One step forward... ten steps back!

Well the best laid plans (of mice and men).... one step forward (two steps backwards).... all of these sayings are running through my head at the moment, because while we thought we were on one path, God and life in general has steered us onto a completely different one!!

A week ago while on a school excursion to the local library I hit some uneven ground, rolled my ankle and fell over. Yep - that simple! Yet, it's not just a roll, it's a fracture. A chunk of bone came off my ankle as I pulled the tendons. Oh wait, but not just that. I pulled the tendons (and ligaments) on the inside of my ankle, the outside of my ankle and the big and important one that sits between the foot and the leg bones. I did a REALLY GOOD JOB of it! Oh yes, I also hurt my left arm, back, neck and shoulders in the process as I literally went straight down (tiiimmm-berrrrrr!).

I'm in a world of pain, but worse than that... I'm frustrated!!! I've been working so hard this year on extra curricular activities - a learning management system (LIFE) that I've become Key Teacher for at my school; school camp (happening next week), the school Multicultural Festival (happening in September); wonderful, detailed and exciting units of work.... all completely out the window as I am completely out of action for the rest of the term.

As I'm sure you can image, with a 2.5yo running around the house and a wife laid up in bed and only just able to move from bed to bathroom to couch thanks to a moon boot and crutches, my husband is looking for easy and simple... so our plan to do the Elimination Diet is out the window until we're back on our feet - literally!

Help is at hand!!

Today I made an appointment for Monday to see Sharon Wilford, the naturopath who I saw when my allergies were at their worst a few years ago.

I am looking forward to having her explain a bit more of this to Chris and help the two of us journey with Fletcher towards wellness and understanding!

Sharon Wilford

Back to the Allergist

Fletcher stopped taking his medicated formula in about May as the prescription we had didn't specify vanilla and the new chemist took that to the letter of the law and wouldn't give us vanilla. Despite the allergist, paediatrician and GP all stating it was okay.. he refused. And so Fletcher refused to drink the plain old Elecare LCP - and to be honest, I don't blame him... it's awful!!

So... being 6mths over due for his 2 year check up at Allergy Medical I booked him in to see the Professor. 

Wow - what a whirlwind and amazing visit. The Professor diagnosed Fletcher and I almost on site,but proceeded to complete the skin prick testing to confirm.

Drumroll....

We both have a severe chemical sensitivity.

Now this is upsetting but not at all surprising. What's a severe chemical sensitivity you ask? Well, it's what causes those dark and/or red  circles under your eyes... the blotchiness on fair skin, the tickle in your ears, nose and throat at night (particularly around 8pm). It's having to blow your nose in the morning so that you can speak without sounding like Fran Drescher. It's those strange red marks you get around your mouth after eating pineapple, strawberries and other acidic fruits. It's the reason people do the Elimination Diet and, it's what my Mum was diagnosed with years ago.

What does this mean?

Foods vary greatly in natural chemical composition. The substances most likely to upset sensitive people are salicylates (family of plant chemicals - think bright in colour high in salicylates), amines (proteins found within foods that increase as foods age, mature or ripen) and glutamate (an amino acid building block of all proteins - it enhances the flavour of foods). There's of course also food additives to keep in mind! As severely chemically sensitive people, Fletcher and I need to be careful with our foods and complete the Elimination Diet (either moderate or severe) to work out exactly what chemicals we react to. It might be food or environment based, it might be salycilates, amines, glutamates or all three! Who know, until you get your body back to base line and introduce things slowly and see what you react to.

So this is where we are at in our journey.

I was seeing a wonderful naturopath, Sharon Wilford a few years ago and I am looking forward to asking her advice on how we proceed with this.

I will keep you posted!