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Vegans w/Rheumatoid Arthritis

Vegans w/Rheumatoid Arthritis

Started by Amelia Hun on February 7, 2011

14 Comments

Amelia Hun said #1 Feb 7, 2011 at 8:38am

Would love to hear from others who have Rheumatoid Arthritis (or other auto-immune diseases) and are taking a natural approach to treating their disease.

I'm currently on taking vitamins, as recommended by my Rheumatologist.

I'm also eating a Vegan diet, as well as yoga stretches and looking forward to swimming (water therapy in our heated community pool) when our weather improves.

When needed, I do take an over the counter anti-inflammatory.

The combination of above, is much more appealing vs. the cancer treatment drugs and other solutions available in prescription form. My Rheumatologist is very supportive, though, she said my efforts will obviously not turn around the damage that already is in my body.

Any experiences to share?

Mags said #2 Feb 8, 2011 at 12:49am

Hey Amelia,

I do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis, but I suffer from Fibromyalgia Syndrome. It comes with painful widespread arthritis, insomnia and many other awful symptoms.
I do not take any medication for it, and I have not taken anything to treat since I was 17. I was diagnosed at 15.
The medication that I was on did more damage than any good. I don't mean it in a bad way to medical science, not when they can cure other diseases, but the medications that the dr prescribed had more side effects than the symptoms of my own illness!

The only thing I take that I find helps, nettle tea.
I end up drinking peppermint & nettle tea, because the peppermint evens out the peppery taste of the nettle, I find it easier to consume. Nettle is a natual anti-inflamatory and its very high in calcium and antioxidents.
As long as I get at least 1 cup a day every day, pain seems to stay away, but I drink far more than just 1 cup, and on the plus side, there is no caffeine.

februarygirl said #3 Feb 8, 2011 at 4:28am

Have you considered the superhero plan? Do you have access to a macrobiotic counselor?

ann ann said #4 Feb 8, 2011 at 5:27am

Hi Amelia -

my mom has RA and has had it for over 30 years now. She started out with what the doctors told her - gold shots, prescription anti-inflamatory drugs, methatrexate etc....which resulted in sores down her esophogus (gold), a bleeding stomach (the prescription) and a chronic cough and sudden weight loss ( the methatrexate). So she decided to take another approach, as she says she was sick of the doctors trying to kill her! So we found an amazing alternative doctor and one of the things that had the biggest impact on her was a radical diet change - not just vegan, but no sugar, no artificial additives or preservitives. She went into remission for over 15 years. It did not cure what had been done - she has had to get both her knees and a hip replaced - but the disease went away for over 15 years. And when she did have the joint replacements, we brought her all her meals (vegan, no sugar, unprocessed) to the hospital - no one could believe her recovery - bilateral knee replacement and up walking without crutches within I think it was two days. Anyway, eventually the disease did start creeping back in - the diet had started to get sloppy and it just reared up from that or other reasons. This time she was tested for food sensitivities and came off of wheat and soy and several others. Again, the pain and swelling greatly diminished. We also have done a ton of supplements as per our doctor, and actually at this point are doing some things from europe - not the first time we have engaged in using things not yet legal in this country! Many of which she did 10 or 20 years ago behind closed doors and NOW they are all FDA approved here!

I wish you luck - its a horrible disease, but I truly believe that you can greatly affect it by what you eat! My mom is now 79 and is still medication free!

Amelia Hun said #5 Feb 8, 2011 at 6:22am

Hi ladies..

Ann - what an inspirational (and motivating) story, about your mom. 15 years of remission is incredible.

Yes, I've been provided scripts for several of those same types of meds. Honestly, I have two scripts (lost) somewhere in the house.. I never filled them, after reading the pamplets.

My mom also has RA.. she is unhealthy, on a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions.. that is not the life that I want.

Mags - thanks for noting nettle tea. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow.. she has been in the field for over 30 years. I'll ask her thoughts on it. As well, I'm requesting physical therapy, until I can get into full swing with swimming at our community's heated pool.

February - my husband is active duty military. The majority of our Tricare resources involve prescription medication. We're fortunate to have a nutritionist and therapy services, available to spouses. However, prescription medication is pushed and the primary form of treatment. At this time, I'm transitioning to vegan from lacto-ovo veg..

On a side note, I also have a neurological disorder, that I have managed for 25+ years with no meds. The same as Ann mentioned with her mom (no artificials or preservatives..) there's also research on the connection between these (and food allergies) and my neuro disorder.

ann ann said #6 Feb 8, 2011 at 8:17am

amelia - sounds like you really are on the ball with all of this! regarding your mention too of the food allergies/sensitivities - you can totally figure that out in the comfort of your own home to some extent - there are books out there detailing going to a pretty allergy free diet and then adding stuff back in a little at a time and noting symptoms - with my mom, when she came off the wheat and soy overnight this massive edema she had in her feet/ankles disappeared! and when she introduced a food that didn't work for her, she would get a flare up - but starting from a pretty hypo-allergenic diet is the only way to really determine it all, a pain in the butt but so so worth it! good luck!

Alicia Silverstone said #7 Feb 8, 2011 at 8:23am

defintily go superhero as much as possible and experience the difference.

love alicia

Amanda Sullivan said #8 Feb 9, 2011 at 9:03am

I'm new (a month into it) to being a vegetarian/vegan approach to health and my mom has RA. She eats food that don't support a healthy body and I was wondering if anyone can give me a list of foods (those listed and those not listed in Alicia's book. I can't find a list in it.) that are anti-inflammatory. Thank you ya'll!

Amelia Hun said #9 Feb 9, 2011 at 1:36pm

Ladies, thanks so much for the follow up..

I have an appointment with my Rheumatologist tomorrow... and I know she'll be updating my blood work.

Once I feel completely detoxed from dairy/eggs and have hit a stride, I'll address transitioning.

Ann, the same as your mom edema is an issue with me. My joints hurt, and I hold fluid (pounds worth) in my body. It's as visible as it was when I was 8 months pregnant.

Amanda, Dr. McDougall (search online) is very helpful and has much research regarding autoimmune disease and a vegan diet (and in general, foods to avoid).

I can only share, the printout that my personal Rheumatologist provided with foods to AVOID.

Keep in mind there are plenty more mentioned on Dr. McDougall's and many other websites. . and that this is just one doctor's recommendation for her patients.
Here it is:

*Red meat including beef and pork

*Chocolate

*Shell fish = shrimp, lobsters, crabs, etc.

*Tomato sauce

*Alcoholic beverages

*Beverages containing caffiene

*Sweets & Mangoes

*Citrus Fruits

Amanda Sullivan said #10 Feb 9, 2011 at 10:23pm

Amelia,

Thank you so much for the help. I'm going to pass this on to my mother. She can take it or leave it, but hopefully the former. I don't want to seem pushy to her nor do I want to give up on this newly found info of mine.

I just think we don't do enough homework and hate to see people whom I love continue to be victims of the media, of budget contraints, and of a lack of self-control that inflict so many of us.

All of you are fabulous people,

Amandad

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