Flare after food

[Bettina82]

hi everyone,

I’ve been a quiet member for a few years now, but I have noticed something and I wanted to hear wether any of you have similar experiences.

My RA is not that well controlled at the moment (taking 15mg MTX and Humira plus prednisone which I’m supposed to taper off…) After having my daughter 2 years ago I’ve basically been in a never ending flare. I have recently noticed that every time I eat, I can feel horrible fatigue and pain in my hands and feet starting whilst I’m still chewing my food (even eating a salad does this) I’ve been through the whole elimination diet thing with no real insights other than I should avoid sugar, processed foods and high carb/refined carbs . I try to eat really healthy with lots of veggies and hardly any meat. Has anyone else noticed something similar?

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Bettina82, welcome! We each respond differently to foods but one group that is mentioned more than others is avoiding the nightshade family. I'm fine on them but potatoes are a no-no for some (white… sweet potatoes aren't inflammatory) along with with tomatoes, most peppers (not peppercorns), aubergine (or eggplant… I suspect you're not in the UK?). What is recommended is trying the Mediterranean diet, examples of what to follow here arthritis.org/health-wellne...

[Bettina82 in reply to nomoreheels]

thank you very much for your reply.

I am in the U.K. so Aubergine is fine

I went through the whole nightshade elimination diet a few years ago and I did not notice any difference.

I've been eating a Mediterranean diet for a few years now and really happy with it.

My post was more about experiencing a flare after (or even whilst) eating food, no matter how healthy it is. As an example, my last trigger was a salad with spinach, sorrel, beetroot, fermented beetroot and a hummus dressing (all homemade, no nasty additives).

I feel like food in general doesn’t like me at times

[Jackie1947]

No not affected by food but if that was me I'd ask my GP for a full blood count

[Bettina82 in reply to Jackie1947]

thank you Jackie, already done that and (luckily) everything came back normal. I am seronegative so there even weren’t any signs of inflammation even though I was flaring a lot when bloods were taken.

[Jackie1947 in reply to Bettina82]

Im sorry you are having a hard time

[Deeb1764]

I get when in flares a lot of flash heat followed by fatigue overload as per you it can be something healthy or not so.

[WillowsMother]

I often feel a flare coming on after food but I think it's more about the time of day, as a flare usually comes on in the evening. Like you I can almost feel a wave of inflammation/pain throughout my body as the energy drains out. I've tried to make connections with what I eat, but it can happen after eating something very simple. I steer clear of gluten, dairy and refined sugar, but it doesn't stop the flares from coming. I watch the news in the evening, so I'm wondering if it might be a stress response?!

[oldtimer2]

It might be worth looking at the circumstances around eating your meal. Are you stressed in any way by the preparation or the effort of preparation? Or as someone else suggested i think, the time of day? I used to find that relaxing after pushing myself to do something triggered migraine for example. It may not be the food itself but other factors associated?

[bienassis]

This question about the relationship between food and rheumatoid disease never goes away. In fact most incurable diseases are hedged about by various food worries. From what you say, your diet is in any case healthy enough. Of course, food allergies exist, but they are usually medically recognisable and can be very serious.

I've had rheumatoid disease for 55 years now and have been through just about all the "do's and don'ts" in the book. To no avail. But, like you, I eat a healthy diet - which keeps me generally well and by so doing I feel I have a better chance of coping with this wretched disease. Try not to put on weight and do gentle exercises whenever possible. But don't fret if you feel you are not exercising enough - your body will thank you for not overdoing things.

As a matter of interest, I had the first symptoms 3 months after the birth of my daughter. The first year or two the disease blew hot and cold. I never got rid of it, needless to say, but I was told at the time that the birth had "something to do with the onset". Hormones, of course, was the thinking then. An older friend at the time was just going through the menopause when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid disease, so that also fitted the then current thinking.

I mention the above because you have recently had a child - what the thinking is about hormones today, I don't know. Anyway, I hope you find this forum of help even just to know there are many of us puzzling out the "whys and wherefores" of this disease. Nevertheless, I'm sorry to hear of yet another young person, and young mother, having to face the future with the disease. You are starting off much better than I did thanks to the improvement in drugs and treatment generally. It takes a bit of time to find the right routine but your rheumatology team will have your future in mind and be aware of the difficulties you face.

I send very best wishes for you and your daughter.

Bon courage!

[Bhasvic64]

I ,in the last few weeks had nausea after an evening meal especially fish! My husband does all the cooking now so don't have that chore. I have 25mg methotrexate been on it for more years than I care to remember. Not had this before, anybody had the same? Thanks all.