The DL on the GI

The results came in from Violet's blood work, so we made another trip to the naturopath's office. Her first statement to us was this: "I have never seen so many food aversions for someone this little!"

Turns out the doctor's hunch was right - we have been feeding her lots of food that has been aggravating her condition. Not causing it necessarily, but preventing it from healing. The doctor's theory is that if we (very strictly) remove all of these items for 3 months (possibly longer) it will give her gut lining a chance to heal and then we can re-introduce some/most/all of these foods later. The long term goal is that she will be able to eat all of them eventually. These aren't necessarily allergies - but aversions.

But for these three months, we are to treat them as if she'd have a serious external reaction to even one bite.

Here's the list:

Fruits: Apple, Cantaloupe, Grapes, Watermelon.

Vegetables: Tomato, Lima Beans, Cucumber, Garlic, Green Peas, Green/Yellow/Red Peppers

Nuts: Cashew, Peanut

Other: Scallops, Coffee

Dry: Gluten, Rye, Safflower, Sesame, Soybean, Sunflower, Wheat, Baker's Yeast

All in all, it's not a huge list. But it's a tricky one. Aside from a lot of these things being her favorite foods, there are some often-hidden items here. Apples appear in many forms in a lot of products (apple pectin, for example). Garlic eliminates most canned items and any restaurant's menu (and all my favorite recipes). Gluten isn't all that tough on it's own, but add in the sesame/safflower/sunflower restriction, and the entire gluten-free section is off limits because of the oils used. And while cocoa is ok, chocolate is not because soy lecithin is in EVERYTHING. Etc etc.

So the Amaro kitchen has changed yet again, but it's ok. We were ready, in a strange way, without knowing it. Two of her favorite staples are still ok: Beans and rice, and yogurt and oats. We have to prepare all of her snacks and meals for school in advance, and the kitchen ladies are being so wonderful about accommodating us. Birthday parties and social events are tricky (read: Corn Dogs, Cake, Ice Cream, Chips and a whole lot of other junk she can't have) but she's a champ, and isn't complaining about it.

Here's the amazing part: After two weeks of the change, a note came home from Violet's teacher saying that she had pooped "normal" stools twice that day. We have yet to see that at home, but we have seen some changes, including the number of times a day she poops - it seems to be less frequent, and slightly more... firm. Ahem.

Honestly, it's just exciting to have clear direction. Steps to take. We are doubling and tripling her two supplements, too (still using Glutamine and Saccharomycin). And hopefully by our follow-up appointment in September, she will be healed completely, or well on her way!