Food Allergies

[Claire]

Merry Christmas!

 

I can't believe I got on my husband's computer to check in while out of town!

 

But if you remember from one of my first posts, I had this gut feeling that my son was allergic to wheat. He has excema and has had it for many months now. The remarkable thing is that the dermatologist 'expert' just gave him antiobitics and a cream. It took me doing internet research to uncover that 80% of childhood excema is the result of a food allergy. The most common ones were eggs, milk, peanuts, something else, and less common but still a consideration was wheat.

 

So I had him take a RAST blood test last week, for candidas (which came out negative) and for all of the above foods. It turns out he was HIGHLY allergy to both wheat and peanuts (he doesn't have peanuts very often--doesn't really like them). I learned of it by phone, so I don't have the numbers, but normal is .035 oe .35,and his reading was 5.3!

 

So we found this out via phone at the airport Tuesday, so Tuesday he still had wheat. We share a room on this visit and the first night I could hear him scratching 1/2 the night. Then as of yesterday he had no wheat and last night I didn't hear him scratch once all night (I am a very light sleeper--I did wake up for a small amount of his teeth grinding, but it seemed better too--who knows, I will have the whole week to observe).

 

What a blessing to have this internet or I wouldn't have known to check, and to have an ENT doctor who trusts me enough to order the test based on my own instincts.

 

Question 1: I am a bit curious to see if I will notices other things besides the excema--maybe even better sleep patterns, if we are really lucky. Does anyone hear know if food allergies (other than toxic reactions to artificial colors) can have other neurological side effects?

 

Question 2: It would be a real pain to go through life with a wheat allergy (his favorite food)--though already I have found a decent non-wheat pizza crust and pancake mix.I do plan to look further into neuromodulation (I found providers in my area). So does anyone know of other methods to investigate to get rid of allergies should this fail? I have heard to avoid the food for a year and perhaps the child will just outgrow it. I have heard to avoid the food for a month and then try to rotate it in every 4 days. I think the environmental doctors that follow the Dorothy Rapp approaches may have techniques, and I will try to contact them.

 

Thanks, and by the way, I really wanted to be wrong on this instinct about wheat. I will take being wrong anyday over yet another restriction for my son--he said he would take computer restriction over a wheat restriction anyday! I can only hope that 1) it's elimination will help more than just the excema; and 2) that he either outgrows it or we find the path for him here that works. He is hopeful, since he is currently satisfied with the computer compromise that we found worked for him.

 

I may not be able to check in for a few days, have a great holiday!

Claire

[Chemar]

Hi Claire

 

So glad you have an answer! tho I agree, wheat is a hard one to deal with!!

 

My son was not allergic...only "reactive" and so the homeopathy/biofeedback we did was beneficial and he seems to tolerate all foods well now.

 

With full blown allergy, I am not so knowledgable on treatments, but i do recall that there is a program whereby you have a series of injections (ugh!) which effectively "de-sensitizes" you to the thing you are allergic too. once the series of shots is over, you go for periodic "boosters"

 

By now they may have far more sophisticated techniques!

 

Have a wonderful holiday and lots of blessings to all of you.

[Guest Nancy]

Claire,

 

Just a comment on allergy testing and shots. I never thought my son had allergies until a few years ago when typical spring allergies became very apparent. Then I thought back to other symptoms he's had since he was young, specifically one summer he developed a bad cough, especially at night, that the doctors finally said was caused by allergies. They gave him zyrtec, which did make the cough go away, but it also made him so wired and moody and bad tempered that I only gave it to him for about a week. He was about 3 then and never had other symptoms so I figured they were wrong and it wasn't allergies, until other symptoms reappeared a few years ago.

 

ANYWAY, I read Doris Rapp's book and a lot of things clicked and I felt sure allergies were linked to not only respiratory infections, but his tics as well. I found an environmental allergist who knew and trained under Doris Rapp, and who used the methods of testing and treating she recommended. He went through all the testing and I learned to give him the shots at home, and we did them for a short time, but I noticed that he ticced MORE right after I'd give him the shots. It was kind of disheartening, because I felt we had done everything right, and I hated putting him through the shots for possibly years with the results we were seeing. I do know people who say the shots have helped them, but I just felt it wasn't the right route for us and we stopped them after a few months.

