Elimination Diet - What My Triggers Are!!
Hi to anyone who reaches here.
Its been a while since i've written anything at all on my new blog page.
So i thought i'd write about my Elimination Diet.
I've been through most of my available treatments now and its not been an easy ride, so i knew i had to have a plan in place and take back any control of what the Rheumatoid Arthritis would do to me. It has already taken so much, but also given me alot mental fight power to fight this thing with all i can.
I had already given up Wheat/Gluten and it had proved to cut down my swelling dramatically and has proved to now i am not on any infusions now, i've been of infusions since November 2016 to now and the first few months was hell, i didn't know whether i would make it without them, i still don't, but what i do know is so far i am improving.
So what else have i cut out? well i also get asked what do i eat, i actually eat more then i ever have as i'm not feeling so sick all the time, not horribly bloated, fatigued/drained. its still early days, so i hope i can write more on improvements, but for now i will tell you what i cut out.
1) GLUTEN/WHEAT
This was my MAIN TRIGGER. It was the most cause for my swelling. All those years of swollen hands, even to the point of having knuckle replacements as the damage was that bad ( i had also caught Shingles which caused nerve damage in the bottom of my spine which clawed my hands ) but the swellings also were causing lots of damage, i was so relieved to find it helped when i cut it out. It wasn't easy and i still get food cravings for bread and pastries. but its getting much easier finding alternatives. I also get a burning/itchy rash on the bottom of my legs which literally feels like the on fire or should i say feels like there are a million Ants on fire crawling on my legs!! i don't get the cramps as much now unless it is hidden in foods, which i have not realized. My doctor recommended trying gluten free for a month to see if it helped, if it did he said carry on, but they do advise not to do this if you need to be tested for Coeliac disease.
2) DAIRY
Dairy was my next Trigger, it also was causing bloating and pain, also it caused alot of abdominal pain for me, when i drank milk it literally felt like i was having cramps like i would on my period, some days i would be in tears with the pain. I also was coughing up cottage cheese like lumps and it was very painful, this stopped within a week or so once i gave up dairy products, i was relieved as the lumps were so painful. i still have trouble with swallowing food as i had pharyngoplasty when i was little and the scars hurt even now. but those lumps were making it very difficult to eat.
3) RED MEAT AND PORK
This was another big one for me, it was causing alot of my pain, i am not sure whether it is the nitrates and sulphites that they put in the meat or the actual meat yet or both, but when i eat Pork i get a rash on my face and Red meat i get a rash on the bottom of my legs. its a burny itch rash the same i get with gluten. I miss alot of the meals, but i don't miss that pain with it.
4) CAFFEINE AND CHOCOLATE
Probably both of these the hardest to give up for me, but another contribution to my painful throat, it would feel like i was swallowing razor blades. i was a chocoholic and when i gave up dairy i didn't like the alternatives and when i cut it out i noticed it was a big contribution to my pain, i put it with caffeine as chocolate has caffeine in it. Coffee is also out and tea and much to my disappointment even decaff has some caffeine in it, so i cut it out, this was in the last few days, i was just getting to the point where i didn't like it anymore and now feel lots better for it :)
5) OATS
Much to my disappointment, oats are a trigger too, even gluten free oats bring me out in that horrible rash.
So these are all my triggers when it comes to food. i am sure i will find some more as the months go on and i will post updates of how i am doing, especially when its time to have blood tests.
I think its good to keep a diary of any foods that you may suspect and remember everyone is different. But they do say that gluten and dairy are high inflammation triggers. i found this to be true with me and i won't look back now.
So if you get to my blog here, what have you found your triggers are, i'd be interested to know, i'm trying to find a prevention for this horrible illness which i have been battling for 30 long years, i now have found some hope :)