Hi everyone..
I'm 25yrs old and been diagnosed 3 years ago with MS after having a case of optic neuritis. After that I've only had twice (6 months apart) weird parethesias in first left and then right sides. And after that there has been nothing!!
After about 9months after the optic neuritis I found the article about Paleolithic Diet (similar to MS diet) and immediately started it, following it precisely for 2 months. After that and uptil now I've been having so called "exceptions" or reward days, usually once a week where I eat whatever I want. So I'm not following a totally strict diet anymore but generally it's Paleolithically correct.. No gluten, dairy, starchy foods or sugar unless it's an exception day and I have pizza.
I was wondering about the symptoms though. Since I don't have any clear symptoms and so far my MS has been sensory then how can I tell that I have some food sensitivities? Sometimes I do notice a very mild tingling sensation or feeling of being a bit unwell after eating something so I cut it out of my diet for a few days because I consider this a first sign. Am I right? Is it those little details I gotta observe and that is how I know whats my sensitivity? I sinserely hope no major symptom comes along, but maybe it hasnt because I started the diet quite soon after the diagnosis and luckily the diagnosis was done really quick.
If anyone can give any feedback on what kind of food reactions to look out for. It feels now like I'm searching in the dark because I experience no MS symptoms or difficulties and yet have some weird sensations sometimes which a normal healthy person would consider as crazy talk. No point in asking doctors, they only recommend medicines which don't cure. I havent been on medicine up until now, this august joined the oral MS med research and been only having reactions to the drug, unrelated to MS.
However I am not resigning from my Paleolithic Diet.... except for that one day per week =)
I quit MS
I quit MS medicine!
Continuing from the above posts I wanted to share my progress.
The drug trial for MS oral medicine I have been gave my side effects that I couldn't cope with anymore (dizziness, extremely low white cell count and elevation in liver enzymes) so I just quit. I'm in good shape MS wise, basically no symptoms and I am not any different than any other person, I work, I exercise quite a lot and enjoy a full life... I also follow the MS diet, don't smoke or drink except a glass of wine nowadays. It took me 3 years to get totally on board with the non smoking or drinking bit (probably thats why I had 1 relapse) but at least finally I succeeded.
I admit that the medicine probably did half the job at controlling the relapses but the diet started healing my body and my digestion. At least 1 year ago all lesions were inactive, but they won't heal as soon as I take medicine that suppresses my immune system, I believe. Soon I get an MRI done and let's see my progress. I know that doctors will recommend me medicine (but they can't force me right?) and I will prolong the legal process with all the tests I gotta do now (with the finishing of the trial) so I can be without medicine and start to heal!
Ah yes, I did one change lately to my diet: following from Swank's I try to take not more than 15gr saturated fat per day, before I never paid any attention, let's see if I notice any difference. Not that there is any hint of MS even but I most definitely do not want another relapse (or cancer, or diabetes or whatever) so I am living AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE!!! Thats the only way to live =)
Well Done - whatever you are
Well Done - whatever you are doing is working for you. Keep it up. I have what the doctors call "mild MS" because my symptoms in their book are minor - not so minor to me; but I am one of the people with many triggers and sensitivities. I know I have eaten a trigger food as my left side of my face goes numb instantly. The severity of this differs with different foods, it might travel down as far as my mouth or up as far as my eye, it might last a few minutes or a few days. Each food category then seems to provoke a further symptom which develops later. EG, if I eat sugar I get the facial reaction straightaway then later I get a dramatic worsening of the pain in my legs. White potates cause the facial symptom and then an almost unbearable heavy breathlessness in my chest. The facial numbness was the first ever MS symptom I experienced - and the first to leave when my recovery diet started to work. I think you are entitled to be positive - its working - who cares why!! Just enjoy and dont let it slip.
Congratulations on quitting
Congratulations on quitting smoking! Reading your post, it sounds like you're doing all the right things, fish oils, vitamins with D, rotating grains, attention to healing digestion. I've read that smoking can have a dramatic effect on MS, so I wouldn't see why it couldn't have been the initial trigger for your MS. I'm no expert, but the MS Diet book does address smoking in a section on digestion, so there must be a connection. I'd suggest going to "contact" heading and ask Judi or Ann for specific questions. As to what symptoms to watch for when eating foods, the sensory symptoms you mentioned are what I've noticed and read other people have, too. If I eat a trigger food, I get tingling, numbness, and pain in my feet. When I began the diet, the disappearance of these symptoms was the first thing I noticed. Another symptom that I and a friend both have noticed is a "funny feeling" in the eyes. Sorry I don't have a better description, but that's the best either of has been able to some up with. Wheat does seem to be a common trigger in many of us. I've been on the diet for nearly 18 mos. and been adding some foods back into my diet. I've found that wheat is still a definite trigger for me in even the smallest amount. Each person's MS course is different, so it's certainly possible that you may have only one or two. Keep doing what you're doing and best to you!
Deb
Latest news about my
Latest news about my progress. Been almost one year since I had made the above post. I've been experimenting with different foods and supplements in order to figure out what would be my diet plan. I take multivitamins with extra vitamin D, omega oils and lately started on chlorella. Only had one relapse in september and that was coz I still ate sometimes wheat and smoked. I later found out i have sensitivity to wheat (very mild but it's there), afterwards I cut out wheat completely so my stomach can heal.
For the past two weeks I have been a non smoker (occasional nicotine gum) and the change is incredible! Residual sensory symptoms of the previous relapse on my right hand is gone! And i've noticed that with a nicotine gum they return very slightly, so probably I'm sensitive to nicotine? I started having ms symptoms shortly after I started smoking (18yr old), they were real mild symptoms and until diagnosis I never thought they were anything other than muscle pains. Was smoking the first trigger? In addition of course to constant wheat consumption.
I have returned slowly milk back to my diet (small amounts) and I have no reaction. I've noticed that I can process lactose all of a sudden when a year ago I was lactose intolerant.
Have I managed to heal my stomach finally? And has my MS been so mild because I was only sensitive to one food? I can't handle only wheat, grains like rye are ok but I still keep them to minimum and rotate always. I don't know if I am sensitive to nicotine, but then who isn't? It's harmful to anyone and cigarettes do harm stomach lining on any person.
I keep hearing stories from people who have many food sensitivities and are struggling with finding the right diet, but is there anyone who only has one or two triggers and therefore what doctors call a "mild MS"? Am I just being over positive or did I finally get on the right track to healing and staying that way?
Would be great to hear comments and opinions!