Searching for a pattern

[dancerjodi]

Generally I eat very well. This is not the time of the year for that however.

Early in my pregnancy I made great efforts to continue my good eating habits, but as I got bigger I surely slacked. This is awful, isn't it? I'm controlling what my baby is ingesting, and I know I'm not eating as well as I should. But I digress.

This is the third year that I can remember where I had some kind of skin issue right before Christmas. The first started on my hands and moved up my arms, and showed up on my knees and feet. I went to my PCP and they sent me to a derm - they even biopsied one of the blisters! They chaulked it up to some kind of plant allergic reaction and blamed decorating my grandmother's gazebo.

I want to say I had a similar irritation last year, right before christmas. We were trying to get pregnant and it was right around the time of the 2 week wait. A blood test before the holiday told me I was not actually pregnant, but I was insistent with the doctor that something must be up - I had this weird rash! I remember showing my Mom when we were at my sister's house for Xmas Eve/Xmas.

This year's bout is the worst every. I'm pregnant now and have stress and crazy hormones on top of whatever would normally be going on. I am never a perfect eater at this time of year, but my huge body has made me less inclined to pay attention to what I'm eating.

I'm not a big sweets eater, and with cookies, fudge and such showing up all over I eat a lot more than I'm used to. More nuts. More dairy. More ingrediants that I probably don't have on a regular basis.

So maybe this is the cause of my annual skin issues? Maybe despite all of the goodies coming my way, I really just have to be diligent about not eating them (tiny bits in moderation are one thing . . . there is nothing moderate about what's going on here).

It is food for thought. Each year I say to my self "what the hell, this never happens to me?!". But now I am remembering that indeed it does, and that it is always this time of year. It can't have anything to do with the weather either (this is New England - we don't always have crazy cold/snow this time of year).

Since our freedom and free time will be limited I've wanted to spend some time going out with Brian on 'date nights' before our babe is here. It may be a nice challenge to see how to be smarter about food, despite the restaurants, sweets and parties. But I know I can do it!

Comments

[tigira.livejournal.com]

You mention dairy - I know others for whom dairy is a trigger for skin issues. I also remember my yoga instructor (and ayurvedic counselor) telling me that many people have sensitivities to dairy and just aren't aware of it because they become accustomed to whatever irritation exists as the "norm."

YMMV, but it just hit a memory for me.

diet may not be the culprit.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

it could be due to the drier winter air (inside from heating, and outside due to the season) that's emphasizing an underlying condition. some people have eczema that's more prevalent in the winter, and others have it in warm humid weather. i definitely noticed mine was worse in my mid-30s and in the summer. during the winter, though, my skin has just increasingly become more and more dry - no rashes, though.

so yeah, it could just be triggered by the change of seasons. good luck!!!