It's my first post and I don't write here lightly, I have been pondering posting for some time but wanted to see if what was happening to me was was not a short term effect. I do not want to create false hope, I am certainly no medical professional and you should read what I write only as purely my own circumstances. For years if I didn't feel that reassuring L shape of a Ventolin in my pocket I panicked, properly panicked, like turning around and coming home panic no matter where I was.
As a child in the 70's I was covered in hydrocortisone creams, in and out of hospital, chest infections all the time, allergic to everything but horses and dry rot ( tests on the forearms ). Sent to swim as a child because it would help my lungs, aged 11 ish I was on Ventolin and a tablet puncturing 'whizzer' puffer that made me cough before Becotide arrived.
At 16 I got a job which I at 47 I am still doing, albeit I'm running the place now. Very high pressure and stress, I do good things, save people from themselves and others, it's very rewarding.
A year ago whilst putting my heart and soul into work I ended up at A&E with what I thought was a heart attack. It took them 9 months to diagnose me properly, I hadn't had a heart attack but some discs in my neck had started to trap nerves giving similar symptoms to a stroke/heart attack in my left chest, left arm, left face and head.
Before the diagnosis came in I thought I'd better alter my diet since death was not part of my immediate plans. I was taking enough exercise but wanted to do what I could from a food perspective.
My father, brother and I had all suffered with acid reflux to greater or lesser extents, we all had chest and skin problems of varying degrees. My childhood eczema had turned in urticaria for many years, only really clearing up in my 30's after years taking Claritin.
A year after the heart attack scare and in my view as a result of lifestyle changes I consciously made thinking it would help my heart I seem to have pretty much gotten rid of my asthma.
It's not just me thinking it, when I check the 'data' on my GP practices repeat prescription website, my repeat prescription orders have basically dried up.
I'm not here to advertise or sell a book, I do not want you to think what I did will work for you, just to share my experience.
I started by fasting two days a week ala Dr Michael Mosley, I dropped 3 belt settings, lost little weight but muscled up some more when combined with exercise. My asthma was just mildly starting to improve. A year later I still fast two days a week and cycle 60 miles+ a week. My wife actually said today I seem to be fasting most days, no breakfast, no lunch only food in the evening. Coffee, sparkling water ( thanks Lidl ) and fresh OJ during the day. Occasional granola, nut milk and fruit if I'm going on a long ride.
After three months or so of fasting I was reading all sorts of health stuff, eventually deciding to go partly vegetarian. I replaced milk with homemade almond milk ( recipe if you want me to post it ), I reduced meat, eggs, cheese, bread and potato consumption by 70%.
I increased bean, nut, mushroom, dried fruit and vegetarian product consumption by 150%, the staff at Lidl saw me all the time, I bought another freezer to store all the frozen vegetarian food I was buying. I take 1000ug Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin and Turmeric/Cucumin/Black Pepper each day along with a single Brazil Nut.
So a year later my asthma has essentially gone, frosty days, yeast in beer, hard exercise even cats no longer hold any fear for me. I barely have cows milk, treat a Pork Pie, sliced ham or a burger as something special and naughty.
I was mad keen on BBQ, I have two Webers and smoked my own whole chickens ! they got used twice all of last year.
The litmus test is that if a ventolin is not on the bedside or in my pocket I can shrug and tell myself it'll be fine.
Believe me I know how desperate, worried and debilitating asthma can be both as a child and adult. I have been hospitalised more than once even as an adult, I've sat on a plane knowing the air is recirculating and that 48hrs after landing I'll be trying to get antibiotics for a chest infection, heck I've even saved antibiotics and taken them on holiday with me to save the hassle of finding a Dr.
From an evidential standpoint I realise this is only my experience, it may have been a total coincidence, I may have been pre-programmed to be be asthma free by 47.
I cannot however discount the major change in food consumption I have chosen to make.
In essence I believe in my case that by substantially reducing foods that originated from animals and substantially increasing foods that originate from plants my asthma has all but gone. As I say in the title I think I may be asthma free but after almost 50yrs of my mind worrying about my lungs failing to work it is still hanging onto memories which won't yet give up the last 10%.
As I said at the start, this is my experience, I'm no medical professional, feel free to read and totally ignore my post, you should always follow your Dr's advice and keep taking your medication.
Whatever you do, take care, take deep breaths, I don't really plan on posting again unless you want the almond milk recipe.
Regards
Saprolith
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