Hi to all my Sjoggie friends! It has been very helpful to have this forum, I've learned a lot and felt very understood and supported. I have read many posts about people finding how changes in their diets have eased their symptoms, and am planning an elimination diet. I need your input and support for this, I have little self control when it comes to food.
I am intrigued about theories on how certain foods may be contributing to our condition. Since the causes of some AI disorders have been linked to food it has me wondering. I don't expect it is any one thing, like gluten with Celiac, or researchers would have found it by now. My suspicion is that it is so multi-factoral (things in the water and air, in our skin and hair products, etc, as well as being very individual) we may never sort it out. I am convinced though that our bodies didn't intend to turn on themselves, so I want to search for anything that might be having a negative effect on me. Along with the dryness, GI problems seem to be my biggest struggle (sorry if TMI but it is GERD and constipation).
Now that school is over I know the reduction in stress will lessen my symptoms considerably. But this is my best time to devote to this diet. Am starting with fruits, vegetables, and chicken. One caffeine tea a day and no alcohol. Then I will add things in gradually and see how they affect me. Any advice on how long to go on each addition? Categories? I am thinking of a week for each, and my categories so far are legumes, nut and seeds, rice, eggs, soy, dairy, non-gluten grains, fish.
Am looking forward to your advice and guidance on what you all have found about your own sensitivities and experiences with feeling better (I hope) with changes in your diet.
sue
Sue
I remember doing an elimination diet 25 years or so ago with our middle son. I believe it was called the stone age diet, and you added one single new thing every week. We discovered he had problems with the usual colourings, preservatives etc, but also citrus, lactose and a whole lot of other things.
Philip is now 30, and so much better than he was, but he still has to be careful about what he eats.
One of the most useful books I read at the time was called Not all in the Mind, by Richard Mackarness.
Good luck with your diet.
Kathyx
Good luck with your new diet. I hope you experience relief.
My Sjogrens specialist put me on a restrictive diet. I , too, have gerd. You have a good start. Some of the vegetables that I cannot eat are any tomato products, cucumbers, peppers of any kind. For fruits, i cannot have grape products. Also no almonds, mint or any artificial color( FDC and Lake red, yellow and blue). I have become a real label reader; you'd be surprised where you will find that darn artificial color!. No alcohol either (which is not a problem for me!)
I hope this might be helpful. I have been on this diet for over 6 months, and am still having swelling in my upper torso and face . He also put me on medrol. There may still be some things that I cannot have, just haven't discovered what they are yet. But I am feeling better. And yes, I do react when any of these things slip into my diet, especially pepper.
Happy eating.
Quilt4fun:
No CUCUMBER??? I think I may have to just stick with water for a week. I really don't know what to expect, so many foods can cause problems. I figured I was safe with most veggies, except tomatoes, as long as they are organic. Sigh.
Hi Sue,
My Husband went on the elimination diet many years ago to test his food sensitivities. We found that he was not only sensitive to gluten, dairy and artificial food additives, but he also reacts to the natural chemicals found in foods - salicylates and amines.
The tricky part about testing your tolerance is that some foods and drinks have more than one chemical in it, so you can be reacting to either eg tea has both caffiene & salicylates. Many fruits are the same, having both salicylates and amines.
If you can, it is best to be supervised by a dietician while going through an elimination diet.
In Australia, we have an organisation known as The Food Intolerance Network. They have a great website with advice on all aspects of food intolerance, testing and even include recipies. Their address is: http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
I wish you luck and hope you find answers.
Aussie Mum