change of diet

[Dievans]

Hi all,

I’ve just had my diagnosis confirmed following a long period of ruling other conditions out. I’m a slimming world member and I am making small steps towards losing the excess weight I gained when I slipped a disc in my back. My question is, has anyone found a reduction in pain levels when they began following a gluten or sugar free diet? I’ve read lots over the years that going gluten free helps to reduce inflammation and we all know sugar isnt good so was just wondering if it would help to eliminate either 1 or both from my diet?

Thanks, I am looking forward to learning lots and getting to know the group better

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello and welcome. I am sure you will get some helpful replies from our members and I have read some do make changes here on the forum too their daily diet, eating healthy has its benefits as well and losing some weight hopefully will be helpful too you, and you are doing it threw slimmmg world ,good luck , let’s us know how you get along 😄

[Dinkie]

Diet definitely affects my fibro. I haven’t removed gluten, it’s way too difficult and restrictive unless it’s absolutely necessary.

What works for me, absolutely no processed foods and no refined sugars. I followed this diet long before my diabetes diagnosis. The diabetes does make things a little more difficult with watching carbs and natural sugars but it’s manageable.

Unfortunately what works for one person may not work for another. Fibro is one of those conditions which will be different for all of us. It’s very much trial and error.

Learning to pace oneself is probably going to help the most. On those days where you feel slightly more able, don’t rush around doing all those outstanding tasks as sure as eggs is eggs you will find the fibro sprite sitting on your shoulder demanding payback in the form of a fibro flare. Do 5 mins of chores then rest and repeat is what I’ve found the best way forward.

[-JW- in reply to Dinkie]

This! Cutting down on sugar and processed foods has made a big difference to me. If I slip up I soon know about it with my joint pain. I tried going gluten-free as well but that didn’t have any effect for me. The biggest changes I’ve made are cutting down sugar and UPFs, moving more and trying to pace as much as my job allows.

[LoveMyveg]

Hi, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia nearly two years ago, but had suffered with bouts of IBS for years. During one particularly bad bout, I had tests to rule other things out, and they confirmed it was IBS. No particular help was offered so I researched the internet on bloating and indigestion and decided to go gluten free. I have now been GF for nearly eight years and my IBS problems have almost disappeared. It's fairly easy to do. I buy gluten free bread and cereals but buy very little else specifically gluten free, just check labels for gluten when I am buying. It can be difficult on holiday abroad, but other than that, it's easy. It hasn't made me loose weight, but has solved one of my fibromyalgia problems!

[Loobielu]

Hello, over the past 10 years I've tried cutting different things from my diet at different times. I was told last September I'm pre diabetic so I have cut sugar from my diet, which has depressed me greatly. I haven't felt any better for it, physically, mentally or emotionally! I've also been caffeine free for a few years (dodgy bladder), again felt no better and I was a vegan for a miserable year (again felt no better) and I cut gluten due to IBS symptoms, didn't help my fibro 🤷. But I think anything is worth a try as many swear by it so wish you luck as it's made me very miserable and been hassle and expensive! I now feel everything in moderation, healthy choices and cooking from scratch where you can is the best diet for me x

[Just-keep-swimming]

Hi, just recently I decided to try being vegan as it has made a difference to my friends fibro and I found that I could walk twice the distance. It felt like a miracle after not being able to get to the bottom of my street for years. I then went to a kinesiologist and she tested what foods I'm intolerant to and dairy, sugar and yeast were major ones. I have various intolerances plus candidiasis. So, yes, my diet has definitely made a difference to my pain and overall feeling of well being. At the moment it's trial and error finding out what makes me well and what makes me feel worse but I really do think that the link between what we put in our bodies and fibromyalgia symptoms should be researched more.

[Fibrooh]

possibly beware cutting out all gluten unless you are coeliac. I have read that doing so can increase sensitivity to it.

[Fillingincake]

I have found I elmenanted flour, it worked for my I tried to start with only having gluten free flour I was no different, when I left out flour it solved some of the problems for me, but I always thought I had a problem with flour.

[Astonvilla68]

with regards to food if you’re looking to reduce information have a look at an alkaline diet. Good luck I really hope it works