I'm having a blog..

Blog time.

After much deliberation and thinking about it too, I thought I would tell you what I am doing.

You know we had the discussion about my massage lady and what she said and what others said and all that stuff. Well I did have some positive feedback from private messages and I decided better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. After all the discussion I really didn't know what to think. It's like some said, alternative meds don't work, and if it there was something which really worked, we wouldn't all be on here complaining about RA! I know..

I hope people understand and are prepared to support me.

It's like this. I stay on the Methotrexate and all the other paraphernalia but I have started to take some supplements.

Like so: I x 6mg Boron tablet twice a day;

3 x serra enzyme tablets three times a day

Both of the above before meals.

1 x 400mg calcium and 250 magnesium tablet (all in one) three

times a day after meals.

Then i have gone back to my pre-holiday diet, which, is essentially an akalysing diet. Whereby you eat only akaline foods, like green leaf vegs cut out red meat, dairy, wheat and sugar. Sounds harsh but easy once you get used to it.

So I start the day with porridge made of soya milk, or sometimes water and add in chopped apples or pears and a quidge of honey. I also have puffed wheat or brown rice. Have some nuts with it too sometimes, and sunflower and pumpkins seeds when I have them.

Lunch is usually a salad with either, chicken, but mostly oil fish like mackeral or sardines, and rice cakes, with a nice dressing all over it. yummy I also make a carrot and corriander soup and vegetable soups

Tea (or dinner if you are posh) is usually, bulgar wheat,or cous cous based with chicken and vegetables or fish. I also do a cabbage and onion stir fry which is loverly with sea salt and black pepper.

I eat soya yoghurts and desserts.

I Hope I will get some support in my efforts. I have lost 3lbs since last Friday so fingers crossed. My tummy definitely feels less bloated already.

My massage lady did say I might feel worse before I feel better and I am hoping that's why i feel like I have a flare coming on.

Warm water and lemon juice also once a day, and I have been taking Red Bush tea (with milk) on a regular basis anyway cos I love it. Which is antioxidant and naturally caffeine free. Lots of water too.

Will keep you posted anyone who is interested. I just gotta try it.

Thank you

Julie x

[Hidden]

julie.. tia steph... another blogger.. gave me a similar diet.. i have lost no weight due to steroids and prob a small amout of choc!!!,think wheat and dairy free may help a bit.. im doing better but it cld be the steroids too!, gave the gp a blast about my hospital... he buys his services from the pct!!, he is chair or something!!, he has awarded the contract else were... he also had a freudian slip by saying how are you .are you going to "Bath" for your joints!!!!, the national reheumatological hospital bath spa!! on a separate note have been to bath spa twice for my joints to bathe in the waters it is 24 pounds for 2 hours but it is fabulouus........

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Alison, yes that's right, Tia Steph does keep to a similar diet, that's one reason I decided to go back to it, because i used to feel so much better on it, and it was encouraging to hear from someone else who felt the same. Natural is best!

But it is quite, well, difficult to keep to if you have to cook separate meals for other members of the family who want to keep on eating what they are used to. So once you "fall" off the wagon with it you have trouble getting back to it and of course, it involves lots of chopping of salads and vegs and that was something i found so painful so it was easier to push a pie and chips in the oven! With my new steafastness I please mysef and if they don't want to eat it they can do their own - which they do!

So fingers crossed!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

P.S. Love the idea of the bath spa

[Hidden]

Hi Julie

I wish you well and hope you get something from this. It's certainly worth giving diet a go in so much as if you lose weight you will be helping your joints anyway!

I would be concerned about the supplements particularly as you are on methotrexate, it's such an awkward drug at the best of times, as we know! You could really do to clear the 'additions' with the rheumatologist before you start taking them ... they could affect the uptake of certain RA meds.

Great result so far Julie. Keep us posted,

Lyn x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Lyn, yes at least shifting some of the blubber will help with the joints. I will check out for possible interactions, although this massage lady also was taking MX and the tabs. Thanks for the advice. x

[emandedmum]

Of course you have our support! Good news that it's already making you feel better and seems to be working for you, long may it continue. As Lyn said just check supplements are ok to take with mtx - the leaflet inside the packet should give you some pointers (as it happens I was only checking my 6million page gumph today and noticed something about this in there!) I like the way you call her your massage lady...! x

[Hidden]

Thanks Jo. I hope to goodness I am not doing more damage than good though.. it's nice having a massage lady! wink wink x

[Hidden]

Hi Julie, if you don't try you will always being thinking what if, what have you got to lose anyway only some weight hopefully ( you no what I mean didn't mean that to sound patronizing in any way)

Good luck chuck!!

mand xx

[Gina_K]

Hi Julie, good luck with diet, I agree with Lynn tho check with pharmacy always! as I was stopped getting some herbal stuff in the beginning, they actually rang the phamaceutical company and they said not with meth, sry can't remember what they were but somethings I read in a magazine article, was very surprised. i think any diet that requires 3 healthy meals a day is good, we should'nt say we are on diets, just eating healthily! I am doing weightwatchers new pro points since end Jan and have lost 10lbs, only another 6 and back to pre steroid weight. Just packed away a lot of 'fat' clothes (did'nt throw out) because will prob be on steroids again at some point, hopefully they will be extremely old fashioned by then! smocks r never very smart anyway!!!! The steroids made me eat chocolate every night - I swear 'the big boy made me do it'! Jokes aside, delighted to at last be losing, so depressing that big moon face in photos & bat wings!!!

