Going into year 4 with PMR. I have had tremendous success with a diet of clean eating. Protein meal replacement drink mix and 30 days without Wheat,Dairy or Sugar has enabled me to live pain free. Sugar is the worst culprit for pmr.
Diet is a game changer for PMR: Going into year... - PMRGCAuk
Diet is a game changer for PMR
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SusySunshine
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Yes I agree. But the meal replacements are often high in sugar or hidden sugar, aren't they! I have drastically changed my diet following advice from this forum xxx
Hello, I still don’t understand what this ‘clean eating’ is. What makes foods ‘clean’?
Clean foods are supposedly those unprocessed and without additives or chemicals, but then a protein drink mix seems to be the opposite of ‘clean’.
Hahaha. I love that!! You spotted a bullshit psycho babble term!! You are so right! Thank you xxxxxxx
I have cut out added sugar, even stopped eating certain high-sugar fruits like dates, bananas and pineapple. I also avoid white carbs and feel much better for it. A few days ago I did something that for a long while I thought would be psychologically impossible - I got rid of all my baking equipment (apart from a couple of loaf tins in case I take up breadmaking again). I took a pile of stuff including 3 rolling pins (why 3?) to the local charity shop and put my Kenwood Chef (too heavy to carry) on Freecycle. It was collected by a happy couple the next day. I thought I would mourn for the end of an era of my life, but I was just delighted to have all the extra cupboard space.
I must admit that I have my doubts about meal replacement drinks, as they are another form of highly processed food, and I imagine bland and boring. No longer baking, I'm investigating interesting and delicious recipes mainly for vegetables, pulses and fish. I think food should be pleasurable as well as nutritious.
I recently cleaned out my recipe book and threw away recipes I'd clipped that no longer in good conscience could make. Too much sugar!
Yes, my baking books went to the charity shop too. Actually it wasn't quite so sudden as I might have implied. I had already 'culled' my baking equipment and I didn't make mince pies at Christmas for the first time in over 30 years.
I wonder when PMR is finally done if these eating habits will remain? I am hoping so.
Yes, me too. I think they will. It's said to take an average of 66 days to form a new habit and I feel my avoidance of chocolate and cake etc has become normalised. For a while I had to consciously resist temptation, but now I don't think about it. This is so different from when I first started on pred at 60 mg per day. I really gave in to the rampant hunger and craving for sweet comfort food, but soon realised that it didn't really make me feel good - and was making me gain unwanted weight...
Me neither - because OH was in hospital. But the brandy butter got done... Think I missed my mincepies this year!!!!
PMRproAmbassador
A study found that a strict vegan diet achieved relief from joint pain for half of the patients with RA who tried it. But it wasn't a universal panacea and even the smallest amount of animal protein brought back the pain.
But I am always sceptical about someone who makes these sort of claims on the day they join a forum and tell us nothing about their journey. I will be delighted to be proven wrong ...
My daughter was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 14. She had already become vegetarian, but at 15 she decided (for moral rather than health reasons) to become vegan. There's no doubt it was the best thing she could have done, as her symptoms went into remission almost immediately and she has been almost symptom-free ever since. She's now in her 40s. When she was first diagnosed, I was afraid she would end up in a wheelchair and in constant pain. In fact her weekend pastime is very long hikes in the country.
Same with my granddaughter - a few years of regular visits to resus and circling the drain because of severe brittle asthma, OK to gasping in a few minutes. Then she went veggie first and then decided to go all the way. Since she has been vegan, almost no asthma, certainly nothing requiring hospital admission. I won't deny it may be worth trying.
I find I don't really enjoy meat any more, so I'm gradually eating less and less. My main reason is rather banal - It drives me more and more crazy when meat gets stuck between my teeth. As soon as I've finished, I'm wielding the dental floss. I definitely avoid steak and lamb chops, and think gradually I'll simply give it all up completely. I had no meat today and didn't feel deprived.
I don't feel deprived if I don't have meat but I do generally like beef and lamb. OH likes chicken - I don't really. Do like fish though.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Sugar is the worst culprit for most illnesses - as we now know, so well done on that. Others do have problems with wheat I know, but like others I would question your faith in replacement drinks.
