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Original poster

Recipe Book required

28 replies

Joe1 · 13/01/2002 20:23

As I have mentioned on another thread, I had my son tested on Saturday for food stuffs that might be causing his itchy skin condition. I have been advised to exclude a few things including dairy (ok with goats and sheep milk and cheese), yeast, tomatoes, mushrooms, sugar and a few others. I am also going to exclude these as I am still feeding him.
I would like a book that includes recipes that dont include the above, anybody got any good ones or can recommend any? Im afraid, at the moment I have a mental block on the creative side and fear we may starve.

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jasper · 14/01/2002 00:22

Joel, what did the tests involve?
Did the tester claim your son has an allergy/intollerance to the foods you list?

Original poster
Joe1 · 14/01/2002 11:18

Jasper, he was tested with 100 foodstuffs. The results were more an intolerance and we might be able to reintroduce as he gets older. I could go into detail about the tests but unless you are into alternative therapies you will just go 'oh yeah'.

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sml · 14/01/2002 13:29

Joe1, this is exactly the yeasts/fungi/moulds/sugar combination that I had to avoid around 10 years ago when I had a persistent candida infection, plus reacting to cows milk. I started eating the yeasts etc again after around 5 years and was OK, but the milk reaction has stayed, though it's ok with all the goats milk products you can get these days.(www.sthelens-farm.co.uk if you don't already know them)

I used to eat soda bread (you can buy it at most supermarkets) also oatcakes if they haven't got malt flavouring in. I used the soda bread dough as a base for pizzas too (they don't have to have tomatoes on!) I also ate a lot of "sugar free" products that are sweetened with stuff like concentrated fruit syrups. Beware of this, I overdid it and started getting headaches, which were due to too much fructose.

It must be really difficult to do the sugar free thing with a child - suggest snacks like olives (my children love them) as well as obvious ones like crisps and fruit. Maybe you could use artifical sweeteners too?

I found several recipe books in health food shops, but really the best thing is going through any good book and crossing out the ones you can't have - there's still a lot left.
Good luck, and hope your son gets better soon.

Original poster
Joe1 · 14/01/2002 14:34

Thanks Sml, I have started through books but will have to get some more. We have started eating soda bread which we both like. We also have to avoid sultanas, oranges, aspartame, quorn (mushroom based), beef, prawns, corn, coke, monosodium Glutamate, BHT E321 and Sodium Metabisulphite (I think thats all of them including the ones I mentioned earlier). Atleast from your experience its not going to be an ongoing thing for the rest of his life, he will probably just have to be careful not to overdo any one thing. Its funny, I have suffered from similar symptons on my face and have always put it down to make-up, looks like it wasnt.

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robinw · 14/01/2002 19:19

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jasper · 15/01/2002 00:51

Joe1 please don't take this the wrong way, it's not a question of being into alternative things or not, but about whether the tests have any reputable value at all.
My sister is a GP with an interest in child nutrition, food intolerances and things like that. She says the marketplace is absolutlely stuffed full of private clinics doing "tests" which claim to be able to determine food allergies/intolerances and many of them have absolutely NO basis whatsoever and are just preying on the fears of parents.
I was just concerned that your son was getting good advice and no-one was being conned.I do appreciate that when you are at the end of your tether you might try anything.
I am genuinely interested in how they tested for 100 foodstuffs.
Good luck with getting rid of the itch!
How old is your little boy?

robinw · 15/01/2002 07:08

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Original poster
Joe1 · 15/01/2002 11:07

Thanks for your concern Jasper and your support robinw. I only came on for a quick look as Im abit pushed for time right now so will reply in detail as soon as poss. I will say one thing, his 'ezcema' was brought on by something as he didnt have it from birth. My doctor has told me that they just have it and there is no cure just control, I disagree with my son. All the medication he has had nothing has worked and like robinw I did not want to see him on this all his life. I had already reconigsed that chocolate had caused flair ups so that is the sugar and milk. The lady I went to has been doing it for 16 years, is registered and tests at some health clinics, believe me, I have a very open mind but not easily conned.

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Original poster
Joe1 · 15/01/2002 11:08

Jasper, I will pop to the library, why do I never think of that?

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robinw · 15/01/2002 19:36

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Bron · 16/01/2002 10:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pupuce · 16/01/2002 10:58

Joe1 - have you heard of the book "what should I feed my baby" by Suzannah Olivier. It is full of nutrional advice and has interesting recipes. As the author is quite "anti cow's milk, sugar, etc..." you will find interesting ideas in it I am sure.

Sml... It is true that it's hard to avoid sugar when your kids eat out (nursery, friends, etc ) but DS hardly ever has anything containing sugar at home. I just don't use sugar when I cook (except his birthday cakes). I don't buy ready meals and as he isn't use to sugary stuff he refuses his pud at nursery on most days ! I think it is so important to avoid getting them hooked on (refined) sugar... it brings nothing good to your body !
One of my postnatal girlfriend gave tea (diluted with lots of milk) to her daughter before she was even one... when I questioned her, she said that her daughter liked a hot drink !!!!! Come on :

  1. When did her daughter discover hot drinks ????
  2. If she did like it, then give her something other than hot tea ... like warm milk or even warm water! This girlfriend comes to my house with white chocolate for the kids... and when I run into her at the supermarket her daughter who is now 2 is always with a sweet in her mouth. Her daughter suffers from bad eczema and her mother just doesn't know what might cause it... how do you tell her to start by cutting down on the unhealthy eating habits !?!?!
Original poster
Joe1 · 16/01/2002 11:54

Pupuce Ill look for that book at the weekend. Perhaps you could print this thread out for your friend

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cocococo · 01/02/2002 22:30

Sorry this is a bit long but I'm hoping someone might have some advice. My DS is nearly 6 months and since weaning he has developed an itchy head. Either side of his forehead, at the base of his ears and the back of his head become red and dry and then he scratches like mad for relief, often digging his nails in and making the skin bleed. It is heart-breaking to watch him tearing at his face and he also does it when he is tired.

