The diet progress report...

[Brushwork]

So... 3 weeks ago I ditched the small amount of dairy and the occasional egg to go vegan, homemade plant based, oil free and sugar free. The conclusion of my personal experiment thus far is : diet alone doesn’t work.

The only thing I have t done yet is a complete fast.

During that time it also became clear that methotrexate is not working for me. Also that long term Naproxen is damaging my stomach even with Omeprazole.

I called the nurse helpline and have to go to the flare clinic this coming Friday. My left hand is a bit useless, elbows, ankles, knees and toes feeling tender too.

So folks, the eliminated dairy has helped my sjogrens but not my RA. My stomach feels as tender as the rest of me. Nonetheless I’ll go walk the dogs and see how the day unfolds...

My conclusion remains that eating healthily helps the body to cope, but for established RA, it won’t make it go away. It is my choice to remain vegan and as sugar sets off my Sjogrens, guess I have to leave that alone too.

Go gently through the day

[Hidden]

🥺you tried. I tried the fasting . A Rheumatologist said it could help with weight loss as she had good results. It made my bad days even worse. Enjoy walking your dogs. Sorry it didn’t work x

[Dobcross1]

Thank you for such an honest post, hope you get the help you need at the flare clinic.

[springcross]

Very interesting, especially about the sugar, thanks. xx

[Brushwork in reply to springcross]

Sugar leaves my eyes in a red gooey mess within 24 hours - 1 bar of lovely chocolate = 36 hours of visual problems as my tear ducts dry up more than usual.

[springcross in reply to Brushwork]

Wow, that's answered questions for me - I've often wondered why my eyes are really dry some days and not others and it now makes sense, so no more chocolate and maltesers for me (when I finish the current box 😋). Thanks for that. xx

[sylvi]

Good for you for trying darling. xxx

[Marionfromhappydays]

When you mention flare clinic I imagine everyone walking around like the 1970s with bell bottom jeans 😁

But seriously thats rubbish you are in a flare, now you've made your mind up you aren't on the right drugs its great you can see someone and hopefully change and try a new one. I was reading the NICE guidelines a while back (my life is that exciting 😁) and they seem to think methotrexate works well with other drugs so maybe you are half way there x

No one can say you didn't try with the diet.

[Brushwork in reply to Marionfromhappydays]

Ha ha... funny but the flares of the 70’s sprang into my mind too...

Trouble is. - Hydroxychloroquine causes migraines and sinusitis, allergic reaction to both Sulphasalazine and Leflunomide, Benepali too and Amgevita just didn’t work! Had a series of Kenalog steroid injections - great for first 2 the following ones only lasted 10 days and then a week...

While my body is clearly not right with morning stiffness and pain lasting at least 3 hours, and really tender joints in all the usual places, I’m still mobile and my pain is not too bad. I can walk the dog and do some chores that don’t rely on my left hand, but golf is out of the question for now.

I just need something to work.

[Marionfromhappydays in reply to Brushwork]

Hope you find it x

[Hidden]

you tried it for you and seen what works or does not but sounds like it was worthwhile exercise x

[medway-lady]

Nothing ventured etc, and at least you can go forward having tried. I'm not surprised just glad you've an appointment to see a clinician to help sort out the issues you now have. I don't know about any NSAIDS as my kidney function means I must not take them , but it was Omeprazole that damaged my kidneys ( that is an official diagnosis not a hunch), so it could be worth discussing if its the Omeprazole could be either not be working or causing you problems. Also ask if you think thats the case about another PPI if you think the NSAID might be the culprit, but are not certain.

I'd also say that I totally agree healthy and balanced diet is essential and its good news this morning that the Government are going to help less advantaged children with food support until the end of next year. Food is one of the basic essentials and children going hungry is heartbreaking, its a lucky person that can be sure where next weeks food is coming from. So I'm very glad your honest and have tried as I am Celiac and would kill for a normal bread roll rammed full of cheese and pickle. GF bread even home made is just not as yummy. Or maybe in my mind its better than the reality ?

[Brushwork in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks, but I can work out for myself what I need to discuss, I research extensively. Your intentions might be good, but while I encourage responses from most, I honestly struggle with yours.

Just being honest. No malice or harm intended. I wish you well.

[medway-lady in reply to Brushwork]

How odd ? oh well you can't please everyone just being honest. Good luck and please if my posts offend you, do not respond.

[Brychni in reply to medway-lady]

yes - not sure what on earth was in your reply that was so terrible: you agreed with her! Horrible to see someone being so rude to you. x

[AgedCrone]

I thought that the notion that diet alone to control RA was out the window ?

Have you ever tried just eating what you know suits you together with your prescribed meds for say 6 months a year straight without meddling with adding/subtracting from your diet?

After all...whatever we eat can react with the drugs we take & if you keep switching .....you won’t know why you don’t feel any improvement.

[Brushwork in reply to AgedCrone]

It was a short term experiment because it was suggested that within 12 days, changes would occur.

I am sticking with a vegan plan. But that has only required very small changes as I was almost vegan anyway.

Yes some foods/ herbs/ spices can interact with drugs. I try to keep in mind any changes and what happens to my body.

[Hidden]

Well at least it helped something. That's good !

Sugar is my evil twin.

Sorry you feel rotten. Walking dogs when you feel rotten is no fun. I just trudged round a field feeling like I've just been hit by a bus, so I know!

[Brushwork]

I mentioned above that I believed that long term Naproxen with Omeprazole was damaging my stomach and I had begun to have problems. Well, it was a horrid indigestion with heartburn, and I am now wondering if it was caused by Soy Milk? Or, actually an interaction of the Soy Milk with another medication... I am stopping the Soy Milk (having only begun taking it 2 weeks ago) to see what happens. I only took a small amount in my porridge each day so it seems a little unlikely, but I need to eliminate it from the list of culprits.

The joys...

At least it gives me something to think about and research, while we are all so limited in our lives.

Have a lovely day and go softly