe their child Transdermal DMPS (a heavy metal chelation agent commonly used for Autism) unless she bought his vitamins.

 

I'm a strong believer in vitamins, and they have helped me greatly. I think that if I was offered the option of trying vitamins at 5 or 7 years old they would have helped me as much as they did when I was older and started them.

 

Good luck & keep us posted

 

Carolyn

[Chemar]

I would certainly agree with Carolyn and Claire about the value of supplements even in younger children.

The earlier one begins to correct deficiencies in minerals and vitamins etc the better! Especially when children are still in their formative years, addressing physiological imbalances can be very important in correcting things. And doing it under knowledgable physician supervision is IMHO essential

[azhorsegal]

I would certainly agree with Carolyn and Claire about the value of supplements even in younger children.

The earlier one begins to correct deficiencies in minerals and vitamins etc the better! Especially when children are still in their formative years, addressing physiological imbalances can be very important in correcting things. And doing it under knowledgable physician supervision is IMHO essential

 

I do agree, as I do give my children a mulit-vitamine (need to be more consistent though) and I did just start my oldest (the one with the tic disorder) on Omega 3 6 9 (fish oil) to help her with concentration as she seems to be having a little trouble in that area. My friend told me it made a difference in her daughter, so I thought I would try it. I was just saying the Naturopathic didn't try to sell me one of his vitamins.

 

My husband wanted me to go to our duaghter's pediatrician to get a blood test to confirm what the Naturopathic MD had found. Of course when the pediatrician found out how this doctor did his test he gave me this look as if I was crazy , and simply said, "Well, I think all that is a hoax." I said, "Well, that may be, but that's why I'm here, to see if anything of what he said was true, and if it is, then we obviously need to change my daugther's diet and if she has Celiac Disease (which I'm suspicious of) we need to find out now." He was at least very interested in getting her checked out for Celiac, as he said if she does in fact have this she will need to see a specialist, as Celiac can be very disabling, so we did that blood test today. He also gave me a number to an allergist, so I can get blood work done on her for the gluten intolerance. I'm open minded to what the Naturopathic doctor said, and my parents are believers, but my husband and his side of the family think otherwise, and I for one don't want to live with the "well you never really got her tested by a 'real' doctor" from my in-laws. So to make everyone happy I will get the blood test done, and if it does in fact come out the way the Naturopathic doctor said, then that's who I will stick with for any further treatment my daugter may need.

[kim]

azhorsegal.

 

I'm going to bump a thread for you. I had an insurance covered IgG food sensitivity test done through a regular Dr. (Ped) at the recommendation of an Integrative Dr.

 

My Pediatrician, the lab doing the draw, the girls in billing, NOONE HAD ANY IDEA that this test even existed. With our insurance we have to use Quest or Labcorp.

 

I'm afraid that your blood work may not show celiac, and it will confuse you as to the Dr.s findings. My oldest son showed a reaction to grains, yet the blood work for true Celiac was fine.

 

If you can get the test done that I'm talking about in the thread that I'll bump for you, be sure not to have TS mentioned in the diagnosis section on the lab order. Insurance probably will not cover it, if you do.

 

If you have any interest in trying to obtain this test, I'd be happy to give you some further info, that may help.

[azhorsegal]

Kim, below is the message I posted on your bumped post (my neurologist diagnosed her with "Childhood Motor Tic Disorder", said he wouldn't call it TS for that very reason that insurance companies would not want to cover her for treatment).

 

Thanks Kim, My daughter had her blood drawn today for both the IgA tests, and unlike the one post said my pediatrician new exactly what tests were needed for Celiac, even though he thought my Naturopathic doctor's unconventional ways of testing for allergies was a hoax. He still understood the seriousness of making sure my daughter does not have Celiac. We are also scheduled to see an allergist next week to get blood tests to confirm her food allergies. Should here about the Celiac test sometime next week. Thanks for bumping this post up, gave me some more understanding on how this all works. THANKS!

 

I'm so grateful to everyone here, as this tic disorder that my daugther has been diagnosed with doesn't seem as scary as it did, though I still know things might, and probably will get worse before they get better. At least I don't feel alone and if something happens it's nice to have people to talk with that's already been down this road. Thanks to everyone!

[Claire]

I think Kim's point is that there are multiple tests that go beyond Celiac. You can have food sensitivities and wheat and/or gluten sensitivities without having Celiac. An allergist would understand this more than a general practiotioner.

 

Also, there are blood tests for food allergies (IgE) and tests for food sensitivities/delayed reactions (IgG)--which Kim and I both had done. Tics can be just from food sensitivities, while the eczema can be from IgE. I am less familiar with the IgA test. I think the concern is that celiac is so rare that eliminating it as a diagnosis (and that would be GREAT to eliminate) doesn't mean wheat/gluten aren't issues. They are very common issues, though I think milk is more common on this board, which your child doesn't seem to have.

 

There are blood tests for vitamin deficiencies also. Spectracell has a good one. Labcorp does them for zinc...a very common deficiency in this area.

 

Most MD's would consider your naturopath's test a hoax, so would relatives...On this board we just support what works for people. People don't hesitate to post what worked and didn't work for them. That is how we learn. When enough people seem to find something that works, more people try it.

 

Claire

[azhorsegal]

Hi Claire, I must have said something to make you think different . I did understand what Kim was saying and I do understand that you can have glunten intolerance and NOT have Celiac, which is why I'm having several tests done. We did the test for Celiac yesterday and next week we are going to an allergist to test for any food allergies, including gluten, wheat, corn and other foods, including milk, which I don't think she's allergic to but will still have her tested just in case. I for one agree that if a naturopathic doctor works for a person then that's what they should go with. I for one DO believe the Naturopathic's findings, however, because I live with some people who DO NOT consider it "real" medicine, I feel getting blood test will make everyone happy and that way the family will be more willing to go along with my daugther's new diet change, that in reality is going to effect everyone, including her grandparents when she's there. I also agree that the tics can be from a food allergy and the eczema can be from IgE, which is actually what my NMD suggested.

 

I hope I cleared things up, lol. But, of course I probably muddy them up more . I do appreciate EVERYONE'S testimonies on what helped them. It definitley makes it easier for those of us coming on board not knowing where to start. I for one, feel this site is a God send and it give me hope for my daugther.

[Claire]

Hi Azhorsegal,

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought...well no point in going there because I clearly misunderstood what 'confirming' tests you are doing...

 

I appreciate your not taking offense, since I was worried about writing that clarification for that very reason.

 

Good luck again.

 

Claire

[azhorsegal]

Claire, no offense taken here. I've learned a long time ago on forums things can get misunderstood SO easily, that a person really shouldn't taken offense to anything. If you feel you've been misunderstood then just try and re-explain youself, without getting all upset that the other person didn't understand the way you thought they should, especially when we can't hear each other's tone of voice, which I think is a real BIG disadvantage to email and on-line chatting. BUT, with that said, I'm VERY grateful to this forum, as without it I'd really be at a loss as what to do and how to help my daugther. So I'll definitley take being misunderstood a few times over not having this info at all. You sound like a great person Claire, thanks for understanding.