To put things in perspective, Carmen was never an eater. She was also a terrible nurser; during her nursing tenure I got 4 breast infections. She would latch on then yank off. The only time that this was not as painful was when she was tired, but she still did it, just not with as much gusto. I knew that it was important to nurse her so I continued for 15 months. I pumped too and she’d yank off bottles as well, we tried 6 different nipple brands as well to find the right match and to save my breast from another infection. She had horrible gas and though she was not diagnosed with colic she had symptoms of that from the time she was very tiny. I started eliminating the usual suspects from my diet, milk, peanuts, broccoli, garlic, onions - and even a few other ones that were not particularly easy - such as chocolate, I wasn’t much of a milk drinker so that was not an issue but I did like cheese and yogurt but that too was taken out of my diet. Then, she began to get rashes, diaper rashes and rashes on her face around her lips and on her nose. It would not last very long but when she eliminated either urine or feces she would get a fire engine red rash immediately. We tried putting her in the tub with warm water but that would irritate her even more and she would scream. The only thing we could use was straight cornstarch and we had to blow it on her because she could not stand to be touched. It was unbearable to us to know that she was in that much pain and we could not help her, nor did we have any idea what was causing it. Doctors told us to just keep using the cornstarch because it helped. When she was six months old, we started adding solids to her diet. Her grandparents and I made all of her baby food for her and she ate the straight fruits and vegetables and mixed in rice. She did not seem to have the rash problem when we made the food for her. We’d make big batches and pour it in ice-cube trays, freeze it then take it out as needed.
We made mango, parsnips, carrots, summer squash, applesauce, pears, peaches, apricots, peas, green beans - you name it. She loved it and it seemed that there were a lot less problems. I re-introduced things to my diet though and she occasionally had rashes but we thought that it was either the weather or she was teething.
When she was about 16 months we first noticed an issue with food dye. We noticed when she ate it she would get a “mask” around her nose and mouth. It looked like acne but only lasted about a ½ hour. It was the same as when she was a tiny baby. Then, when she eliminated there was a rash on her bum. That angry red rash we’d seen since babyhood. Clue #2 -Something I noticed when my son, Patrick wanted a Hawaiian Punch type drink after he spilled it on his pants, in less than 2 minutes it dyed his skin. This is one of the clues that led me to discover Carmen’s food dye allergy. It looked just like her rashes. This was a huge indicator to me. I told my theory to Eric as I showed Patrick’s leg to Eric. Both of us realized that the dye was most likely the issue with Carmen. We cut this out of her diet we noticed there was much less of the rash on her rump and on her face. Food dye is in things you would not think needed it but it is everywhere thus began our “label reading” journey. We thought the allergies were conquered, unfortunately this was only the beginning.
Carmen could not calm easily, she had horrible nightmares or night terrors, which she would not wake from. She began sleepwalking as soon as she could walk. Her first time was when she was about 13 months. She’d wake up downstairs in our house in dark rooms screaming. She began to have headaches and what she called “earaches” which we later presumed were the beginnings of migraines as Eric gets those too. She could not communicate effectively as she was a toddler so we did not know what was wrong. Her “well child” check-ups went all right but she was very small. The Doctors just said she’d be petite. Nothing else was ever said. The regular Doctors did not know what was going on and like us did not put the pieces of the puzzle together.
My husband and I have been huge proponents of homeopathic medication since the very beginning and with our son, Patrick who is 4 years older than Carmen. We used all the calming medications we could. Chamomile, Bella Donna and then we discovered Naturally Calm - Magnesium. That worked wonders but it did not solve the basic problem of Carmen not eating. She never was an eater, no matter what we put in front of her (unless it was sticky rice - short to medium grain only - oriental rice). We knew she must have been hungry but she would not eat. We just accepted this as who she was, though it was disheartening.
Patrick was never a big eater either and he would use whatever excuse he could to get out of eating. He would have just rather been playing or something rather than eating. He thought eating was a monumental waste of time. He would be content (to this day) to drink all of his nutrients while on the go! I just thought that both of my kids were not eaters and that was the way it was.
