I'm taking Clodagh to a naturopath today, the appointment was made several weeks ago and was initially for her excema, however we squeezed in a dermatologist since then and it has improved in leaps and bounds.

*However*....I would still like to know his take on her excema and slow-to-heal nappy rash, but I've been wondering if naturopaths deal with sleep issues/wind/general disposition?  Clodagh's gone from being a happy and gregarious wee girl to really a bit of a sh!t alot of the time (I still adore her totally lol), and I am SURE it's something in her diet that I can't pinpoint  (as well as an age thing!). I think her tendancy is be windy is a big part of it cos she is probably in a bit of discomfort sometimes and I really want to help her....so those things I mentioned above I'm sure are all inter-related IYKWIM?

My question is- what can I expect from the naturopath? Is it appropriate to address these issues with him? And what is he likely to do to get to the bottom of it?

TIA

Well we're back...and the news isn't great

He said he thought Clodagh was highly gluten intolerant (as well as egg and dairy intolerant but we kind of suspected that)...and that he thinks she will most likely become cealiac later .  As well as this I am raising her vegetarian, which for me he said was ideal as I have 'a remarkably low need for protein', but that Clodgah's constitution was very different to mine adn she would greatly benefit from non wind inducing forms of protein...ie meat . sigh. So we have agreed to try her on fish a couple of times a week until she outgrows her egg allergy (which he thinks is very likely).

For now though we'll have a very strict no gluten, no egg and no dairy 10 days or so then go back to him and see if it's helped her wind and digestion...and sleep!

At least the good news is there's nothing I'm allergic or intolerant to and therefore nothing in my breast milk is affecting her, plus he's hopeful if we are very careful now she may well outgrow all of these 'problem' foods.

Grrrrrrrr and bugger though. ESP the protein thing. It's such an important part of my life, it's gutting to learn it may not be as beneficial to the one thing (Clodagh) that's even more important to me

sorry the news wasnt the greatest, hopefully the dietary changes will help your wee girl, fingers crossed!!  I started going to a naturopath after becoming fed up with conventional doctors, I really like the way they look at your body as a whole instead of just treating the symptoms.  Keep us updated how she goes, good luck

Well I was a little dubious, this guy had a crystal thing that he swung over our bodies...but he didn't seem to be a fruit loop and he came highly reccommended.....anyone else had this kind of treatment?

huntersmama- I've reluctantly agreed to try Clodagh on fish a couple of times over the next 10 days or so...actually he was quite willing to work around a vege diet but I want to do whats best for her so thought a couple of meals with fish was a good compromise (call me speciest...cos I am ...but I find that easier to stomach-scuse the pun- than any other type of meat)!

millymollymandy wrote: Emmecat, On the bright side, at least you have some practical solutions and things to work with, other than just wondering why she's grumpy and not sleeping. In my experience, meat 's low in GI, so is a great tummy filler, which does help sleep!

You may well be right but I'm a long term vegetarian so learning that she may not be able to be one is quite gutting for me. Obviously her health comes first however it's just gonna take me some time to get my head around it!

sweetpea wrote: Have you tried taking pro biotics like inner health plus i have read they are very good for helping with allergies for littlies. You can get a dairy free one.

Yes I've had her on that for a while- it's good isn't it?

SpecialK- yeah you're right, just like the others! We've had a good start today, she LOVES tuna , not so keen on rice pasta but the gluten free bread w/almond butter is going down ok and her favourite-avocado- is 'allowed' anyway lol

And OMG she *loves* millet porridge!!  hmmm a child with a good range of taste (and lets not mention the 3 bananas she's had today and the untold seaweed crackers...

LJ- yes she likes both rice and soy milk so we have soy for the time being

I've made an appointment to see another naturopath next week for a 2nd opinion- would like to know if she comes to the same conclusion using a different 'method'.

I hate to say it but even after a day on Gluten/egg/dairy free, Clodgah seems less windy and more happy. Gulp. I'm still in denial so hopefully its coincendence!

Hmmm well I think I'll wait till Clodagh is 2 before having a BT anyway, but will get a 2nd opinion from a different naturopath in the interim.

Clodagh is definately happier and sleeping better over the last few days and her excema is looking a million times better so grrrrr this guy might be right after all. I dunno how he knew but looks like he did!

Anthea thanks for all that info- yes if you could PM me some more details then I can give you my addy etc

Guess what you've said has reinforced for me why there's no point getting blood tests done till Clodgah is 2. That's one of the reasons we are going to naturopaths, for an alternative way of diagnosing it