Believe it or not, food sensitivities and allergies can cause a HUGE amount of problems.
I am 31 now, and have literally been diagnosed with excema, staff infections and psoriasis by the time I was about 15, and since then they've just gotten more complex and I can' tremember the name for the newest skin problems. When I got pregnant I got large swollen round red lesions (size of an apple, with clear skin in the middle). Always perfectly round. It was the weirdest thing anyone had ever seen, but cleared up with a heavy duty hydrocortisone based precription. Then I got this persistent rash on my chin and lower cheek area that Cleocin seemed to clear up. It seems like I've had every prescriiption for skin I think they make. They always blamed my skin problems on allergies. I have a huge hunk that was taken out of my back unneccessarily because they didn't know what it was. I'd get bumps - that look like a mosquito bite, but it's the middle of winter and I haven't seen a bug in months! They itch and sting like crazy and NOTHING helps.
Along with all the skin problems, I have had stomach problems since high school. I've been to dr.'s for years to hear it's gas or acid, then IBD more recently, and it has gotten progressively worse over the years and finally, most recently, I was diagnosed after a colonoscopy with Crohns Disease (a chronic intestinal disease).
I began having what felt like labor pains when I finally went in for the colonoscopy, and the dr told me they may need to take part of my intestines out, and that I would have to START OUT by getting onto this prescription that costs almost $400/mo. (w/ insurance) and will deteriorate my liver (dr didn't tell me this the internet did), I became desperate for other answers. I reached out to all my contacts (I'm very active in the Cobb Chamber and many other associations) and was recommended by several chiropractors to a Dr. Lee. He is a physician across from Kennestone Hospital but specializes in homepathy. So he can give you both homeopathic and prescription meds if necc., which is what appealed to me about him. Well he did a big round of blood tests on me and was able to determine how to appropriatly change my diet and I no longer have any skin problems or stomach pains either (as long as I stay on my diet). I have extreme food allergies and sensitivities so my diet is strict. But if I slip (like over the holidays) I notice the difference immediately! Makes the diet all worthwhile when I get to see the pain I used to be in. I notice skin itchies and bumps immediately and my stomach swells like I'm 7 mos pregnant even from one day of bad cheating. If you live nearby I can give you Dr. Lee's number, but if you're in another city or state, I can see if I can find a good dr he recommends? Let me know if you'd like... I'll tell you in advance that he does not file insurance but some insurance companies will cover part of it if you file it yourself. Also, the blood testing I did was $950 - my first visit! When they told me how much it would cost I almost choked, and I called my husband and told him. He said, with no hesitation, to take it. I thought he was crazy, but did it, reluctantly. I had to wait two weeks for the results and was frustrated, but now I am so greatful that my husband was the way he was about it, because otherwise I'd have never done it, and I would still be in pain every night and may have been in the hospital at Christmas. Here is a site that may help - this is the co that did my bloodwork and they had pamphlets at my dr ofc that helped me...