Re: Arthritis
Originally Posted by
AnnieS
->
Hi Susan, Sorry that you have such a painful and debilitating condition.
There's a definite link between diet and flare ups. You tried vegan but maybe you should try a low GI type diet maybe using a food diary vs symptoms and starting with a baseline to eliminate trigger foods. What triggers your flare ups will be unique. Have you tried gluten free? I also have a nut allergy to some nuts but it wasn't until I went gluten free that I had a relief from all sorts of auto immune problems.
I have a genetic tendency to Osteo, but cod liver oil and avocados seem to help me a lot. Smoking caused a lot of symptoms for me too when I was relatively young (in my thirties). Giving up totally reversed it. Have you considered HRT?
I've had mild tinnutis that comes and goes and I wonder if that's also diet related.
Your gp should really give you a blood test for RA so you have a formal diagnosis. I had one in my early thirties when I had my acute attack to rule it out. It does sound like RA but there's always a chance it could be something else.
I did try GF but I found things tended to have more sugar in,my tinnitus seemed significantly worse if Ive eaten a lot of sugar in a short space of time.
I'm not sure what the GI diet is I'll have to look that up but I try not to over do the sugar.
I tend to avoid pies, pastries, only have wholemeal bread or wraps when I do have 'bread'. lots of salads (summer) and slow cooker veggie stews and curries (winter).
Occasionally throw in a treat (had hot choc fudge cake and ice-cream and a couple of whiskies when family took me out for birthday meal but don't usually eat alot of puds or drink much).
I've never smoked so that's never been an issue for me.
Don't drink much next time will be xmas day now, as focused on getting as fit as I can over summer before the cold weather triggers symptoms.
I don't eat any red meat or processed meat products, but have chicken and turkey and fish (tuna and some white fish).
Dairy is mostly just milk in tea or in breakfast cereals. Not a big cheese eater (never tried any of the soft/expensive cheeses and strong cheese gives me splitting headaches) but like a bit of Wensleydale on toast!
Don't drink coffee at all (smell of it makes me feel sick) Mostly drink just water in this weather. Tea and drinking chocolate (made with milk) through winter.
Is the HRT for menopause or do you mean to take it to reduce arthritis symptoms? I did hear HRT raises the risk for breast cancer so trying not to go on it during menopause if I can get through it without it.