A better option for ‘clean eating” is using fresh ingredients cooked as required. Anything pre- packaged and manufactured commercially surely is the opposite.
I so totally agree. A good balanced diet made at home and not messed about with for me. I don’t think I would waste my money on protein drinks, unless I was in intensive care, but then hopefully the NHS would pay. I must admit my diet has improved a lot since getting PMR and becoming a nutrition nerd. I have not eaten red meat for over forty years, I give all sorts of nutrition excuses but the truth is I have never liked it since a child!
I do eat some red meat, certainly a lot less than I used to. But give me fish or chicken for preference with plenty of veggies. Not all that bothered by potatoes- maybe one or twice a week.
Advice for recovery after op -
Hydrate - at least 2 litres a day
Remove as much sugar as possible
Remove alcohol *
Increase protein and vegetable intake
* might have to return to occasion drink after all clear, but will endeavour to stick to rest.
I suppose red meat is a good protein provider for healing, although I did not eat any after my hip op, I think I am classified as a fussy eater, my mother thought so! I did check if I could drink on the mass of tablets I seemed to have, I did not take painkillers as did not have pain, I found that the side effects for my anti-coagulants was horrendous, including death, but on the plus side I could drink. Reading the side effects you probably needed to drink, so you could forget about them!
The above advice from my massage therapist not the hospital, but as he had a hip op last year and does a lot of rehab it seems quite sensible.
Actually I'm quite ambivalent about alcohol - can go for months without any, and then have quite a lot with no adverse affect. I think its because I'm on my own, and to me it's a social pastime. Although I have plenty in the house and do imbibe sometimes.
Have to admit I did have quite a lot at Christmas and it doesn't seem to have hampered my recover. But we'll keep tha tto ourselves !
You sound like me, I am a social drinker. It does help as a painkiller occasionally too. I am not sure I am ready to give up the pred for the chateau Margot just yet though.
Hubby was in forces for long time so we did drink a lot in our younger days, but latterly usually just on a Saturday night, or special occasions.
I gave up when initially on Pred and very high doses - thought it wise. When he was very ill he gave it up as well.
So now, it's just now and again.
• in reply toDorsetLady
DorserLady,
You always make me laugh. I like my drink 🍷 🍸 🍹 but it is weird don’t have any desire in snowy Oregon so I guess I am a California drinker. But I hear it gets hot here and dipping my toes into the creek or maybe all of me with an ice cold beer well that will be great.
Now as to proper eating my issue is I hate the kitchen. I rush into the grocery and don’t be in my way on the way out. Like I said it all overwhelms me. If someone would write a book that gave the grocery list then said eat this for each meal ... I would buy that book. I want it simple not a lot of pages and simple sis I mention simple.
On another note I only gained back 3-4 lbs over Christmas. I am still down 20. I was eating a lot of salads to lose like three a week I mean huge salads but again it was summer. I have to figure out something simple to substitute them. I am all about simple.
I would have a sandwich for every meal and call it good. A friend gave me this had to be 2000 calorie protein shake. It had 3 different fruits, yogurt, protein powder, spinach and I broke out in hives all over my abdomen. It had stevia in it and I apparently am allergic. No more pushing those shakes on me. I did buy a blender and now look at it and feel sad so might look into that for later.
I always had a desire for vegan but it is way overwhelming so maybe the SIMPLE book will have a vegan chapter. See two chapters will be a fine book. Oh a third chapter on what does Blanche mean or sautés so a chapter that tells you how to boil etc.
Ok I am off now don’t want to overdo my first day back with WiFi.
Oh I finally looked up melanoma and I might not be dying after all.
Have a good one.
Hi Lin-calif (or should that now be Lin-ore under the Trades Description Act🤣😂)
I know what you mean about weather and drinking - my favourite is a sparkling rose on a lovely summer’s evening.
As for cooking- simple is good - and there are books out there and recipes online if you look - although maybe not as simple as YOU might like!! Plus sandwiches provide good ingredients used are very nutritious as well.
