My Eczema journey: Part two

The results of the test were interesting. We found out in November of 2023 that I had

severe gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, and around 73 food sensitivities and allergies. I am really a fun

person to go out to eat with. Leaky gut occurs when your gut lining cells develop gaps between

one another. This lets unhealthy bacteria into your gut while the healthy bacteria leaks out. In my

case this contributed to gut dysbiosis, which is an imbalance in good and bad bacteria that lives

in the gut. All of these issues occurred because I was eating foods I was allergic or sensitive to.

This was the reason given for the severe eczema I was dealing with.

The solution was to start an elimination diet. This meant I could not eat gluten, dairy, or

any of the foods that came back as a sensitivity or allergy. Part of the elimination protocol is to

cut out all of these 71 things that can irritate the gut. What is the elimination diet? The School of

Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin states: “An elimination diet is an

eating plan that omits a food or group of foods believed to cause an adverse food reaction, often

referred to as a 'food intolerance.”'By removing certain foods for a period of time and then

reintroducing them during a 'challenge' period, you can learn which foods are causing

symptoms or making them worse.” Typically, one would cut out sensitive foods for ninety days

then reintroduce them into their diet. This has not been the case for me. My case was too

severe. By January first, I'll have been on this diet for over two years.

We decided to break down the diet into two steps. I began by cutting out gluten and dairy

the week before Thanksgiving, then after the new year, I cut out all of the foods I was sensitive

and allergic to. This was an interesting time. I had never dieted before, besides the deadly

allergies I have already avoided my entire life. Seriously, if I was fighting in a war the enemy

could just throw some peanuts at me and they’d accomplish their goal.

I started seven different supplements to boost my health: Vitamin D3, Omega-3, Calcium

D-Glucarate, Fiber, MegaSporeBiotic, GI Revive, and digestive enzymes. I had to carefully

select my supplements as some of those had items which I am allergic. To clarify, this is not thelineup of supplements I am taking currently. Due to progression with my gut, my physician has

switched up my routine and I have swapped a couple of my supplements. I think it was 25

individual pills that I took everyday adding up to several hundred dollars every month.

You are probably thinking that this sounds like torture. I did this completely voluntarily. I

was, and still am, determined to heal myself. This was not a case where my mom was having to force me to help myself or I was being forced to do a difficult thing. I committed to it and I have been

consistent enough to see results. If you are desperate enough for a solution to being sick, then

you will do anything to fix it. I was self conscious about the way my skin looked, I had frequent

migraines, my skin caused constant pain, and my joints hurt. I still struggle with these

complications, just far more mild. I do not let that discourage me. I could have wallowed in my

sickness, I could still be struggling the way I did before. I did not do that. I pulled myself up by

the bootstraps and put my trust in God.

This saga is not done. Part three is coming soon.

October 3rd, 2023

October 3rd, 2023

Sources:

https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_elimination_diet_patient.pdf