Elimination

Cooking has become a bit less fun lately. Let me explain.

For a few years now, eczema on my face and body has been getting worse. In these last few months, it's become down right unbearable. Crying in my sleep, scratching until I'm covered in open cuts and scabs -- I could go on, but I won't. Let's be honest -- skin rashes are pretty disgusting. I'm sorry to have grossed you out already.

I've had lots of tests -- blood tests, patch tests, skin-prick tests -- but nothing came up. I decided to keep a food diary after I noticed red blotches on my face after I was eating. Sometimes my skin would get hot and my eyes would swell up.

I've been keeping a diary for about about a month now, and I've noticed a few things. I'm trying to stay on a version of an elimination diet, which cuts out wine, beer, and cheese, among other delicious things. It seems to working, at least somewhat, so I'm going to keep writing in the diary, trying to track what causes reactions.

I've been hesitant to write it down here because, honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing and it's sort of a boring/strange subject, unless you're going through the exact same thing. But I started to think about all the things I searched for online these last few months, and how I would have liked to read about someone who had to give up things they loved to eat to try to feel better.

I'm doing this without the help of a doctor and I have no background in nutrition. I'm just feeling around in the dark. I certainly won't pretend to know all the answers, but I'll try to share some about the food I'm eating, the things that seem to cause a reaction, and recipes that don't seem to trigger any kind of reaction.

Here's to finding a solution in 2009!