multiple allergies, food Intolerances & eczema

[snapper]

My 3 yr old daughter has multiple allergies, food intolerances and eczema. Trying ro find food that she can eat is a nightmare as is trying to make interesting meals for her. Amongst her worst allergies are nut & sesame and egg and Intolerances are tomatoes, citrus fruit and dairy. Actualy doesn't leave that much over at the end of the day as so many products contain nut, sesame or tomato, even those you don't expect!
Things aren't getting much better with eczema either, despite trying lots, (homeopathy, traditional & chinese medicine!) and eliminating all of the above & more from her diet. I just want to stop her endless stratching, so she can have a good nights sleep....Is anyone having similiar problems, or can offer information that might help? Or got any exciting new recipes to spice up our menu?

I think you are very courageous.... I can't begin to imagine how difficult this can be.
My only suggestion is to speak to Elena Schalburg (see other discussion on eczema) and see if she feels her products might work. She gives free samples as well so you might want to try this without spending any money... especially as you have tried so many things.
Her first point is always to try the find the cause and obviously you have.
Good luck !

I can sympathise with you Snapper, my ds is 1 and allergic to all dairy,soya and wheat, which is a nightmare for me. He gets eczema very badly from wheat and a rash and diarrhoea from the others. Interestingly enough he is ok with egg, so it makes it a bit easier for me.

We use rice a lot as a substitute, and you can get rice noodles from the blue dragon range of cooking too. My son usually drinks nutramigen milk (on prescription) as it is dairy and soya free, and they actually do recipe cards to try and inspire. I got mine form the dietician at my local hospital. It might be worth talking to them as they often have things like that in stock.

I found that eliminating the culprits completely have helped my ds no end, but can always tell when something has sneaked in from his reactions. We tried to introduce him to dairy about 3 weeks ago with a teeny amount of fromage frais and have paid for it with 2 weeks + of diarrhoea, thankfully getting back to normal now. But I agree it is extremely hard to be 100% sure about diet the whole time.

Apart from the usual lotions and potions when his eczema is epecially bad, I found that an anti-histamine at night settled him enough to get a few hours sleep. The docs precribe vallergan for him, and it does work, although I wouldn't use it for more than a few days at a time.

Ds like bolognese with rice noodles, chili, fruit, rice, chicken, certain types of curry have nothing untoward in them for him. I can't specifically give any recipes dd would like but I am sure your dietician has many ideas. We always come out laden down with recipe ideas on our visits.

Good luck anyway

Thank you for that info lou33 and pupuce! Also wanted to ask if any one had any suggestions on the best soap alternatives and washing powders, we have tried several different ones, but it is hard to know with all the different factors involved! Our consultant (leading dermatologist) didn't think it made much difference?... but we are not quite sure we agree with that.
Our 3 yr old has also been prescribed Becotide Rotocap steroids to be taken orally. We wanted to know if any one has any experience with this particular steroid with a young child. We are anxious about it, but also want to do something to help her break this vicious cycle. Any tips?

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Can't help on the steroid front I'm afraid, although oldest dd used to have becotide inhaler for her asthma. Fairy is ok for my baby and his skin, although Filetti is also pretty good and for sensitive skins. I would have thought that fabric conditioners being heavily perfumed have a a lot of irritants, though don't quote me on that! Maybe something like a Surcare fab con (and washing powder) would be better as they are for sensitive skins.

This sounds like a weird thing, but one of my friends has a toddler with these probs as well and finds that fish, esp oily fish, helps on all fronts. It's a good source of non dairy protein, and the oil in the diet seems to ease the eczema.
Even my children who eat anything and have no allergies have been known to react to fabric conditioner. I have always used fairy to wash their clothes.

Actually, fp it's not that weird cos eczema can be linked to a deficiency in gamma-lineoic acids (GLA) which are found in oily fish and evening primrose oil. Unfortunately my dd who has eczema is also allergic to tuna of all things!

I have been on Elenas site and ordered some trial products, so looking forward to seeing if that helps! Has anyone tried the suncream products?
Am also going to look on the lactoseintolerance site.
When there are so many allergies involved it's so hard to keep track sometimes of what is causing what....have been reading the allergy bible and a complete guide to food allergy and food intolerance which we are finding useful, if mindboggling as well at times. I have also found quite a few products from allergycare recently like diary/nut/wheat free chocolate and egg replacer (Sainsbury stock some products) as do Fresh & wild (Stoke Newington) if anyone wants to have a look. Also Kinnerton do a very limited range of cakes and chocolates that guarantee a nut-free zone (also stocked by Sainsburys). everytime I find a new product I get rather excited! Luckily my little girl is very willing to try new things and is so very aware of what she can and can't eat which is very helpful (especially when she is a nursery etc). But is is so good to have found things like the chocolate so she doesn't constantly have to feel she is different! Does anyone else find reading labels in Supermarkets very boring?!
Thank you again for all the replies, every bit of advice helps.

Snapper - will you post your views (good or bad) on Elena's creams once you start using them ?
Maybe under the discussion :
Do Elena Schalburg products work ?
Thanks

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Just got onto this thread... sorry to hear of your troubles. I really sympathise as my 3 boys also have multiple allergies. Its especailly hard at Easter?christmas and parties.. we always end up taking our own foodeverywhere!
There are some great foods available on prescription ( if you're eligible ) or even to buy at Sainsburys/Tescos never mind health food stores. However one ace find of late is OAT ICE CREAM (First glace) which our health store orders for us and the boys adore it.
I find roast dinners are good ,provided its all home done. Luckily my boys will also eat stir fry and curry.. alot of asian food is dairy/egg and wheat free, though you often have to juggle ingredients a bit ( No soy sauce for us!)
good luck anyway and at least we know we're not alone!

Snapper, Sainsburys at least will send you a list of their products that are egg and dairy free - maybe other stuff as well but this is the bit I needed (call the customer care line) I find their labelling the best. At least it means I don't have to assume that unspecified 'flavourings' will contain milk for their products.
Tufty - if it's wheat you need to avoid there is a wheat free soy sauce available - can't work out if soya is a problem too from your message - so this may not be a help.

Lizp thank you for thetip but yes we're allergic to soya too!

Snapper, I tried Elena Scharlburg's creams on Pupuce's recommendation and so far so good. They seem to be doing the trick. Also I give her camomile drops (from health shop) which help to calm her down and therefore stop her eczema flaring up too much (seems to be related to her temper and when she gets overheated). With regard to calming her skin for night, I have just started using Elena's creams but before that used to massage her with evening primrose oil.