Well still not luck with the sheets but am I surprised? I'll give them another call in the morning.

On another note, I've been to the naturopath and he's given me an little computer electric diode check for want of a better term showing that my system is deficient in several areas, one in particular being zinc. Wants me to go on a detox diet for two weeks and thinks that will make all the difference in the world. He 'challenged' me to eat one of the foods on my banned list which I did and there was absolutely no change. He said that if I did in fact have an allergy to it, the sinus would have flared up very quickly which it didn't.

It's now down to who do I follow through with, the naturopath or the Immunologist. I think for now I'll finish what the Immunologist started and then try the naturopath's ideas. What's a few weeks after all.

Although I didn't realise how much this salicylate free diet has affected me until my daughter accused me of almost drooling over her pizza and not looking at her when I was talking to her the other day. Sad but true.

I think a detox diet is always a good idea, no matter what else. A single-eat test isn't necessarily valid if you're still not detoxed though. A lot of the things you're allergic to stay with you for a while. So for example I bloat when I have milk products. I only found that after going off of them for 2 weeks and THEN trying something. So don't diss the food issues so quickly. It won't necessarily flare up immediately.

I would go for a few weeks on a detox diet. And then start introducing things in slowly, and try each thing for a few days to really make sure it is safe for you.

By the time I finish the Immunologist's diet that he set me it'll be 9 weeks. Already it's been five. After that if there's no change he was going to put me on a wheat free diet for just how many weeks I'm not sure of as yet.

From the paperwork the naturopath has given me, I'm all for this detox diet. I believe it's a good way of ridding the body of all the toxins we store up at any rate. It's only for a fortnight (two weeks) so I can live with that, plus he's given me lots of recipes which is a huge help.

I think that where it concerns my health a few months out of a lifetime really isn't a lot - maybe I'm just complaining too much lol. I really do miss certain foods.

i'm sure you're not complaining too much - i'm finding it hard enough just to give up coffee! (and yes, that is the electric kettle stlye coffee...)

Thanks Joe. I don't know what brands of coffee you have over there but (in Australia most people use electric kettles) I use Nescafe Decaff which actually tastes good if not better than the normal instant coffee. I was surprised! Admittedly the first few days I went through the headache bit because of the coffee not containing caffeine but that was because I was drinking around 3 to 4 cups a day. Now I can still drink that many and it's safe.

Surprisingly though decaff tea still isn't ok to drink. From what I was told by the specialist the decaff process for coffee is the only one that actually removes all the caffeine. If I want a cup of tea the only one I'm permitted is camomile. Because there's so much caffeine in soft drink, the only ones there I can have are tonic water, soda water and lemonade.

i snuck a peak at your response at work this morning, sonia, ...i had a steaming hot cup of coffee in my hand...
i only really drink caffein at work - but you've inspired me! i'll let you know how i feel in a weeks time

Good for you Jo. Remember that if you have more than two cups of 'caffeine' a day, there's a chance you may get headaches when you stop but it'll clear up in a few days. And don't forget all those Cola drinks too, they're loaded with caffeine.

I have to admit to one thing though, when I was living in Canada, I just loved their brewed coffee.

that's the problem - you really can't beat a good coffee! we're coffee maniacs in our house - we have three different machines set up in the kitchen...

out of interest, any idea why you're supposed to give up coffee when your dieting? i assume it slows down the metabolism as it can't be particularly fattening

Jo I was told by the dietician at the Immunologist clinic that it's because of the caffeine and yes, you're right about the metabolism theory.

I still love a good coffee though and whenever I'm in the city just can't resist going to Starbucks.

I think if I was still living in Canada, I'd be a coffee maniac also. Just the aroma was enough to get me in.

I used to wake to the smell of the coffee and the bread baking, now how sinful is that?

the aroma is even better than the coffee itself, a lot of the time (dare i say it!)

just to update you - day 5 and i've cut down drastically, but still not entirely. i'm getting the headaches though...

'you've got mail' has some great essays about the wonders of 'legal addictive stimulants' in the script, i found it all quite amusing...