eosinophilic esophagitis

[Jennifer Redwine]

I was diagnosed with this condition around 2 or 3 years ago when I got a piece of meat stuck in my throat (though I'd had food or pills stuck before, it had always either come back up or worked its way down eventually before). I saw a couple of different naturopaths, who put me on different supplements that didn't seem to make much difference. I saw a  couple of gastroenterologists who put me on a proton pump inhibitor (prilosec) and swallowed inhalable steroid. I saw an allergist who said to avoid the top 8 allergens along with taking the prilosec and steroid. I haven't had anything stuck in over a year (I think), but I definitely feel that my throat is tight when I swallow and I have to take small bites and avoid dense foods. I am sticking with the avoiding the top 8 allergens, and it's very hard. I just want to eat regular food. I have also in the past been diagnosed with depression and ADHD, which make cooking my own food even harder.

I guess my main questions are, what are some really easy ways to find and make foods that aren't in the top 8 list (wheat, dairy, egg, soy, nuts, fish, shellfish, peanuts), and does anyone know of a really reliable source to find information about gut healing that isn't too complicated? I did try the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) a few years ago (not for this issue though), and it mostly made me super stressed and anxious from all the planning meals and cooking (and dishes), and gave me dark circles under my eyes for the first time that have never gone away. I liked that I had a list of foods but I didn't like that I had too prepare everything myself. I do that now mostly anyway, but I eat really poorly -- like just eating a banana, some raw carrots (which technically I'm not supposed to eat due to how hard they are), etc. and find myself munching on things like potato chips just to fill up. 

Thanks for your help. Hope this wasn't too garbled.

[Jennifer Redwine]

More info: I get skin rashes when I consume or touch citrus, I get migraines that seem to be associated with my period and certain foods, like aged meats, cheese, yogurt, nuts, soy, msg, and probably large amounts of greens (apparently nettles infusion triggers them).

I was wondering too if my allergist was correct in telling me to avoid all the top 8 allergens (makes taking fish oil, as well as high vitamin cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil impossible). I actually tried taking some fish oil the other day, and got what I think is a symptom of my EoE, an intense burning ache in my chest. 

I do want to heal, but feel hopeless what with how disorganized and low energy I am. If someone else could cook for me (or even do the dishes) that would be helpful, lol, but I can't afford a personal chef.

[Jennifer Redwine]

/Anyone else

[Jennifer Redwine]

Still no replies to this. I have found some facebook groups that have been helpful.

[Wildapple]

Hi Jennifer,

I wish you the best and am sorry to hear of all your struggles.  Have you tried the 14 steps for health that Pat mentions here (minus the nettles infusion)?  I agree that planning and cooking your own food is more difficult that just eating out or grabbing something already prepared at the store, but it is so worth it in the long run.  I am new here myself and just trying to put all the pieces together.  It won't happen for either of us overnight, but if we take one baby step at a time before we know it we will be doing much better.  Good luck!

[Jennifer Redwine]

Thanks for replying. I have ADHD as well, which I may have mentioned, and it makes maintaining a kitchen very difficult even if you're not making everything yourself. I am thinking of trying Gerson therapy, since someone I met in a Facebook group said their child with EoE was healed with it. I can't really make bone broth unless I could get goat or bison meat, as I seem to react to beef, lamb, and chicken, which are the main sources for bones I can easily get.