He's only had fruit, veg, rice and millet so far as we are avoiding meat and gluten until he hits 6 months. He was exclusively BF until recently and when I started weaning I introduced formula, now he has one BF a day and 3 bottles of formula.

I have been backwards and forwards to my GP and always come out with a huge perscription but nothing seems to work. We are currently using fragrance free oilatum in the bath and as a shampoo (he has lots of hair!), we rub diprobase in all over (tried aqueous & various others) and her last shot was a tube of canestan! I am not happy about the canestan as it is a steriod and I'm very worried about the side affects.

It isn't itchy all the time it flares up once or twice during the day and then is settled in between and usually when I am with the GP you can't see it at all!

It is especially itchy in the morning and after a bath, his whole face and head feels very dry and flakey. Its got to the stage where in the morning I'm leaning into the cot and rubbing diprobase in to his face before I even lift him out of the cot for a cuddle!

Any alternative ideas for heling him?

Original poster
Joe1 · 02/02/2002 10:11

Cocococo, you could be explaining my son, I know how hard it is to watch. I have had him tested privately for food intolernaces and if you read lower I have listed the ones that showed. I too have had numerous precriptions of all different creams from the docotors with nothing working. Calpol helps with piriton. I have cut out all the food listed and we can see a difference and as I am still feeding I have done the same. Went back to the docs at the beginning of the week (I beleive the food intolerances are the problem but can take several months to clear the system so wanted to see if there was anything at all to help my sons itching in the meantime) and insisted on a referrel which has come through very quickly (doctor insisted on an urgent appointment) for Tuesday. I have asked him on a previous visit about homeopathic remedies and he wasnt too keen at that time. This visit he mentioned that they are getting better results with homeopathic remedies but he has to go the route of the specialist first. I will let you know what is said on Tuesday and hopefully might be able to give you some hope. I expect you are as exhausted as I am as I am generally up for a few hours every night.

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cocococo · 03/02/2002 12:19

Hi Joe1, nice to know there's someone else out there going through the same IYKWIM. It is awful isnt it - I think somehow having it on the head is worse as everyone notices and passes comment. I find it so hard to stop him scratching and usually people question me about why DS isnt wearing scratch mitts! Id have to tie them on with elastic bands and then put him in a straight jacket to keep them on LOL! I can't wait to hear what they say at your referral. My doc thinks homeopathy is something you do to your house!

Original poster
Joe1 · 04/02/2002 09:03

The more I talk to people the more common it is. I only had, at the most, 3 hours sleep last night and in the early weeks of pregnancy with no2 Im knackered.
My mum works with a lady whos son didnt start the same thing until he was nearly two. She says she covers him in E45 then sits on his hands LOL. I dont think mittens would work for ds as he will still rub and get friction burns.
I will let you tomorrow whats said, ds looks worse than normal so the doc will be able to see it at its worse instead of a good day.

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Original poster
Joe1 · 04/02/2002 09:05

Oh and what does IYKWIM mean?? lack of sleep is my excuse for seeming dumb.

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Hilary · 04/02/2002 13:08

If you know what I mean.

Don't worry, it took me a while to work it out too!

Hilary · 04/02/2002 13:11

If you know what I mean.

Don't worry, it took me a while to work it out too!

Hilary · 04/02/2002 13:11

Sorry, I'm starting to repeat myself...

Original poster
Joe1 · 04/02/2002 17:31

Thank you Hilary.

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Original poster
Joe1 · 06/02/2002 09:49

Cocococo, well after over 2 hours at the hospital we are all feeling alot better. The doctors were really nice and took their time with a specialist nurse to hand at all hours. We have been given aload of new medication, and not all the hard stuff I thought they would give us. We also had blood tests for allergies to house dust mites, dogs and horses (we have 2 of each). We have new moisturiser, hydrocortisone ointment, shampoo and medicine (which is a none sedative which, after talking to the doctor, has been making ds grumpy so making him worse). They gave me lots of easy none medication tips to help his scalp, like covering with vaseline before going to bed to help remove the dry skin. Ds still woke in the night but I am expecting it to get better from now on. He is alot happier today and his face has only red patches instead of the dry bits where it had weeped and no itching as yet. If you want all the names of the stuff I have been given so you can mention it to your doctor I can or I would just go and ask for a referral, an urgent one, and speak to the specialist, it seems to be worth it for us so far after just over twelve hours. Fingers crossed it will just get better and better. I have another appointment with the nurse in 2 weeks with follow up ones with her and one with the doctor in 8 weeks. Good luck.

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Pupuce · 06/02/2002 12:39

Joe1, did you ever find that book I suggested ?

Original poster
Joe1 · 06/02/2002 12:42

Thanks for reminding me. Dh went to get it and asked if I wanted it ordered and havnt heard anything since so I will be having a word with him tonight. Although we have started to re-introduce some foods after the doctor was abit concerned about cutting out too many foods for a baby.

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