Testimonials 

Some of the correspondence  received include:

Hi,  6 mths have passed since I saw you and I've never been so well !!  Remember I had that ghastly itch, that disappeared, mouth ulcers or a bitten lip/cheek heal very quickly, and the IBS has decreased.   I still have trouble with too much roughage, and things like stone fruits are tricky - like the taste, so eat a quarter !!    I can only say there is such an improvement !!   You got me onto drinking brandy instead of wine, still do that, but am thinking of having the odd bottle of a decent wine (not cask anymore) over a couple of nights, just to break the monotony, and also when I go out.    All up, it's all good.  

Christmas was easy - I went to my daughter's and because she has the same issues, everything was gluten free, and I felt great not having to "check" out the food.   I've gotten friendly with another woman who needs to eat gluten free, and she's shown me products etc.   Have joined the Celiac Society recently, to get information.   They have a morning tea coming up, but am wary as so much of that type of food is "chocolate" flavoured or iced... etc., and don't want that on account of the migraines.  I don't eat cakes much or between meals generally.     I lost 3 kgs fairly quickly at the beginning, and not much more since, so that shows I am eating well at meals, anyway.   We vary our meals between chicken, fish, and red meats ... I like the pasta (g/f) and have found a good butcher here at Burpengary  who do lovely gluten free sausages.  I do miss fish and chips sometimes, (we have a favourite spot at Bribie Island) but don't miss the sick feeling I used to get... so good to feel so much more well !!   My doctor is impressed, too, and I understand he has referred other patients to you. 
So, I must thank you for steering me in the right direction,  as I was very non-believing at first !!  
Have a nice day, and kind regards,
Email received   W.L. (Brisbane)  February 2007

I’ve suffered from eczema  (sometimes milk, sometimes bad) all my life so from the first day that my son J was born I have been very careful with his skin.  I took all the obvious pre cautions , bathing him only every second day used no soap, lots of Sorbelene, I wore no perfume etc.

His skin was always dry but otherwise quite good.  We moved from Scotland to Australia  J was 1 ½ years old.  Since then his skin has worsened despite all our precautions.  In June we had a lot of stress including a little sister was born which put additional stress on J  As a result J eczema became chronic.  His skin was reacting to everything and it dominated our lives he couldn’t sleep for scratching he was tired irritable frustrated an in a lot of pain.  He held himself stiffly from the cracks all over him, screamed when we tried to put cream on him and constantly scratched.

I was taking advice from everyone and was convinced  (as I always have been ) that although there are many factors tat contribute to skin conditions , diet plays a major role.  I was confused and anxious about what to feed him and nothing was helping  (especially no the pharmacist who whole heartedly said don’t change his diet its got nothing to do with what he eats.

In desperation I started reading anything to do with eczema and different diets.  I tried cutting out so many different foods that eventually I was panicking every time he put any food in his mouth in case he reacted to it.  In time he was basically living off porridge, pears, rice cakes and lamb.  I thought theses were the only safe foods.  J was losing weight, there was not improvement to his eczema and my husband and I did not know what to do next. During this time of trial and error we were also trying many different creams oils anti inflammatories , bath products and washing powders.

A friend of mine is a Dietitian and it was through her that I began talking to a specialist Dietitian   It was such a relief to have advice and guidance form someone that was speaking from experience and with such confidence in her research and results.  She explained to me what  diet meant, its effects and how to control it.  She talked about the immune system how it works how to boost it  and what effects all of this would have on improving his tolerance levels to food and therefore improve J’s skin.   We talked about foods  that in particular J was most intolerant and together we put together a list of foods to avoid and even better a list of foods he could eat!  This was achieved by being an individualised  based diet.

We started the diet in October (after I spent the best part of a day in the supermarket reading every single product)  and  we talked often to report on things and make adjustments here and there.

By November we could see obvious improvements he was also gaining weight, was less frustrated and was sleeping better.

By December J was back in the ocean which was a huge milestone considering he couldn’t get near the salt waster for months without screaming.  We live right on the beach and I had been beginning to think he’d never be able to go near it again.

Over the Christmas period J did eat a lot of  not good foods but his body handled it quite well as his immune system was much better and overall we stuck to the diet and avoided the foods he is most intolerant to eg eggs.

For our house hold avoiding  some foods is a way of life.  J skin still has a way to go and I realise that we need to work at it keep at it and be prepared to do this for a ling time but for the first time since June last year I feel like I’m having a holiday with J’s eczema.  We have been taught a lot .  My eczema has also improved a lot and will  be even better once I stop cheating  on my diet when J is in bed!

Unfortunately I don’t have many photos do document the times when J skin was at its worst, taking photos was not high on my priority list at the time.

(Received at a later date)

hi,  i hope you get these, 3* are from oct., 2 weeks into the diet and already showing improvement and the others are from a month later and he looks brilliant. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU,

*photos not for available for publication

Email and letter received from Z.S.  (NSW)  24/01/05

To Whom it May Concern,

8 years ago at 36 years old, I had chronic eczema and my body was totally run down.  Getting out of bed each morning was an effort.  Sometimes I even wished my life was over as this was no way to live life.  But I had to keep going for my family.  It was such an effort.  I  felt there was no one out there who could help me.  I’d been to numerous doctors and skin  specialist who could only treat my skin externally and told me no more than I already knew.  I have lost nearly all my sight in one eye and that is after 3 operations due to being so run down and the effects of eczema,  My sister could see how much pain I was in emotionally and physically and referred me to you.

That was when my life changed.  I found there was light at the end of the tunnel, there was hope and someone  finally understood what I was going through.  The advise has proved to be invaluable.   I felt I wasn’t alone.  It was all about DIET.  What we put into our bodies.  I thought I knew what was healthy but it was much more complex than that.   The advice  and genuine concern got me through this terrible stage of my life to the road of recovery.  I still have some bad days  but the words and advice will be with me forever.
If it wasn’t for the dietary advice received I would never be where I am today leading a normal and happy life.  For that I am eternally grateful and indebted to my Dietitian.  Thank you my lifesaver.

If anyone came to me with a similar condition I would instance refer them.

LETTER    M.L.  (Brisbane)  2002