A Long Time Coming... part 2

Now, I had heard the term GAPS diet mentioned in the FPIES circle before. I only knew that it was even more restrictive than paleo, and that it involved bone broth, in a belief that one could potentially repair the damage in the gut, and heal the body from FPIES... how very little I knew.

It turns out, GAPS is also recommended by the Weston A. Price Foundation (a non profit org "dedicated to restoring nutrient dense foods to the american diet through education, research and activism.") The Weston Price Foundation believes that it's possible to reverse damage to many parts of the body through dietary changes. In a nutshell, it believes that the whole body is connected, and by not feeding the body properly, that many of our modern health problems can be fixed by reverting to more traditional methods of eating. This means eliminating sugars and grains, eating grass fed meats, and eating a diet rich in vegetables, bone broth and probiotics. As it turns out, many FPIES parents have significantly benefited from the GAPS diet with their little ones. For us, it was worth the shot to attempt it. If not to reverse or prevent further damage to B's teeth, then to at least help her get through the stage of her life where FPIES is the star.

We have now been on the GAPS diet for 3 weeks. I am also eating on the GAPS diet. We did not do the intro diet, as she is over the age of 2, and the intro diet is so restrictive that switching cold turkey would have made it too difficult for us. Instead, we are doing a closer version to the full GAPS diet. We eliminated grains, sweeteners (except raw honey which is allowed), starchy vegetables (like potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc.) We have switched her back to goats milk (off of almond milk), added in fermented foods (like sauerkraut), fermented dairy (like kefir), bone broth, grass fed butters and animal fats, and more non-starchy veggies (like squash!) We can't do coconut, so coconut oil had to be set aside, even though it's permissible on GAPS. Instead, we are using olive oil (with low heat cooking or raw) or ghee (clarified butter) or grass feed butter for anything we cook with higher temps.

In this time, B has seemed to be doing a little better. She's had a very coincidental language burst, coinciding with some other odd symptoms that could technically be her body detoxing on the GAPS diet. We did discover a 5th cavity in her mouth as well, and we think the dentist just didn't see it the first time around with her squirming around during her initial visit. The second dentist confirmed that without treatment that she will likely lose the teeth early, and that it could potentially cause nerve damage and damage to her permanent adult teeth. This hurt. My heart felt like it was breaking, and I felt nauseous to think we would have to undergo surgery at such a young age with so many significant risks (FPIES and both the long term/general side effects of anesthesia on toddlers).  We have scheduled the procedure for the 10th of September, and hope to come through it without issue. In the mean time, we will continue with GAPS and hope to prevent any further damage to her teeth, and prepare her body for the harsh conditions of surgery. If GAPS makes any improvement for her, I will try to start regularly updating this blog. I wish that there was a handbook for parents of children with FPIES. It would certainly make things a lot easier on all of us to consolidate our collective wisdom.

On a personal note, since I've started GAPS (as long as I don't cheat) I have lost 4 lbs in three weeks. With no other changes. I am sleeping better, have less intestinal distress, and more energy than usual. Perhaps it's physiological, but as a skeptical person by nature, I'm inclined to believe that it's having at least some positive effects on my health if nothing else.

Going Paleo

With our daughter's food allergies becoming more and more evident with every new solid food we introduce, we are clearly in need of drastic change in our diet. Since I'm still nursing, that means I've had to cut out rice (and all rice derived foods including maltodexterin), turkey, coconut, cows milk and carrageenan. Foods that contain these in any form trigger her FPIES, and make it so that she has a miserable time (and potentially weeks of pain). Her poor little tummy can't take it. So that means mommy needs to suck it up, cause if you can't beat 'em, you have to join 'em. 

We've decided to go Paleo. Yes, I'm well aware that the "Paleo Fad" has it's ups and downs. My husband and I have put a lot of time and energy into reading up on the Paleolithic diet (Paleo for short) over the last few weeks. Given the FPIES confirmation from her allergist, the Paleo diet seems to be one of the healthiest options for cutting out potentially hidden triggers that are in almost all foods in the United States. Paleo will allow us to cut the crap (pardon my language) without cutting out nutrition. 

This means we are now a dairy free, grain free, and sugar free home. We've started making the transition slowly into buying grass fed organic meats (hey, I'm not stupid, I still have a freezer full of chicken I know she can eat that we will continue to use until it's gone.) We've stopped buying noodles, potatoes, corn, and bread. We have started making sure every meal has lean proteins in moderate proportions with plenty of veggies. We've made sure we have a balanced intake of fruit so that we don't end up with any issues with excess fructose. We've started snacking on nuts and seeds (limited since they are high in fat). It's been 4 days and I'm already feeling a difference. So far, it hasn't had a direct affect on my milk supply.  

In regards to paleo and nursing, they can be very compatible and clearly mankind survived and thrived from the cave man time, so they must have been able to produce milk just fine on a more natural diet. However, any body that makes a change this drastic will likely see a dip in supply. As a result, I'm planning to make sure to do the following:

1. Keep my water intake high. I already don't drink soda, juice, coffee, or any caffeinated drink, so water is my main go to. Now that I'm cutting out milk, I'll be making sure to replace my milk consumption with water.

2. Snack! One of the best parts about the paleo diet, is that it doesn't claim to be a diet, but a lifestyle change. This means that you aren't supposed to be hungry. If you're hungry, you're doing it wrong! So when I get hungry, I have a light snack... fruit, nuts, seeds, veggies, dried fruits, home made lara bars.... I'm learning that I love almond butter on celery or apple slices!

3. Perspective: This is not a no carb/low carb diet. I'll be eating healthy carbs (not those nasty starchy, processed carbs that my body clearly can't handle well). Fresh local fruits and veggies. Plenty of squash and yummy sweet potatoes. I'll be replacing the bad fats I had been eating, with good ones that will add nutrients to my milk supply.

4. Continue to eat galactagogues: I'll be eating ones that are Paleo. (Nuts, flax, fennugreek, dark leafy greens, carrots, tahini, garlic, papaya, asparagus, figs, apricots, dates, salmon!)

But what about your daughter, isn't she going to starve, surely every child needs grains!? (I hear you asking this!) There are a lot of things about our daughter that aren't in line with what you would need to feed a typical toddler. Grains cause her considerable pain and a wide variety of symptoms. As a result, we have to be creative, and make sure to provide the maximum nutrition to her as possible. Even without going paleo, her diet is already severely restricted. This diet just ensures that I'm eating foods she can eat safely through me, and that she's eating foods that are free of processed ingredients. 

This means I'll be continuing to breastfeed on demand throughout the night, and then three times a day (wake up, mid-day, and before bed) in addition to the solid foods she gets. I'm continuing to pump during my lunch break at work so that I can ensure she has a bottle for nap time when I'm at work. Don't worry, she'll be well fed, but allergen free. Some of the best benefits of paleo for children with FPIES can be a decrease in gas, rashes, hiccups, general stomach cramping, and better sleeping! (Oh God, that last one sounds sooooo good.) Essentially, it's worth trying since what we're currently doing hasn't been working.