The MS Recovery Diet by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach

Hello out there! Well, with this new year I've been doing a lot of thinking. In some ways, I'm disappointed in where I am in terms of progress. In other ways, I'm happy. I've been on the diet since October 2008. In my other postings I've noted what I've cut out and what other foods I've added in to fill the voids. I think it totals about 19 or 20 things so far, many of them entire food groups. But, I find that I can still find plenty to eat--except at lunch which is a little tough sometimes.

Here are my new year thoughts. I'm learning that this is a true journey to improvement. It's not a journey that is measured in weeks or months but one that is measured in years. The Holidays were hectic for me--lots of family involvement, elderly parents to care for and please, small children of my own to enjoy and make the days special for, inlaws, and friends. I had a realization. It was too much. I did the same thing last year, and had the same terrible results. . .complete relapse. By Christmas Eve, I was back to my "in tears" exhaustion. I could barely function as I was swooning with exhaustion, BUT I still had to wrap gifts and leave cookies out for Santa. Christmas Day began with excitement and a bustle of activity by my two young children (ages 2.5 and 4). Then I parked myself in the kitchen for the next TWELVE hours to prepare a Christmas lunch and huge dinner for family/grandparents who would be stopping by. The funniest part??? Three of them didn't even show up and one left before he even ate! Again, throughout the day I was in tears of exhaustion, hands shaking and so on for the rest of the day and through the cleanup at night. I kept hiding in my bedroom to cry so my children wouldn't see me. I told my husband as I flopped into bed that I was NOT going to have another holiday like this again. I started making the calls the very next day. I told family that I would have to do Christmas differently next year, even if it angers or insults them. I would be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my husband and children ONLY to make their day and OUR day the best. I would make a simple dinner for just us--lobster tails are special and easy, they're on the program, and they can be made in the last hour of the afternoon. Some people were somewhat receptive and understanding. Some were not. They will be angry at me next year, which feels horrible. But I learned a valuable lesson in this. I had experienced a good amount of improvement. I have been working extremly diligently on my battle against MS this past 1.5 years, and I lost a lot of my health over the holidays in making others happy and well cared for. The one who wasn't cared for was me. The lesson is that some of our decisions may be difficult but they have to made all the same. I will NOT spend another holiday crying when, instead, I could be laughing with my children and enjoy the magic that they see.

And so I've learned that this is a battle to be measured in years, not months, weeks, or days. It is an ongoing process, and that's okay. This is a new year, where we need to continue to drive forward in a positive direction, in an old and familiar battle. I've learned that others (even family) sometimes don't really REALLY understand MS and what it feels like. That's okay, too, even though it hurts. I DO know what it feels like and what I need to do. The good news here is that only two of my holidays were really wasted in MS hell. My children are still very young. It feels good to know that I will NOT waste another holiday in the same state. Others may be angry, but I'll have to stand strong in knowing what I have to do. I've even gone to the extreme of writing myself a note in my Christmas ornament box telling myself what NOT to do next year! Just a little reminder and moral support for myself for when I become the black sheep next holiday! How funny is that?!?

On foods, I'm giving up a couple more things. All along I've continued to enjoy two things: one Diet Coke with Splenda each morning. Ahhhh. I'm giving it up for a cup of green tea and a nice cold fizzy LaCroix sparkling water. The next thing I'm giving up is my dear red wine on a weekend. It contains brewer's yeast, which is a high reactor for my sensitivities. I'm giving it up. WOW! That one is a toughie!!!!! Painful! But I'm really going to try. I've noticed direct symptoms the day after a dinner out with wine. Now why am I doing all of this hard work and not eliminating a most obvious offender!?!

So, it's a journey. If measuring success in years, last year was my year to learn as much as I could about foods, their triggers, supplements, symptoms, and so on. This year is my year to HALT the progress of the MS. I'm looking forward to it. . .one yearly step at a time! ; )

Happy New Year to you all!

I was recently diagnosed and am eager to begin the Recovery Diet. I live in Manhattan but have struggled to find a nutritionist who can analyze the ELISA results and get me started on food elimination. Does anyone know of a nutritionist/dietitian in NYC who can help me begin the Recovery Diet?

I would really appreciate any names or contact information.

