Nicole S.
I know there are some people in your book who took years to recover, but I'm discouraged that, unlike Judi and Ann, I'm not yet seeing improvement in my walking. I started the diet April 5, but as the book suggested, didn't eliminate dairy and eggs till one month later. However, one week into the diet (free of gluten, yeast and legumes), mobility in my affected hand and arm improved a lot, though is still not normal. The initial improvement in my hand remains stable, though I don't think it has gotten better since that first week. The ribs on my left side, which had had a muffled feeling of sensation, are now normal. I have fallen on my right side, so those ribs still feel muffled. I think my energy level is better. And, though it may be too early to say for sure, the head and neck pain that sometimes was excruciating, seems less frequent and severe. Judi has said that happened to her, too. But I've gone through headache-free periods before, so I'm cautious on this one. As I look back at what I've typed, I guess I'm silly to be so impatient after only a couple of months, but I just want to walk better! All the things I've listed as improvements seem hard to regard as proof of the diet's efficacy because they're subtle. Improvement in walking would be dramatic and give me a life again. Judi and Ann, we who walk badly (or not at all) need encouragement!
Another concern: Just since I started thr diet, when I go to physical therapy and exercise, even just a bit, I sometimes get where I'm unable to get out of a chair by that evening. Once, my husband had to carry me. Usually, after PT, I get a fresh-squuezed lemonade from Good Times just so I have energy to get up the garage stairs. I'm wondering if I'm having a sugar crash after initial energy boost. What do you find gives you energy boost after exercise?
Response: Yes patience and persistence are the watchwords here. I am still in a state of recovery, 2 1/2 years into the diet, as well- 40 years of MS means a lot of healing has to occur. Depend on the subtle signs of improvement as significant. You are not fooling yourself and even if those symptoms lessened in the past it doesn't mean that they aren't current stable improvements as well.
Pacing yourself after a workout is important. Balancing one activity against another may continue for a long time. Everyone paces themselves- it is just more obvious with those of us who have more serious compromises. As to quick pick me ups- some people find that freshly juiced vegetables do wonders for them- a mixture of any kind of vegetable- carrots, beets, greens, parsley, radish, etc- whatever you can find is good. Try it in small amounts at at time and work up to a half a glass between meals. See if that helps. Crashing after sweetened lemonade may indeed occur- try just vegetables even those also contain some vegetable sugars- it may work differently in your body.
Judi B