I can handle it all, except . . .

Asthma! It's the one thing that will drive me completely over the edge. Watching my child struggle to breathe is just gut-wrenching. And when he doesn't respond to the albuterol medication like he should, well I can't even explain how that makes me feel. And not that this is about me, it's about my child suffering. Tuesday evening was one of those nights. The cold from his eyes moved into his sinuses and then into his chest. He started retracting so I gave him a breathing treatment, and then 1 1/2 hours later he was coughing uncontrollably and needed another dose. Mind you one dose should last 4 hours. Then he needed a 3rd dose 3 hours later. We were so close to heading to the ER, but fortunately he held stable. It's just so scary when that asthma sets in, it sends my anxiety off the charts. We went back to the Peds office the next day (for the 5th time in 12 days!), and the Ped was actually pleased to see the improvement in his eyes. Since then we've kept up with the albuterol treatments and he's done remarkably well. Hopefully this has all just been a small step back in our quest for health for this child, he deserves to be healthy! He works so hard at it!

Always Something

The Ped took a long hard look at my kid's eyes yesterday, they were an absolute gooey, crusty mess. He swabbed them, which required two of us to hold my son down (poor baby, it was not fun.) As it turns out, he now has a Strep-A infection in his eyes. I would think it's from all the scratching he was doing once NAET brought out the redness and what I presume to be yeast. So now we're treating the eyes with some antibacterial drops, something the kid views as absolute torture. Even bribing him with a trip to Target to pick out a toy doesn't work. The total downer is that he's now on Amoxicillian, after how hard I've tried to build up his gut with good bacteria. On top of that he still has some yeast under his neck and on his privates.

The Ped dropped a bombshell yesterday when he told me he was closing up his practice and relocating across town and only accepting cash, not insurance. I don't blame him wanting to be free from all the red tape so he can focus on curing kids like mine. This is the only doctor who has been able to remotely help my child. So we will be following him as this guy is worth his weight in gold, however I do like the convenience of having a Ped close by.

The NAET doc returns next week, so we will be making a trip to see what the heck is going on here. His nurse saw my son yesterday and said they've seen similar reactions, but not this bad. The Ped reminded me that my son has the worse eczema he's ever seen--gee, thanks. I should also note that I saw more of those white pimple-like things on my kid's hands this morning, they look identical to the one on his foot that was cured by the antifungal cream. Something is trying to get out of his little body, I just wish someone could help us and figure this all out.

Yeast is a huge issue

It's been a long couple of days. My kid's eye continue to look terrible, but they are also changing which I hope is a progression of healing. After the 2nd yeast treatment on Wednesday the eyelids were red, itchy, & scaly. By Friday they were swollen and Saturday pink eye had set in from all the goop coming out of his eyelid and the left one was about swollen shut. I spent the morning talking with his Pediatrician since the D.O. is out of town & the office was closed. In the end his doctor decided against calling in a script for drops as he thinks this is the body trying to heal itself and didn't want to hinder the healing process. He did however recommend some homeopathic remedies, so we high-tailed it to a homeopathic pharmacy (which I had no idea one even existed!) By Sunday afternoon the pink eye is gone (thanks to the Simalison pink eye drops, I love those things!) The eye lids are now scabby from all the scratching and crusted over from the goop--gross, I know, but it is what it is. We're headed to the Ped tomorrow, hopefully he can swab them and see what the heck is going on.

On an interesting related note, last Monday my kid had a hive breakout while we were at a friend's house. Benedryl cleared up the hives, but they manifested into puss filled pimples on his face and one giant one on his foot. The face ones dried up and vanished after a day or so. But the foot one lingered, even after using Bactroban (a prescription anti-bacterial ointment.) While searching the internet for info on my kid's eyes, I came across a picture that looked identical to the thing on his foot. The picture was of a Cryptococcus lesion, which is a type of yeast. So before his nap yesterday I applied some Lotrimin, an anti-fungal cream, to his foot. The boil had vanished by the time he woke up. I also posted a question to the NAET group on Facebook, and received a response from a man that had goopy problems with his eyes after a yeast treatment. Turned out that his liver was stressed from processing all the yeast toxins. Once he was treated for his liver, he was fine. Good to know, but I still feel like we're living in The Twilight Zone.