[Hidden in reply to Gina_K]

I was once stopped from buying devils claw and milkthistle because I was taking diclofenac. That is the difference I think, these are minerals not herbs? They are all naturally occurring minerals. Boron is found in soil, and therefore gets into our system through leafy green vegs (but in this country we don't have much boron in the soil) Yes it is not a diet but eating healthily, you actually eat more! Good to see you are doing well with th Weight watchers, my friend is doing that and doing well, she tried to get me to go but I would find it difficult missing out the bread, potatoes, wheat, dairy, would you be able to?

Keep it up x

[Hidden]

yep/// steroids equal choc... oh dear.. now maintaing weight but not loosing

[Hidden]

here we are no echinacea or st johns wort . with methotrexate.. these are the problem two herbals.., echniacea is a problem because it can stimulate. the immune system... methotrexate works by depressing the immune system and which can be overactive and there causes the pain and inflammation of arthritis by the body attacking it self!, St johns wort is metabilise via the liver so could be a problem with methotrexate which takes the same route... st JOHNS WORT also problem with contraceptive pill!!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi see above Ali. x

[Hidden]

Does anyone know how many cups of cappuchinno we are allowed on meth?

I have this daily ritual of going to the local italian coffee shop and indulging in

1-2 cups of the above stuff. And maybe 2 more instants during the day. Is this too much when you are on Meth i read something about theophiline on the drug packet but dont understand how much is too much!!! ( misspelt)

Hope that you respond well to all you are doing Julie. You gotta try and Im sure that I will at some point. We have to keep fighting RA thats what I think in whatever way we can.

[Hidden]

Hi I gave up caffeine a long time ago. I used to drink coffee all day long and I found my heart used to race and I felt sluggish. When I gave up I felt so much better, got terrible headaches to start with, but once you are over that its fine. When I have a good cup of coffee now and then and the last time was on Valentines Night after my meal.. ahhh... it tastes so good. I do sometimes have a decaff coffee.

Thanks for the encouragement. x

[Hidden]

thephiline.. is a bronch dialiter. used in chest, breathing , problems, v old fashioned drug.. but its weaker cousin could and can be bought over the counter as chest eze... been out of retail pharmacy for over two years.. so knowledge levels falling... hospital different mind set.. battery farm or factory production line springs to mind.!!... aagh!!!.. if only was well enough to mount an escape,//.

My dad accompined my mum on a short admittance.. he said it is a like a prison... I said try working here sad building syndrome.... wards are in a 1970s tower block.. ugghhh.

coffee has caffeine and theobromine.. these are found in choclate my vice!!. and tea too but in lower quantities THEOBROMINE AND THEOPHYLINE ARE different chemicals lol xx have studied chem and pharm but am a rubbish typist

[Hidden]

oops typing ... theophyline.. more correct spelling.. my computer has no spell check;; it doesnt have word for windows...

[Hidden]

devils claw in an anti inflam.. v similar in chemical make up to etorocxib... which i take which is either or...., the advice was correct as you dont want to be taking two anti inflammatorys.., diclofenac by the way as ant inflam.. different,, but similar.., suddenly dawned on me ladies. gents.. if your gp has prescribed.. an ant inflam... they typically use, diclofenac or naproxen..., i chose etorocoxib.. as meant to be kinder to gut.... Please DONT add in ibuprofen to the MIX either another ant inflam,,,,,,,,----

Milk thistle is an intersting one... some people... say it supports the liver..

not as sure on this one so safer to leave alone... when i return to work will get some one in the medicenes information department.. to chack interactions...

[Tricia-P]

hi Julie

tricia here can't take this in at mo but will read with interest later on

Take care

Tx

[Hidden]

Good luck Julie. Keep us all updated to if it works - hope it does.

The most important thing is how you feel it is working xxx

[Tiasteph]

As a couple of you know I swear by...I shall call it "healthy eating" rather that a diet. Not saying it's a cure for all, but it has made a Huge difference to my life & RA.

Been on it for 18 months now & has become a way of life, I actually enjoy it! Still fall off the old wagon now & then though

One of the main things being weight loss as we all know it's less stress on the joints.

Good luck Julie