Food Allergy Recovery

Although you may identify one or more allergies yourself, chances are that what you figure out on your own is only the tip of the iceberg. If you eat strawberries and within minutes blossom into an itchy, full-body rash, you won't need a doctor to tell you they don't agree with you and perhaps you will want to avoid them in the future. But most reactions aren't that clear or immediate.

Delayed reactions may occur a few to several hours later, and the symptoms may be diverse and subtle. Fatigue and depression are just as common as headache or bellyache. Other symptoms may include joint pains, disturbed sleep, hyperactivity, lethargy, "fuzzy thinking", inability to concentrate, bedwetting in older children, overwhelming fatigue, and others.

The delay further confuses us because if you start to experience a symptom at 4 PM, do you assume it was something you ate for lunch? Or was it breakfast? Might it even be from dinner last night? To further muddy the waters, are you reacting to the food itself or to a pesticide or other chemical residue in or on it? It is overwhelming!

Chances are good that you will need to work with an enlightened physician and undergo allergy testing to really sort out what's bothering you - and determine what to do about it. Sometimes finding a doctor to work with can be the toughest part of recovery. Because such doctors are not in all communities, you may have to travel a few hours to find this special kind of physician. For a physician referral in your area, contact the:
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
7701 E. Kellogg, Suite 625
Wichita, KS 62707-1705
Telephone: 316-684-5500

Avoid Major Allergens
Once identified, most doctors will probably suggest avoiding the worst allergens. For example, wheat, corn, egg, cane sugar, and milk may be such a major part of the problem that if you eliminate them you may be 50% better. This boost in how you are feeling may provide the energy and determination you need to persevere in your quest for better health and quality of life. Later when you're much better you may be able to tolerate these foods again, at least occasionally.

Eat Minor Allergens Less Frequently
Minor allergens tend to be most troublesome when eaten daily, or even at every meal. Just spacing your less severe allergens out to about four day intervals can reduce their ability to make you ill.

Avoid Repetitious Eating Patterns
A special diet has been devised, called The Rotary Diversified Diet, to help you space foods appropriately. Most people respond to a four-day rotation, while some do better on a five- or seven-day rotation.

Explore Unusual Foods
Once you eliminate major allergens and space out minor ones, there may not be enough food choices among familiar foods to create decent menus. This is why so many people with food allergies need to become familiar with a much greater variety of foods - unusual fruits and vegetables, perhaps wild game meat, less common types of fish, and so on.

Maintain a Positive Attitude
Don't waste time mourning the loss of familiar and favorite foods. Focus instead on the joy of discovering NEW favorite foods. Many families come to enjoy the great variety of foods they are exposed to when they broaden their diet. They view this aspect of coping with allergies as a real "perc" - a reason to try some of the less common foods they never would have tasted otherwise. Bottom line: Have a little fun with it all!

Do Your Homework
Learn as much as you can about your illness and your treatment options (very important). Read, study, discuss with others. Learn. Be sure to explore ALL treatment options before settling on your personal gameplan for recovery.