When Carmen was 4, she started complaining her tummy hurt in the middle of almost every meal. Patrick did the same thing but that was to get out of eating because he is a very picky eater and liked the excuse of a stomachache because you cannot prove that. I really just thought that she was parroting her brother. I’d tell her to eat more, because I knew she needed to eat. I did not want my kids living off of sunshine and air. It wasn’t until she was doubled over rolling on the floor crying that I knew she was telling the truth. I have tremendous guilt over this. I suspected wheat, but I knew I needed a diagnosis.
I started to research allergy testing, and scheduled her for traditional allergy testing. After talking with my sister, I was very concerned when she told me that it involved blood-draws. Carmen never calmed easily and would not submit to that kind of test without heavy sedation. I opted for the Naturopath way.
We went to visit the Naturopath. She did tests on Carmen to include energy testing and Kinesiology. Whether you believe in this or not, what the Doctor discovered changed our lives, eating habits and Carmen’s growth pattern forever.
She was found to be allergic to commercial chicken, dairy, antibiotics, artificial food dye, hormones and wheat. She also had a hormone imbalance, which was affecting her brain and growth. Built up over time it would have caused a myriad of issues to include migraines and mental health complications.
After the diagnosis, I cried. I cried for not knowing and for my daughter not sleeping, the sleepwalking, the nightmares, the not eating, the failure to calm down, the hunger she must have felt and the sheer pain that eating caused her. I am her mother and I couldn’t see it. I felt like the worst mother in the world. Not to mention, neglectful and non-attentive to my daughter’s issues. I felt like a child abuser in the true sense of the words.
I immediately went home and began to purge my pantry, freezer, refrigerator, cabinets - you name it. I pulled out some halibut from the freezer and some procuttio ham and made it for dinner. I watched as Carmen ate it along with the rice and carrots I had made with it. I was so relieved. She then wanted “dessert” so I sliced up a fresh apple and that satisfied her. Though the learning curve was just beginning.
I felt like this huge weight had been lifted off of me. I started to buy “alternative” pasta’s because she loved noodles, (some are better than others let me tell you). I bought organic chicken and eggs too. I started an adventure into the land of “gluten-free” as well. My celiac friends advice has been phenomenal.
My brother is a game hunter and game has no hormones in it so he gave us some. Moose ground sausage, hamburger, pastrami, hot dogs, summer sausage and hunter sticks were welcome additions and variations to our menu. We also had the freezer full of Alaskan fish, halibut and salmon. The Natuopath said it was the best thing for Carmen to help clean her system and get her intestines “happy” again. We ate a lot of game that first month and every night Carmen finished what was on her plate and asked for more. This was more powerful to me than words can express.
When Carmen was given the blanket diagnosis of “dairy” allergy we really thought it was lactose. We had switched to a “non-fat” or “lactose free” and she drank one particular brand of lactose free milk without a problem (turned out to be a hormone-free brand) but when we ventured away from that brand, she had problems. She complained of her tummy hurting again. I could not understand. Carmen also loved Carnation Instant Breakfast, but after about a week on the new diet she became ill and threw-up. I thought we needed to switch to soy milk and soy products. I was crestfallen when I thought she could not have any dairy at all because it is such a huge staple in American diets. Though I was willing to try anything to keep her healthy.
By complete coincidence, I spoke with someone who went to Culinary Institutes of America about Carmen’s milk problem, he asked if she was allergic to chicken and I said that was one of her allergens. He shook his head and suggested I try organic milk and milk products. I asked why - he said because most people who have an allergy to chicken because of the hormones that are fed to commercial chicken and it goes to the muscle tissue. Those same hormones are fed to dairy cows and it goes directly to the milk. I told him we’d give it a try. I recall we tried a specific kind of yogurt, called Yo-Baby. I was hoping beyond all hope that Carmen would not be doubled over crying in pain. To my surprise, she asked for more and was giggly and happy. We started slowly introducing organic dairy into her life and she has thrived. What a wonderful thing to have happen.
