**Update on diet changes & RA

*Update* I am having huge successes in alleviating my symptoms from changing my diet!! Please if you are visiting and have RA...try this. Or contact me... I am not only a mission to fix myself but to help others!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Things that make you go hmmmmmm

Well I'm getting out of my flare slowly but surely.  It seems to take a good 4 days. 

I had an interesting visit with a new friend yesterday.  I was at Chapters perusing the Arthritis section and a nice man came by and I noticed he was doing the same.  I took a peak at his hands and realized that he definititely was a sufferer of arthritis as well.  I started a conversation with him and we ended up chatting for about 30 minutes.

He had some very interesting thoughts on RA after much research.  I thought this would be a good forum to throw those ideas out there to see if any of you have heard about these theories and see what your experiences have been.

My friend (Louis) read that RA can stem from a root canal, resulting in a deep infection in your mouth.  It sounded far off when he first mentioned it but then I got to thinking and I had a root canal when I was 17 (my first bout with RA started around that time, I think 18)  then it went away for close to 10 years.  But about 5 years ago(when my RA came back)  I had to have that same tooth worked on again.  I had damaged gums around that crown and an infection so they extracted it and now I still have a gap.  Coincidence? 

My younger brother has Ulcerative Colitis and RA.  He's been suffering since he was about 16.  He also had a root canal when he was younger due to a fall in gym.  He knocked his 2 front teeth out.  He has had trouble with those 2 teeth ever since. 

The other interesting piece of info he gave me was on "oil pulling."  I had come across this in previous research but never gave it much thought.  It's kind of gross but I'm considering giving it a try.  You take about a teaspoon of oil in your mouth and swish it around for 15 min.  You spit it out (don't swallow it- as it becomes toxic)  It draws all the toxins out through your mouth.  I haven't done a lot of research on this... but likely will and post more.

Interesting eh!  Things that make you go Hmmmmmm

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Scatching my head.....

Super weird, out of the blue major flare up!!  I am a real hurtin unit.  Seems as though I've eaten something that I shouldn't have and boy am I paying for it.

It's been a very long time since I've felt like this.  I need to go back to a simpler diet to get myself back to feeling good. 

Could the weather be a factor?  Stress??

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Long over due update

Well it's been quite a while since I've updated.  We sure have a lot going on in our lives at the moment.  Lots of good things too thank god.

My mom was diagnosed with Lung cancer back in December.  It has been a real rollercoaster these past few months getting a firm diagnosis, getting the facts, and starting treatment.  We are all extremely positive and I know that things will be ok.  It will get much worse before it gets better, but I know it will get better.

Through my process of healing my RA with nutrition and gaining all this amazing insight to alternative therapies, we have found an amazing Naturopath doctor to work with mom and now I'm seeing him as well for my RA. 

For my mom, he has recommended therapies like hydrotherapy, castor oil packs, Vitamin C through IV, acupuncture, probiotics, juicing vegetables (she tried it and hated it ;(  nutrient dense high calorie smoothies, special compounds, and chinese tea.  Mom is doing amazing and trying everything.  I know it will help with her immune function and energy levels!!

After hearing him recommend all these therapies to my mom, I realized that there is probably more that I could be doing for my RA.  I have come a long way but I felt ready to go further.  I met with him and we discussed everything I've done thus far.  It was really nice because I could tell he cared and he was impressed that I've been able to go off my meds and stay fairly strict on this diet.  (I hate to call it a diet, that makes it sound like I'm trying to lose weight... I prefer nutrition plan?)  Anyhow, he has lots of ideas that I'm very excited about.  I really really want to try the Vitamin C IV but he told me to slow down... not yet ;(  We are going to be focussing on healing my gut.  Yep, that "Leaky Gut Syndrome" thing again.  He's quite concerned about all those meds I ingested over the last 3-4 yrs.  Especially the prednisone.  Here's the plan for the next 4 weeks:
- Good quality probiotics (which I believe really help me- I ran out and was lazy and flared...)
- Chinese tea that he mixed for me (for gut healing)  (1-2 cups per day or more)
- Homeopathic little pill called RHUS-TOX (1x per day)
- Castor oil packs on my abdomen (2-3x per week)
- Hydroptherapy (1x per week)  *This was neat- I did it yesterday for the first time! 

I'm rammbling.. but I'm excited to have some new things to focus on.  My RA has been well under control and I'm doing great.  I've cheated a few times (not fallen off- just a few cheats along the way) and boy do I pay for them!!!!!!! 

I will go into more detail on the hydrotherapy and castor oil packs in a few days.
Hope everyone is well!!