 

During the same time I went to hear Doris Rapp speak near where I live, and she was really passionate about all her beliefs and talked about this new method of treating allergies she was just learning about, which involved muscle response testing and then "correcting" the person, by using a method which I now recognize as being very similar to NMT. At the time I thought it sounded odd, but she demonstrated on some people from the audience and said she had used it on a friend with a bad dog allergy with good results. She said she had observed practitioners using this method to help people in a very short amount of time, for something that would take a long time using her own testing and treating methods.

 

The next year, when I learned about NMT, it struck me how similar the method is to what she described, it just seems to go into much more detail and covers so much more than allergies. I guess I felt a little more confident trying it based on what I had heard from Doris Rapp. I've look at her web site since then to see if she has pursued this method anymore, but I haven't seen any information about it.

 

Anyway, as you know, we tried it and my son's had no symptoms or congestion since his treatment, and I'm anxiously awaiting spring allergy season to see how he does. I just think it's interesting that someone who pioneered a more accurate way of testing and treating allergies by desensitization shots was so open to treating with energy medicine.

 

Also, I do remember our practitioner saying she had cured a young boy's excema in 2 sessions with NMT, and from what I read on the forum it's a common thing they treat for. I hope you have good luck if you pursue it. I think I'm going to try it myself for some health issues I have. I know there's no guarantees, but quite honestly, some advice and treatment I've gotten from MDs seems like a shot in the dark without good results, so I'm finding myself more open to other options.

 

Hope you had a good holiday - good luck with things!

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Nancy

 

I read the NMT website. But still since you have first hand practical experience of this with your son, can you explain practically how the process took place. What exactly they do? How long is it for? any side effects? did your son cooperate? Does it involve any needles, etc...

Do you think only after NMT , you saw a big improvement in his tics? Did he have any specific food allergies before?

 

thanks.

[Guest Nancy]

efgh,

 

The process was painless and my son was fine with it. I think he thought it was a little funny actually, because it's not something you do every day! He held his arm straight out in front of him and she put her fingers lightly on his wrist area. She told him to keep his arm strong and not to let her push it down. She used specific language that's part of the protocol to make sure she established a connection with his autonomic control system and began asking yes and no questions about various systems of the body, faults that cause allergic symptoms, etc. For each question she pressed lightly on his arm and if it stayed strong the answer was no, but if it was yes his arm would go right down. (hmm, I think that's right, but it could be the other way around - it's been awhile!) Anyway, they're asking your body, not YOU to respond, so it's kind of a hard concept to understand (and probably believe for many people) at first. The language they use is so technical at times you probably wouldn't even understand what they're asking, I know my son didn't, so I know he couldn't be influencing the results.

 

She actually did a small demonstration on my husband (who's still pretty skeptical but keeping an open mind) and myself, to see what the muscle testing is like. It's pretty strange. We tried to keep our arms as strong as we could, but when she asked an obvious yes question our arms went right down.

 

Anyway, when she found a fault with something she would spin his chair around so she was facing his back, ask him to breathe in, then out as she lightly moved her hands up and down his spine with a sort of karate chop motion (that's the best way I can describe it - but it was not hard and he said it didn't hurt at all). This is supposed to fix the fault. As I'm typing this out I'm laughing a little because it still sounds strange to me, even though it seems to have worked!

 

They can't tell you exactly how many sessions it will take to clear something, but I think generally a younger patient goes faster than someone who's had problems for many many years. We went 6 times, but I think his allergies were cleared in 5. She did also address faults in his neurological system and asked specific questions about what could be contributing to his tics. There were no side effects per se, but it did almost seem like he got a little worse briefly between visits before his tics got a lot better - maybe a cleansing thing? Oh, there are no needles involved.

 

I do think it helped with his tics, but he does still take supplements and probiotics, so it's hard to know how much to attribute to what. I will say that even when he was doing well with his supplements before NMT he still ticced as soon as he began watching tv. Since his treatment he's done well even while watching tv, which was a noticeable change. This is the first fall and winter he hasn't had a big jump in tics since it all started almost 3 years ago. Minor things still happen, but it's really been minor. He's had a lot of cookies and excitement and such the last few days and I noticed a few noises, but nothing much.

 

As far as food, the only thing we knew really affected him in an odd way was that milk made him wet at night. Our practitioner tried to explain the difference between a true allergy and I think she called it an intolerance, but I can't really remember what the difference was as far as why fixing his allergies didn't fix that problem. We had cut out dairy anyway, which has really helped him. But I certainly let him have pizza at parties and in general would love for him to be dry no matter what, because it's a hard age with sleepovers becoming more popular.

