Last Sunday was the end of the three-week 39-food avoidance period, and when we were given the ok to reintroduce some things. We had decided that soy was going to be the first that we’d try.
For lunch I made the buckwheat pancakes that my son really likes, using soy milk, and we allowed him and the other kids to taste both chocolate and vanilla soy milk. (None of them liked either one.)
By Monday his eczema had really flared up.
In hindsight, we should have waited until Monday, because he also had a bath on Sunday. Although we use no soap, and we slather him with lotion after getting out of the tub, baths often cause a flareup.
Because both the bath and the soy were given on Sunday, we don’t know which of them caused the eczema to worsen. It may even be unrelated to those, as the air has become very dry with the cold this week, so maybe that’s what is causing the trouble. That’s what’s so difficult: although we are trying to be scientific and systematic in our avoidances and introductions, there may be unknowns that are causing symptoms as well.
It’s taken all week to get his skin back under control. If it’s looking good on Monday, we’ll try something new; we’re thinking we’ll go with chicken instead of soy again. Since we know he doesn’t like the soy milk, there’s no hurry for the soy now. Chicken is something our family has missed.
Lesson learned: Although I had put the reintroductions on the calendar every 4-5 days, this process may take much longer than expected as we find things that are possible reactive, pull them out, wait for the skin to clear, and then reintroduce again.
Missy @ The Marketing Mama said
Sorry to hear about the set back. It’s so frustrating when that happens.