Here's a pic of the eye lids today, it's worse in person but you get the idea:

I'm Worried

I should be feeling optimistic that we're honing in on what has been ailing my son, but at this stage the yeast has me worried. I'm worried that combating yeast is going to be an endless long process. I'm worried of the likelihood of a systemic yeast overgrowth. I'm worried about having go through another round of anti-fungal treatments. It's safe to say I'm just worried and a little on edge the last few days. My son's eyes look terrible since the NAET yeast treatment, they itch him to the point he's rubbing his eyelashes off and there is now some yellow oozing coming out. His private area is also very itchy, it stings him to pee and I can see a little yeast infection on it. I hate to see him suffer. I have to remind myself something the doctor said--NAET doesn't cause side effects, it causes the body to correct itself. That's the homeopathic approach. My hope is that NAET will allow his body to stop reacting to the yeast because right now it's as if he's allergic to himself. I've been saying this for years now that he's allergic to his blood, maybe there's yeast in his blood--who knows. So on one hand I am feeling discouraged about an uphill battle with yeast. On the other hand I am amazed that NAET could cause this type of reaction. And that also gives me hope that NAET can get us through this. I have to stay positive, but just feeling a little beat up. We don't see the doc for a couple of weeks, of course he was scheduled to be out of town when we're going through this . . .

NAET the last 3 out of 6 days--We Need a Break!

We've seen the NAET doctor the last 3 out of 6 days, normally it's once a week. The doc is heading out of town for 10 days, and wanted to be sure the kiddo cleared grains on the second attempt before he left. Good news was he did, so we proceeded to yeast since we made the trip out there on Monday. Bad news is yeast is giving this kid a run for the money. Immediately his eyelids turned bright, inflamed red and he was complaining of his private area stinging and itching. These are the symptoms he's had for most of his life, with the exception of the last few months after we completed the anti-fungal medication from the Ped. The 25-hours came and went with no improvement in the uncomfortableness, so we headed back to the doc this morning. Sure enough, he didn't clear and it took 2 more attempts before we could leave the office. I was hoping to hear that he didn't, because if he did then that would mean something else is wrong. Afterwards his right eye and forehead turned scaly and flakey, very strange. In addition, his attitude is absolutely terrible, the miserable child has returned so I know he's not feeling well. I know it's hard to hang my hat on the 'hocus-pocus' of NAET, but it sure seems more than a coincidence that all these symptoms are raging out of my kid during the yeast treatment. I pray he clears during the next 25-hours, I'm anxious to see how he is on the other side of this yeast treatment.

On to Yeast

Given the hard time we had last week with Grains, the doc wanted to re-test my kid asap after the 25-hour window of the second go-round. So we headed back to on Monday, and whoo-hoo he passed grains this time. So it was onto yeast which I suspected was going to give him lots of trouble. In our days with the Naturopathic doctor, she had always claimed he had an issue with fungus. Our Ped had thought yeast in the gut was an issue and had my son on an anti-fungal medication for a couple of months. You should have seen the stuff coming out of his skin while on that, it was a horrible experience. With NAET yesterday, it ended up taking 4 attempts to get him to clear yeast to start the 25-hour period. In addition, 2 support vials were added (brain 3 & brain 6.) He is to avoid all sugar, fruit, and yeast (breads/baked goods) for 25-hours. So I packed him a lunch of pulled pork, green beans, white rice, and then carrots & celery to snack on. I threw in some potato chips to balance it out a bit ;) My kid eats healthy, but I know it's hard for him when surrounded by little ones at pre-school eating pizza rolls, goldfish crackers, and cookies. I sure hope all this hard work and sacrifice pays off, it has to.

One Long Week, and Round 2 for Grains

I think it's safe to say that last week's reaction was NAET related. Friday was the treatment and rough day, Saturday he seemed fine, Sunday totally cranky, then Monday a swollen gland below his right ear that lasted two days which coincided of complete irritability for the week. I was chalking up the attitude to seasonal allergies, but maybe I should have been relating them to NAET? Or at least that what the doctor is inclined to think as he's seen this before. And come to find out, the kid didn't come close to clearing grains. It took another 4 attempts and adding the Brain 2 vial to help get him to clear today. We go back early next week for a check up just in case he doesn't clear so he's not sitting in limbo. The doctor also mentioned that the hardest to clear usually reap the biggest improvements, lets hope! Once again post-treatment my son is extremely tired, and put himself down for a nap which never happens.