Carmen craved chicken, she wanted it all the time, she wanted KFC she wanted chicken nuggets, teriyaki chicken, homemade fried chicken but she’d eat two bites and she’s day she was full. As you can imagine, KFC with the flour breading and possibly buttermilk coating or chicken nuggets with the breading or even teriyaki with soy sauce which also has wheat (that was a shocker to me). They were all gut-busters for her. Of course she was “full” she associated “full” with pain. The very first time I gave her organic chicken (which was also kosher) she devoured it and wanted more. This was a tear-jerk moment for Eric and I as well. She did not hurt. It is difficult to describe the feeling of your kid finally eating and liking it. Not needing to lay down after eating or in pain. She was in pain most of her life and we did not know. When we discovered the key there was no stopping us.
We found that the hormones and the antibiotics fed to livestock is a culprit in hidden ways as well. Cattle and pigs process these additives in their milk, organs, and bones. Therefore, broth, stock, bouillon, sausage and certain lunchmeats are out of the question. Interesting to note however that turkey for whatever reason processes these hormones differently than other avian’s. Before you go buy out the lunchmeat section - a caveat - turkey hot dogs, turkey bacon and certain turkey lunchmeats (like bologna) are not clear from the hormones.
We have gone organic in more ways than one. I did not know it but I started on this path long ago. I have been processing my own jams and jellies for years now. I grew up doing that out of necessity. Living in Alaska, food was very expensive and unreliable with the quality and freshness. If you did not hunt, fish, garden and process you did not eat. My daughter thrives on homemade jams and jellies. There are no food additives to deal with. She does very, very well with these things. We process birch syrup, rhubarb, blueberries, currants, raspberries and fireweed. I actually had never had grape jelly until I was in college.
Another thing that we began doing, prior to Carmen’s diagnosis is get a box of fresh fruits and vegetables sent to us from a place in Carnation, Washington called Full Circle Farm www.fullcirclefarm.com. As I said, fruits and vegetables in Alaska are normally not ripe or not “ready”. If you want a pear 3 days from now, buy it today. It is difficult to imagine this if you are close to farms but Alaska’s growing season is very short and we relish that fresh produce as if it were gold. If you grew-up on canned and frozen stuff, you know nothing beats fresh.
One of the other things we began to notice is severely chapped hands on Carmen - the obvious offender of that, antibacterial soap. We no longer have that in our house.
Many families rely on fast-food from time to time and our restaurants of choice were Taco Bell and Subway. Patrick is a carb fiend. He is very active and his body demands it. Subway works for him but not for Carmen. She doesn’t like the salads because there are too many “things” in it. The only place we go now is Taco Bell - Carmen gets the hard taco with beef and no cheese. She surprisingly can eat that with no problems. There are no artificial dyes in that mix either.
Three months after her diagnosis of allergies, she had grown almost an inch and a half. She was finally growing. When going to the General Practioner Doctor before mandatory school physical she is no longer in the 3% height and 5% weight - she is now 25% height and 10% weight what a welcome relief.
In my journey (which, I am sure is not over) I have discovered a few very valuable things:
1) Every recipe can be modified.
2) You don’t have to pull your hair out trying to find things that taste good and are quick and easy.
3) It is not as time intensive as it seems.
4) Having a healthy child is worth the process of finding the right things.
5) There are a ton of wonderful resources.
6) The organic section is not as difficult to navigate as you think.
7) Gluten-Free does not mean tasteless.
8) Listen to your instincts.
9) Keep your mind open.
10) Don’t listen to people who say, “Oh, she’ll eventually grow out of it” because you MUST live in the here and now. There is no “eventually” in the life is a child. They are experts at staying in the here and now. Sure, they could grow out of it - but what is important is now. Find what works eliminate what doesn’t and move forward.
Interesting story! I went through very similar issues with my son, and although he can now eat most foods without problem, we still continue the habit of organic, local, and natural. Not to mention, gluten-free, but that is my issue, not his.
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate enough to raise our own chicken and pork to supplement the fish and moose of our diet, and much of our produce is out of my garden and orchard. It's a lot of work, but very worth it.
Keep up the informative blog!