So far NMT hasn't fixed that for him, but she just took the advanced course and I may ask her to check him out again to see if any new protocols help.

 

That's been our experience. Hope it helps. I'll let you know if we go again and get any more results.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Nancy, that was a great reply. Do keep us posted.

What are the probiotics that you give your son and what dosage? I want to start my son on that and am looking for some useful info on this.

 

Also, did you experience any initial weight loss in your son's case when he started supplements/cleansing etc??

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Reg. his tics while watching TV before NMT , was it more of vocal or motor? Was it constant during the TV viewing session?

[Guest Nancy]

efgh,

 

He takes a probiotic the naprapath recommended - it's called HMF capsules made by Seroyal. It seems to be a brand you can only get through a doctor, not in a store, so I get them from her. It has both lactobaccillus acidophilus and lactobacillus bifidus. He takes 2 capsules in the morning. There are plenty of brands you can buy in stores, though. They should be refrigerated. I just started taking a brand by Natren, which I've heard is also good. Perhaps other people have more info on good brands they take.

 

He didn't have any weight loss issues. He had both motor and vocal tics when watching tv - I think grunting and for a while squeaking was most common. It happened pretty consistently while he was watching.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

NAncy,

 

the term "Lacto" in the bifidus suggests "milk". Are they milk free since you dont give dairy to your son...

Regarding weight loss, dont know if "psychological stress to suppress the tics" in my son could be the reason.. any views on this?

And reg. Carlson fish oil, any specific reason why you did not go for the "liquid oil" - since its generally easier for kids to take..

[Chemar]

Hi efgh

 

the LACTO in the bacillus is related to its milk digesting properties ......no probiotics actually have milk products in them, but rather are used as a source of "good bacteria" to aid with digestion, allergies etc.

 

http://community.healthgate.com/GetContent...d=/tnp/pg000209

 

HTH

[Guest Nancy]

Thanks Chemar, I wouldn't have known the answer to that, although I know the probiotics are dairy free!

 

efgh,

 

My son has no trouble swallowing vitamins so I just buy the gel caps for him. I've never looked into the liquid oil.

[Guest ronna]

Thanks to all on all the great information. Kurt had tons of stuff over XMAS that he shouldn't have...for example, grandpa giving him chocolate because he felt "bad" for him, pizza night was a disaster etc. Today we will be back on track. Kurt takes the antibiotic clindamycin twice a day (morning and bedtime). Does anyone have any idea if the probiotics can be given at the same time? This week I will start with supplements again but it is always a struggle to work around his antibiotics, school hours etc to get enough in to him.

Ronna

[Chemar]

Ronna

I seem to recall Bonnie once suggesting a couple of HOURS between anti and Pro-Biotics.(I believe the thread is on BrainTalk somewhere and I think she suggested 3 hours spacing)

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Nancy, did you try avoiding TV for your son when he was ticcing constantly while watching TV. Did you have any clues as to why when was doing so well with supplements starts to tic ONLY when watching TV? Did he have tics even while playing on computer or playstation.

My son is in the same boat NOW. when he is on playstation (ON THE SAME TV) or on computer, he DOES NOT tic but starts ticcing constantly while watching TV. Dont know if I should start "NO TV Rule" shortly. would be happy to have your inputs on this.

Jennifer, probably your inputs too on this would help me.

[Chemar]

dear efgh

 

just a word of gentle caution.......it was pointed out by someone on another forum that one should be VERY careful not to let a child feel they are being punished for ticcing.....eg...if you son really loves TV, Computer, Playstation, and gets barred from it because it makes him tic....even tho you are trying to be a good parent and help remove tic triggers....yet, in the child's mind it equates to..."I tic and therefore I am being deprived of something I love because it makes me tic!"

 

I even had to appraoch the junk food issue with my son in a similar way.....more for him to realise that it was bad for him, rather than me being the "food police" all the time

Same with video games.......he now knows that explosive, flashing type games set his tics off and so limits his own time on them and sticks to ones that dont trigger the tics so much.....but we established this gradually and with his co-operation...rather than simply saying "No More!" and so perpetuating that "punished because I am ticcing" feeling......

 

hope I am conveying this in an understandable way !