So I have done this for major things like coffee, milk, wheat. For about a week or so at a time. I guess I can try each again for 2+ weeks... However I'm not convinced the current issue (itching) is related. The symptoms only really present themself at night when going to bed, as I guess I have no other stimuli to focus on. During the day it's basically not an issue.
I plan on trying longer fasts (3days, 5days), maybe 7days as well.
There are a whole host of possible insensitivities (many people are surprised by nightshades for example: potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant. They all share a plant family). Pay attention also to any products you’re directly applying to your skin as there might be ingredients in there that are being absorbed.
A food and symptom journal can be helpful for trying to connect the dots.
High IgE levels can be due to parasitic infections and these have something of a tendency to go underdiagnosed in the US because they get seen as "third world problems."
"A food and symptom journal can be helpful for trying to connect the dots."
This is a good idea, I will try this once I start cutting out foods again.
"High IgE levels can be due to parasitic infections and these have something of a tendency to go underdiagnosed in the US because they get seen as "third world problems."
How does one go about testing this? I visited my gp multiple times and a bunch of tests were taken. Aside from the general itching and rashes, I don't really have other symptoms. Maybe a little fatigue occasionally.
"A food and symptom journal can be helpful for trying to connect the dots."
This is a good idea, I will try this once I start cutting out foods again.
You should start the journal now. You need to establish a baseline to compare things to. Start it well before you start making changes and don't make more than one change per week. Reactions to changes can be delayed and it's pretty complicated stuff.
How does one go about testing this?
Sorry, I don't know. I never figured out the secret handshake or whatever to get the medical system to give me the right test to actually identify my infection.
I looked up my symptoms online, drew my own conclusions and I've gradually gotten healthier, though I get treated extremely abusively for trying to talk about it online so I got nothing more for you than the two tidbits above.
>>The symptoms only really present themself at night when going to bed, as I guess I have no other stimuli to focus on. During the day it's basically not an issue.
Do you take night showers? If your house has hard water or your water dept. adds excessive chlorine, then either of those could be the culprit.
The initial tests looked for fungal infections, and I took anti-fungal pills for about a month as well. After the biopsy at the dermatologist, they told me it was atopic dermatitis / eczema.
It definitely doesn't help! I've decided to eliminate coffee completely as even if it doesn't trigger itching symptoms, it absolutely makes me more stressed. I like non-caffeinated tea more anyway, but it's hard to turn down family members making lattes...
I plan on trying longer fasts (3days, 5days), maybe 7days as well.