Soy & Egg Removal - What To Expect?

[organicmama]

I've been Gluten-free Casein-free for two months and am now going to try soy and egg removal based on slight IgA positives there. I don't feel much better in the way of fatigue.

What type of timeframe is typical for feeling better when your symptoms are not GI? If I don't feel better, how do I know if those foods are even culprits? I'm not able to do a true elimination diet for a few months (pregnant) and so I'm guided thus far by IgA results.

All four foods tested have shown IgA and/or IgG positive at this point, so I guess there could be many more. I know the food sensitivity testing however, cannot be trusted. Just not sure how to plan going forward ...

[organicmama]

Anyone?

[bartfull]

I don't have GI symptoms either. When I first went gluten free, I was tired all the time. I found out that I can't have corn either, and once I did away with the corn, I felt great within a week. Insomnia gone, more energy, and my skin started clearing up.

It must be hard to decipher whether you're tired because of gluten or soy, or if it's just because you're pregnant. That must be tough - do you get food cravings?

[organicmama]

No food cravings really except sweet drinks (like sweet tea).

[bartfull]

No food cravings really except sweet drinks (like sweet tea).

Aha! That could be the problem! When I first started I was eating a lot of fruit, and I had waves of fatigue come over me during the day, so strong that I just HAD to go lie down. Then a friend told me it was making my sugar spike, then plummet. She suggested I save the sweet stuff until later in the evening. I did, and it worked.

The other thing about sugar is that it feeds yeast. They say a lot of us have candida (yeast) overgrowth. If you keep feeding the yeast, it will keep feeding on YOU, making you tired.

This isn't easy is it? Last night I went to a free concert down the street. They were serving food and lots of homemade pies. I turned my head when I walked by the food tables. Every once in a while, when I realize I can never eat that stuff again (yeah, I know I can make my own, but it's not the same as going to an event like that and enjoying all the delicious food), I feel sad. But after only 5 weeks of being gluten (and corn) free, I feel SO much better. I'd rather feel this good than eat all the great pies and doughnuts and homemade breads in the world.

Even though I don't have GI symptoms, I now SLEEP at night, have more energy, and the psoriasis on my hands is GONE. Who needs pie?

[organicmama]

Did you go completely sugar free or just limit?

[bartfull]

Did you go completely sugar free or just limit?

I just limit it to evenings. I'm not eating any processed foods at all right now, so any sugar I get is from fruit or veggies. Carrots and yams are loaded with sugar too. I'm really surprised that I am able to do this diet without too much trouble. I was the queen of junk food, hardly ever cooked (unless you call throwing a frozen pizza in the oven cooking)and probably ate my weight in cookies every day.

My sweet tooth has disappeared. I don't understand it, but I have a package of gluten free cookies that a friend bought me when I first started this diet and I haven't even been tempted to open it. Even the fruit isn't really tempting - too sweet.

For someone who doesn't cook, I'm doing pretty well. Every morning I make a batch of rice. Then I put "stuff" in it. For example, today I had boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked on my George Foreman grill. I cut it into little chunks, threw it in the rice, threw in some frozen broccoli/cauliflower blend, then a little butter. I pop it all into a gallon ziplock bag and take it to work with me. There's my lunch and supper.

Tomorrow, I'll put different "stuff" in the rice - maybe some pork roast and some other veggie. I've done it with bacon and soft boiled eggs too - and that is GOOD! The yolk coats the rice and the bacon is crispy. I'll even mix some veggies in when I do that. I haven't eaten this healthy since I was a little kid!

[GFinDC]

When I quit soy it took about 2 weeks to feel like I was improving, and about 6 weeks to start feeling very noticeably better. My symptoms were joint pain, fainting, weakness, insomnia. I couldn't keep going without drinking caffeine every couple hours. I would just fall over while sitting at the computer working. First I stopped the caffeine, which helped some. And after a while I stopped soy. So, yes, it can take weeks to feel the benefits for some people.