Breadsticks!

We took a big gamble today and let the little guy have a piece of cheesy bread from a pizza place. We were at a birthday party and ran out the door without his lunch bag. Of course he loved it, he hasn't had bread or cheese since some time in August. I was a bit nervous, but he did great. No hives, no itching! It's a start, but I know I'll still be very cautious. I also learned that while I was out, hubby let the kid drink some tea with honey in it. Now honey was rated a 4 out of 6 on the RAST test and his head use to turn tomato red after having any, but there was no reaction. So that is also very encouraging! The thought of adding some foods back to his diet is awesome, maybe he'd finally gain some weight!

Also, I want to thank the ladies that took time to comment on NAET reactions!! It really helps to hear what others have experienced!!

Was it NAET or just a bug?

So was it NAET or just a bug? Yesterday after his treatment my son was immediately unusually tired, begging to take his nap before we were even home from the doctors. A few hours later he had a fever of 102, was nauseous, took another nap, and finally vomited a couple of times. He woke up this morning feeling fine. So either he picked something up while at the doctor's office, or maybe this is the homeopathic effect the doc was warning us about? I have read that NAET can cause one not to feel well during the 25 hour window, and with homeopathy sometimes things get worse before they get better. Then again, it could totally be a virus. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if any other changes are noticed.

Grains--A toughie

Last week's treatment was salt, and I mentioned how he had some issues during the treatment. Well the very next day he had a terrible reaction to beef. This was un-marinated, grain-fed from Whole Foods beef. This was also the second time since his Iron treatment that he's reacted to beef. Prior to that he's never reacted to beef. I'm wondering if we're getting to a deeper layer of discovery here, or if it's just a new allergen? He did end up clearing salt from last week and was re-checked for Iron, which was still clear so we proceeded this week with Grains--Wheat, Corn, Rye, Rice, Millet. It took 4 treatments in the office this morning to get a clear on Grains, so he definitely has a big issue with them. Afterwards, he was so unusually tired that he actually wanted to take his nap, which has never happened before. The doctor asked if my kid has any issues with grains, and I started to say 'No' because he only eats rice, but DUH he only eats rice because he can't tolerate the others! I'm wondering if 'grain-fed' beef would cause a reaction since he's so sensitive to grains? Sounds far fetched, but I'm sure stranger things have happened.

As for my husband, he cleared eggs and was treated for calcium today. He had told me during his initial appointment that he was tested on something that hurt his arm and elbow so bad, but couldn't recall exactly what it was. Turned out it was calcium. He said it was so weird, but when tested today he had absolutely no strength at all and excruciating pain in his arms against the lightest of touches. Then after the treatment his strength was solid as a rock and no pain. He was told he's very allergic to calcium, especially his lungs which are his weak spot.

2/3s through the basics

Yay metals cleared! It was a bit of a challenge keeping the little guy away from anything metal for the last treatment. Ok, it was impossible, but he cleared. The kid was a champ wearing his gloves every waking moment, good thing the weather was still cool! He'd even remember to put them on right when he woke up. A little bribery didn't hurt either! I told him he could pick a toy out at Target once the 25 hours were up.

Today's treatment was for Salts. Again, not easy to avoid because it's in just about ALL foods--but way easier than metal! My son was very uncomfortable during the actual treatment at the D.O.'s office. He was almost whimpering, which is unheard of for him. And his palms turned bright red and splotchy. The doc checked him 3 times while we were there, and he was clear so that was good. We also talked about my son's progress. He seems much less reactive, and if the environment was held constant I think I'd be really singing the praises of NAET. However, the chlorine reactions at swim lessons and the welcoming of Spring with seasonal allergies keep me cautious. Although, I can say that he did much better this week in the pool.

On another note, my husband had his second treatment; this time for eggs. Apparently his lungs do not like eggs in any way, shape, or form according to the chiropractor he's seeing. He also inquired about continuing his allergy shots. He was told he could, but he won't be needing them after he completes NAET. That would be awesome!!