Nice to have you back - and take care.
bunnymom• in reply to
Good to see you settled and posting again. I bet Oregon is lovely. I have two kids in California and I'm in Illinois. ❄️
Why not learn to like shakes without sweetener? It can be done. Just like baking can be done with far less sugar than most recipes say. For example:
That sounds a good plan😀
I changed my diet in November 2017. I eliminated processed food, meat and dairy. Docs had found inflammation in my colon ( still no steroids) so I tried vegan. I’m still on the diet and I can say that it helped my belly a lot and maybe helped reduce the length of time of a flare up but it has never made me pain free. This diet get rid of added and processed sugars so it did make me feel better and I’m staying on it because I’ve enjoyed it and it can only help me in the future if I ever get back on prednisone
PS I do not drink meal replacement shakes, I make my own with fruit, greens, flax seed, avocado, almond butter, etc...
Just registered: was any cause for the inflammation found? There are links between gastrointestinal inflammation and PMR-type symptoms.
I have to admit l gave in to temptation and have been eating too many chocolates over Christmas and l still have a lot of them in the house.lt is true that sugar does not help PMR and l have been getting pelvic and low back pain.l have always eaten vegetables and love salads.l cannot eat as much fruit as l would like because it causes acid reflux and upsets my stomach.l have cut down on meat. Thankyou for all your advice .
I love chocolate too and got so much candy for Christmas 🎄 I gave it away and finally threw some away. I was getting bad habits back. I have reduced my sugar alot but it's everywhere!
• in reply tobunnymom
Your story actually brought tears to my eyes. I could never throw it away I have thrown out bread but never chocolate..
Years Before I got sick I had bought 8 Single pounds of chocolate for Christmas gifts. My sisters was the first one I ate thinking she could share with her husband. Then my nephew he could share with his wife. Etc to all on my list. Then I said darn it is awful that anyone should have to share so I will ........ well I ate all 8 lbs in about one weeks time. I will never look at see’s candy the same I found tat cure eat it till you are sick... funny how I am. My mom was a sugar addict every night she took her book and candy to bed. Hmmm things to ponder.
• in reply toGrants148
Grant never tell anyone about (whisperJ chocolate..
it is not Christmas without those disgusting sweet dark chocolate cherries ny Queen Anne. Peppermint patties, almond rocca. Etc etc. I am shocked I only gained back 3-4 lbs. Now I am in sugar withdrawal and Hate it not the withdrawal but the lack of candy.
Yes. I have the pathology report. I ended up in the hospital for two nights because it got so bad and the GI doc only had me on antacids, and a stomach spasm medicine, which at that point I couldn’t even keep down. In the hospital I was given fluids, pain meds, nausea meds and a steroid injection my CRP was 2-3 points above “normal” range. I got better, went home and started the vegan diet and now here I am 1 year and 3 months later and still not on prednisone. I tried to point out the connection to my GP, a rheumatologist and a neurologist but no one listened. I no longer see the gastrointestinal doc for obvious reasons I should say he wasn’t the one who admitted me to the hospital it was an emergency visit when he wouldn’t listen to how sick I was for two days and I finally went to ER. Totally frustrating right!!!!
Vegan. Oh dear. No yoghurt or cream. Can’t.
Me neither, love yogurt . Could cut out lot of meat maybe I’ll give that a try .
The only way I can eat meat is by pretending it isn’t. If you know what I mean. Xxx
If I had to raise animals myself I'd be a vegan so I know exactly what you mean.
Yoghurt isn't a problem - plenty of non-dairy yogs available.
I thought I couldn’t, but the coconut collective yoghurts are amazing!
I agree when I am off the carbs and have a higher protein intake I feel so much better. It is so hard fighting the pred. and the cravings it brings on.
Hi lin calif,l have given my son most of my chocolates his wife and family will soon finish them off,although l should not encourage them ! I love dark bars of chocolate with whole roasted hazelnuts in,l have to keep off that as it gives me dreadful indigestion ,so tempting though !!
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