Posted , 9 users are following.
I have been diagnosed with PMR, then rheumatoid arthritis. I am on prednisone 5mg, methotrexate 20 mg per week and sulphasalazine 2000 mg per day. I would love to manage my condition successfully without drugs. Has anyone been able to do this?
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devongold murray2
Posted
It sounds like you may be able to make some big improvements by trying the exclusion and low carbohydrate diet. I sympathise with you as I know how you feel - it comes as a big shock when you are drifting along fairly okay and then wham suddenly there's a whole lot of inflammation everywhere. It's really difficult to control once it escalates, but it is possible - you just have to be very self disciplined for a while until the gut recovers. I go through times when I feel really good if I stick to a very low carbohydrate diet, but every now and then (Christmas, birthdays!) I find myself eating a few refined carbohydrates and sweeter foods and before I know it, I'm in trouble again! So I guess it's a question of working out how far you can go before you get there!
It's interesting that you say you had food poisoning around the time you became so ill, because I had gastroenteritis really badly before I became ill and needed repeated courses of antibiotics. This was thirty years ago! I was terribly ill at the time with colitis and joint pain even though I was only in my early twenties but I eventually managed to recover fairly well by giving up gluten and cow's milk products and avoiding sugar as much as possible. I also took a good probiotic and a caprylic acid supplement (which I'm not allowed to name!). To gain the knowledge I needed to recover, I had to pay privately to see a specialist doctor in clinical ecology and I was very fortunate to be able to obtain the help I needed. I was able to have my nutrient levels measured and this showed that I was very low in B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and essential fatty acids which apparently are quite common deficiencies. This is why I recommend a good hypoallergenic vitamin and mineral supplement (without yeast) and EFAs daily just to safeguard your health. I was told to give up alcohol altogether and unfortunately, since then I've not been able to drink at all without developing gut problems and joint pain straight away! Every now and then I try a gluten free drink like Peroni (can I say that?!), but it only takes a few sips until I'm ill. It makes sense that there would be problems because of the concentrated yeast, sugar and gluten in most alcoholic drinks.
There is no doubt that hormonal changes influence the gut bacteria and yeast as well and it's a known fact that high progesterone levels encourage the wrong bacteria and yeast to grow and this is a big cause of pre menstrual illness, also responsible for sugar cravings around this time. I'm guessing that the menopause can also cause similar changes in the gut bacteria too due to lower levels of oestrogen. And of course stress isn't good for anything!
The only thing I will say is that I prefer to be well than ill, so being really disciplined with my diet is the only choice I have.
Take care.
devongold murray2
Posted
lisbeth77540 murray2
Posted
I am a private yoga teacher and Bowen myofascial therapist and have seen a number of patients with PMR and arthritis. Some need steroids and complementary treatment which is gentle like Bowen, some manage without medication. Everyone is different.