Thanks!!

Hi everyone, and a Happy 2010 to you all.
Hope the festive season has kept you all fit and healthy. I just wanted to stress the importance of staying positive and motivated, and take heed from a lapsed dieter.
I originally started the diet in july 2008, and took great steps towards my recovery, but after 8 months i lost my momentum, even though i had never felt so well!!! The irony? My medical people decided i might not have ms, and wanted to do all sorts of retesting, including another lumbar puncture, after i`d already endured 2, and all this after 7 years of diagnosis!!!! The reason i started on the slippery slope was self doubt, if i don`t have ms, the diet won`t work, and worse than that, if it`s not ms what the hell have i got?!!!!
It took 3 months for them to finally decide they were wrong,and yes i have got ms, but unfortunately, i`d gone off kilter big time, add to this a major family bereavement, and i`m a lost cause.
My fatigue has returned, i`ve put on 8lbs of extra weight, and my so called walking is terrible, but i just wanted to say i made the New Year my decision to get back on board with a vengeance, and i`m now on day 4 and looking forward to my return to better health. The good thing is i now more or less know my triggers, so it should`nt be too long before i`m reaping the benefits again.
Lets all get back to posting our ups and downs and help each other through the bad times, i know its been a bit quiet on here, but i guess we`ve all been so busy over the holidays.
Look forward to hearing from the usual suspects soon!!!!
Regards Sarah.

In response to Dingo, I have been on Rebif since May 2000 and on the diet since February Ist 2009. I have seen more positive changes in almost 1 year on the diet, than I have in almost 10 years of being on the medicine. My walking has not really improved yet but cognitive function has improved dramatically (memory,concentration) I don't slur anymore, have more strength, fatigue is so much better, and the restless leg syndrome barely ever bothers me anymore.` I had a little setback, as I had the swine flu shot three weeks ago but things are slowly getting getting back to normal. The progress I have made slowly but surely, gives me the incentive to keep going. Now with the "Liberation Treatment" that Dr Zamboni is doing in Italy and this diet (thank you Ann and Judi) we have HOPE!!!

Hi there. I just wanted the regular followers of this site to know that I received the results of my Elisa test just before Thanksgiving (a couple of weeks ago). It was very helpful! I have been following the MS Recovery Diet since Oct/Nov of 2008. I have found that I have a very sensitive makeup and have a lot of food sensitivities. At the time of my Elisa test, I had already eliminated: eggs, wheat, gluten, dairy, legumes, yeast, VERY LIMITED white rice, VERY LIMITED white potato--maybe a bite here and there at the most while I make it for my kids, no pork, no corn, no oats, no soy, beef seems to cause problems so I've all but eliminated it, and I think that's it?? THEN I found that I was at a standstill with my improvements, so I decided to take the Elisa test. I did NOT eat all of the offenders for weeks before the test as has been suggested. The risk of returning symptoms wasn't worth it to me. I did try to eat some of the things within the three days immediately before the test. (I felt horrible). Anyway, my results were very helpful and here is what came up: kidney beans (already avoiding), pinto beans (also avoiding), cashew nut (had on occasion), chilli pepper (HUGE bummer--I love my hot sauce), eggs (already avoiding), garlic (HUGE surprise--I never thought about condiments and seasonings), cow and goat milk (had been avoiding both), mustard (again a condiment, never thought about), onion (same thoughts as garlic), pumpkin (how IRONIC to find this out the day before thanksgiving, eh!!!), wheat (already avoiding), Baker's and Brewer's Yeast (had been avoiding, but these still showed up with a high rating of intolerence. This was VERY interesting info for me. I never thought about the garlic or onions I was using. I'm now only using Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper (in moderation). Guess what, I think I'm seeing a new jumpstart in improvement. I am not on any meds, but I do take an IV treatment of Colchicine (an anti-inflammatory used for some other ailments) through a doctor who is very familiar with Colchicine and how to administer it correctly (very important).

Anyway, I hope this is helpful to others. I highly recommend taking the Elisa test. Even if you have been on the diet for some time, look at what I found out! Also, if you are newly beginning the diet, take the Elisa test NOW! It can only jumpstart your recovery efforts! I wish I had done this a year and a half ago!

-justme