Rotation diets for food allergies and food sensitivites

[Anonymous]

I have a 3yo son who has an exhaustive list of food allergies and sensitivities (he has leaky gut). We continue to loose new foods because he should be on a rotation diet and I have not had time to formally implement it... my husband can't focus enough to follow it. My son most likely has ADHD. He has a developmental delay diagnosis and also has SPD. We have been able to drastically reduce the symptoms he exhibits with dietary changes (gluten and casein free, etc). My son also received OT for a little over a year.

I'd like to talk with parents who have or have had their children on rotation diets about their experiences. I'd also like referrals for professionals who can customize a rotation diet for my son so we can implement the diet immediately. I'd also appreciate it if anyone has referrals for support groups, etc.

If you are able to talk individually, please email me at [e-mail] and send me you phone number. I can also send you my number if you'd feel more comfortable. If not, please post info here so others can benefit from the info.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I will try emailing you later as we have some things in common, but just wanted to post you may want to contact Dr. Pamela Compart. I posted here in case anyone has feedback. She's a dev ped in MD who is also a DAN Dr and she is a supporter of GFCF, etc. She even co-authored the cookbook I have for kids with ADHD and ASD on special diets. We considered seeing her, but you have to commit to 3 sessions and we weren't ready to commit to that financially unless thrilled. If you do see her, please post and let me know what you think.

[rblumgart]

What is a DAN Dr. and also what is GFCF?

[Anonymous]

GFCF is gluten free and casein (dairy) free diet. A lot of kids with autism and/or ADHD who have digestive issues have benefitted from it, but for some kids it does nothing. A DAN Dr. is technically a "defeat autism now" doctor, but people bring kids with all sorts of issues. They are doctors with medical degrees who are much more into working with treatments like vitamin supplements, special diets, fish oil supplements. The mainstream folks used to look down on these Drs as though they practiced vodoo medicine, but now that some research is supporting some of this stuff, it is taken more seriously. That said you have to be careful. Some DAN drs. push dangerous doses of B vitamins and are very into chelation which is contraversial.

[Anonymous]

OP - could you tell us how you determined your child had a "leaky gut" and how the food sensitivities/allergies manifested? We just did bloodwork for a host of foods (wheat, soy, dairy...) as we have a feeding issue and the experts wanted to check. We still need to talk with our allergist and the folks at Kennedy Krieger to interpret the data, but the bloodwork showed low to medium immunoglobulin E (IgE) response on many of the foods. Interestingly, to our knowledge we have only had one actual allergic reaction (2 egg - immediate flush, drooling, diareaha) that was resolved with benadryl. We do now carry an epi-pen.

Anyway, hearing your story might help me ask intelligent questions as we continue on our journey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - could you tell us how you determined your child had a "leaky gut" and how the food sensitivities/allergies manifested? We just did bloodwork for a host of foods (wheat, soy, dairy...) as we have a feeding issue and the experts wanted to check. We still need to talk with our allergist and the folks at Kennedy Krieger to interpret the data, but the bloodwork showed low to medium immunoglobulin E (IgE) response on many of the foods. Interestingly, to our knowledge we have only had one actual allergic reaction (2 egg - immediate flush, drooling, diareaha) that was resolved with benadryl. We do now carry an epi-pen.

Anyway, hearing your story might help me ask intelligent questions as we continue on our journey.

Not OP, but we have experience with the biomedical approach (which is what DAN doctors follow). The food sensitivities are typically dx via IgG testing rather than IgE testing. I was very willing to call it bunk, but when we removed the list of 9 foods my daughter tested highly positive for, we saw some amazing changes. We have tried to reintroduce a couple of the foods, but (coincidentally?) had what appeared to be reactions. So the 9 foods go out the window, and we have a much happier, more flexible, more social, outgoing child in return.

My daughter had a constantly extremely bloated tummy, eczema, SPD, anxiety, frequent night terrors, and daily epic meltdowns.