Stable health since 2006...avoiding flare ups...

[GUEVARA]

Hi folks, I have had issues with BD for many years now but have been in relatively good health since 2006. In that year I went on to Infliximab anti-tnf treatment, and also stopped drinking alcohol. I changed my diet and have avoided meat (still eat fish), dairy products (still have cheese from time to time, and ice cream), fatty foods, take away food and microwave meals. It might all be a coincidence I don't know, but it has worked for me. Giving stuff up was hard and now and again I'll eat some chips and still have chocolate after my dinner but overall eat much healthier and avoid toxins.

Anyone else had similar joys with diet or lifestyle changes?

Tim Short

[joannebond360]

Hi Tim

That is fantastic! So nice and very positive to hear of someone well and staying well

I am awaiting to hear if I can have infliximab, tried Azathiprine and colchicine which made me really sick. Currently on prednisilone. Been thinking a lot lately about my diet and what I can do to help myself. Suffer terribly with pains, bloating and other lovely things! Really think I'm going to give the diet thing a good go. Have heard other people are having good results with the diet thing.

Hope you continue to stay well

Jo

[goodlife]

Tim, again its great to hear from people who are managing their symptoms.

I must admit I have noticed after certain foods my stomach/intestines go nuts so I think the diet and cutting out alcohol are my next step........small price to pay I guess for more stable health.

Jo and I came on the site round the same time so I guess we are excited to hear from someone who has this under better control. Are you managing to work? Thanks Love JIll x

[klaris]

Hi Tim,

I noticed very early on that alcohol made me feel awful so I knocked that on the head; I used to smoke many years ago until I had a massive flare which made giving up extremely easy; I don't eat much meat, and have to avoid spicy food; I have noticed the last year or two that pasta makes me feel grotty so now avoid that. Can't drink coffee any more. Unfortunately, a relatively bland and light diet suits me best, and definitely not eating late - very boring but I feel much better this way.

Even if the diet aspect doesn't prevent the flare ups I'm sure it just generally helps the body function a little bit better.

Klaris

[MrsMc]

Hi Tim,

I too have managed to get much better control of my symptoms with diet. I don't always manage to stick to it as well as I should but when I do I feel 100% better. Cutting out high salicylate food - tea, alcohol, anything with peppermint including toothpaste, most fruit except bananas and pears, some veg although boiling them helps reduce the salicylate and anything with spices in - makes a big difference. So much so that when I was sticking to it rigidly my consultant signed me off I was so well! Unfortunately life and lack of willpower intervene a lot of the time as the diet is very bland and boring but I have had BD for 41 years (diagnosed 12 years ago) and I definitely feel better now than I did when I was younger.

I hope your good health continues.

Linda

[lesleyg]

Have to agree with all of the above. Bland diet, not eating late (do have lack of will power though). I tested positive to salicylate & gluten intolerance and have always wondered if there was a connection with either the origin of the disease or if not flare ups.

Lesley

[devonshiredumpling]

Number one son has been on a salicylate-free diet since he was around 4 years old. He had a true dairy allergy (rather than intolerance) and was extremely hyperactive. He was deaf, had asthma plus various lesions on his face, and was running round in ever-decreasing circles and climing the curtains.

In desperation, I joined the Hyperactive Children's Society (something like that anyway) and put him on the Feingold diet feingold.org/theory.html This was before the days of ADHD and the like, we were viewed as very very wacky by family, friends and medics.

Anyway, salicylates were one of the foods to be reduced/eliminated. The almost instant change was astounding. He's 25 now and still cannot tolerate high salicylate foods, things like tomatoes and sesame. At 25 years old he doesn't climb the curtains of course, or keep kicking the dog up the bum - he'd have a problem cos we no long have a dog - he becomes extremely irritable and invariably spits up with his long-term girlfriend.

[GUEVARA]

Interesting stuff folks. Would be interesting to find out exactly what triggers things off in us, apparently they do that with some RA patients, and get them to stop taking something for a fortnight until they isolate the causes of flares. Could mean a lot to people in our position.

Tim

[felle]

Hi Tim.l have done the same and change my diet about 4 years ago and it does help,there are so many food i can't eat .lm still unwell with lots of flare up steroids are not my friend so im trying to manage with tramadol but its a hard fight.going to Liverpool November again and really pray i get help.i have been having acupuncture and drinking Chinese herbs and it as help with enjoying food again and with a lot of problems with my stomach.so if you can have a go with it.i think it is something you need to do regularly,i only go once a fortnight now because of cost but would like to go more.well done with your diet keep the good work up.there is not any help with all this so we have to help are self.best wishes.