Sure I'll send you a sample!! PM me and I'll get it out to you!!
Thanks, Chickadee, for remembering us!!

I'd also recommend our Pine Tar Soap for cleansing the area prior to the Shea Butter. The Sops is not on the site but available for sale. Locally it's very much sought after!!!

Hi Bichonlover

I, too, have had a rash similar to the one you're describing, although it is hard to know if the cause is the same. I've been on the anti candida diet mentioned and it helped. I've had the same feeling you've had with the bra feeling like a vice midday...sometimes I swell so much during the day I feel like I wear a different size clothes in the afternoon! I'm working with a holistic MD right now and the first thing he did was run some tests for thyroid and hormone balance. The next thing he did was take me off gluten and dairy (talk about 2 ingredients that are in everything...jeez!). He asked me to pay very close attention to how I felt when I ate a meal with gluten (I chose to start there...), and I blow up like a balloon. Amazing! I haven't gotten completely off of it AND I do feel better when I do.

He said one of the reasons is something called "leaky gut syndrome" where the intestines have tiny perforations in them and stuff leaks out (yucky sounding, I know!) .. that then causes bloating and allergies (thus leaving out gluten and dairy...two of the most common allergens). When combined with candida (systemic yeast infection, which is fed by sugars, including carbs) it causes a lot of different symptoms.

When I went on the anti-candida diet, it was no fruits or carbs...primarily proteins and veggies, I felt a lot better. And, especially at the beginning, was a pain in the tuckus! It is amazing how many things have sugar, in some form or another. It took about 10 days of staying off these things before I stopped craving them. That fungus definitely wants to be fed!

One thing I found was that after the initial 10 days, I felt better and was rarely craving sugars like I had been before, so it was worth it (although I forget that and jump right back to old eating habits very easily...I've got a rather addictive personality!). One of the recommendations I had was to cut out the obvious sugars first, then work on those hiding as other ingredients.

Mama, I admire you for doing this. I'm not disciplined enough to undergo such dietary changes. How are you doing now? For this to work for you, it has to be a forever change, right?

Thanks Dotsie...I have been VERY inconsistent with this...I've known about it for years and, with my beautifully addictive personality (grin), I do it with passion for a while, then "fall off the wagon".

I actually started with this holistic MD two weeks ago...things are a bit, shall we say, "challenging" right now. In fact, they are challenging enough that I'm willing to consider, possibly, maybe, even listening to his advice (grin).

It isn't necessarily a forever change...if you can do things in moderation and not trigger the allergic type reactions by being constantly stressed out. For people who have a true gluten allergy (or Celiac Disease), yes it is a lifetime change. Without making the change, it means one heckuva miserable existence!

By the way, how are things going with Ross and the recovery from the fire?

Wow, what great replies. Thanks everyone.

I use to do low carb! But got to the point I was afraid of all the saturated fat I was eating so quit.

My tummy bloating is from Gastroparesis and I have been tested for it. The food just sits in my tummy for hours and probably ferments there. Gosh, now that I say that...lightbulb. Doesn't that sound like it could be the problem? For that diet, I'm to eat no fiber and or fat. Ha! how can you live with out those foods. Doesn't matter, some days I can eat fiber and fat without any problem and other days I can eat and wham. I rip off that bra so fast. So I'm at a total loss about that. Now this problem that's been causing me fits for about 4 or 5 years off and on.

M.Ash, I'll stay off the fruit too. I'll check out that Nutritionist too. Thanks for the name.

Eagle heart, I have rosasea off and on mainly when I get excited. Then it will last a few days. But I've only had it once where I needed to go to the Dr. for antibiotics. But it's something to consider. ProActiv is a cream you can buy OTC right? I might pick some up.

chickadee, I'll PM Di immediately. Thanks for the tip.

Mama Red, I've been checked and rechecked for thyroid and hormone levels. They even checked me for gluten when I was started having all this tummy trouble. I seem to be the perfect specimen looking at all my blood tests. If I have to give up Cheese I'll die.

Gosh, all these recommendations. I think I need to work on one thing at a time. I don't eat a lot of sugar...until I started reading all the labels. Dang, even V8 juice had 6 grams of sugar. Why? For now, I'm going to stay completely away from sugar and fruit. If that doesn't work, I'll read up on the Candida diet or go Low Carb. One of these has got to work.

You gals are the best. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Your Smidgen/Sample is going out tomorrow, Julie!! (I've added some Tea Tree oil for an added healing touch.)

This conversation is so enlightening as I thought I was the ONLY ONE this happened to. Wow!!! I am glad and sad at the same time. Glad I don't suffer alone, some kind of freak, and sad because I don't suffer alone, and this is more common than I knew...

Bichonlover

I do relate sweetie...I do relate! I've had the symptoms of low thyroid for years...and was told by who knows how many docs that I didn't have a problem with my thyroid. And on and on and on it went! Weight skyrocketing (I don't EVEN want to admit how much I weigh...eek!), energy plummeting, belly looking like I was a few months pregnant and self esteem running hell bent for leather to the most distant mountain...without the rest of me!

A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to a holistic MD who listened for a bit to my history, then began to tell me what I was probably going through and HAD been going through for the last 30 years of my life. I was stunned into silence (not an easy thing to do...if the handle chatty lady hadn't been taken, it would be a perfect fit for me...no offense chatty!).

For the first time in more years than I can count, I feel there may be hope for a life without chronic pain, rashes, exhaustion, depression, and emotional roller coasters that beat anything ever found at an amusement park!

I know it is a challenge and I know it can get frustrating and I know you've got a fabulous support system with the BWS ladies. As you can see from the responses, there are lots of us out there struggling! I wish it were an easy "its this, do this" and you're done. Aw ... that is a beautiful dream, eh?

Oh, I'm glad to see Di is sending Tea Tree Oil...that is what I use for the rash I get under my breasts...it may sting if you're particularly raw and I find it helpful for so many things that my son rolls his eyes and looks for help from the Creator if he happens to mention some sort of something or other on his skin giggle).

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be service...

And I'm widya on the giving up cheese! Been there...and learned to like some goat and sheep cheese in the process (my son was so lactose intolerant as an infant that he could have NO cow's milk dairy!). Picking one thing at a time is a great idea and not as likely to drive you into the nearest loony bin!

So far so good. I'm washing/drying twice a day. Using alcohol and when that dries using the Desenix at least twice a day.If I feel a little itch, I run for my Desenix. No rash. I guess I'll just need to do this. I was hoping for a cure! Not sure if that's out there but maybe this will keep it from getting real bad.

You are all the best and want to thank you for all the help. It is strange that I've never heard about this from other women. Ye gads they talk about everything else! LOL

Di, thanks for sending the samples. I am really looking forward to both of them.

A friend of mine tells me that, once something "appears" out of nowhere, our bodies are telling us something.

All/any of the topical stuff can help greatly, but if it returns at any given time during the uses of these applications, your internal "self" is not happy about something.

But if it IS just a topical issue, use whatever works!