Allergy Update

Well.

I've been a little down on cooking this week.  In fact, today was the long awaited Book Club Brunch, at which I planned to cook something marvelous and breathtaking and then share it with you here on this little blog thingie.  Instead, I got take out fajitas and make a salad (mom - you will be happy to know that I used kidney beans in my salad, but not strawberries).

I'm frustrated because I had another round of allergy tests last Thursday.  It turns out that some new folks have made an appearance and our good friend Dairy has made a comeback.  Everybody, welcome Corn and Wheat to the allergy party.

Preston, the husband who has gone with me to every allergy test, is starting to think that food allergy testing is about as credible as, say, getting your palm read by a physic.  I think maybe my body just has better taste than me.  Think about it.  No corn means no high fructose corn syrup, so no pre-made junk food, candy or sodas.  No wheat means, well, a lot of things, but nothing fried.  Also, did you know that corn and wheat are in most alcoholic beverages?  Except Vodka and wine made outside the US, and maybe a few wines made in California with less than 13% alcohol content.  So, add only nice wine and expensive vodka to the list.  Now that's good taste.

I've been "prescribed" a rotation diet, which is...

1) A diet where you don't eat the same thing within a 4 day period.  It's supposed to give your body time to "not produce antibodies" to foods.  Apparently, it takes 4 days for food to rotate out of your body.

2) Really hard to follow because the example I have splits up my favorite food combos, like tomatoes and spinach, and my favorite spice combos into different days.  So I can only cook with garlic on 1 in 4 days, parsley on 1 in 4 days.  But not on the same day.

3) Really expensive.  

4) Really confusing.

I've purchased The Ultimate Food Allergy Cookbook and Survival Guide by Nicolette M. Dumke to try to make some sense of this whole rotation diet thing, because right now, I need some back up to help me with this gang of allergies that will not leave me alone.

There is a bright side here.  Let's look at that.  First, if I ever need an excuse to get out of something, I could just say that I'm allergic, and seeing as how I'm also allergic to several grasses and weeds and molds, I probably wouldn't be lying.  Second, this latest test reflected that I am not allergic to eggs.  I ate one this morning.   It was okay.  Next, after two months on the rotation diet and avoiding corn, wheat and dairy, I'm supposed to be able to rotate those foods back into my diet.  So I won't be allergic for two years, or forever.  Last, my new doctor, who is a general practice doctor that specializes in allergies, looks and sounds like Kris Kristofferson.  

These are all bright and shinny things on which we can focus.

I have to say, I'm on Day 2 of the first 4 day rotation.  I'm not a very good patient.  But I suppose I'll get better.  And the recipes on The Food Fan Club may get a little weirder, but stick with me and we'll get the regular ones back.  I guess it will just take a little time and variety.  We can do it!