Ceci,
I think the best way to start is to eliminate all suspect foods immediately. Eat only a small number of foods for 2 weeks or so more until you start feeling stronger. Then add back one food at a time to test for a reaction.
The book can help you identify which foods are most likely safe to eat during the first few weeks.
For me, I started the diet and for two weeks after starting I felt worse than ever and did not really sleep at all. I tried over the counter sleeping pills and Ambien (I hated the side effects). Then on the third week I noticed that I started feeling better and all of a sudden I started sleeping through the night. I am not sure what happens in the brain but I think your sleep is affected with MS and is somewhat out of your control although positive thinking and anxiety/stress reduction can help. I am sure your brain knows it is under attack and is releasing stress hormones to help fight back. This probably affects sleep even if you are not knowingly stress out.
Over the next two weeks my energy started to return, fatigue was fading and I felt strong enough to start experimenting with new foods, adding one new food and waiting 3-4 days to check for a reaction. Also, I think food rotation really helps (not eating the same food for several days in a row). My symptoms are not gone yet but I do feel good enough to confidently start to experiment with new foods.
Here is what I started with and seemed to work well for me. There is lots of variety even though so many foods are not on the list:
-white meat chicken, turkey and fish for meats/protein (cooked in the oven or on low heat with water on the stove top)
-almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and pine nuts for fat and protein
-olive, flax and sunflower oils for fat and flavor (mostly added after food was cooked or as a salad dressing with a tiny amount of sea salt)
-several different types of leafy salads, spinach, celery, and lots of other vegetables (broccoli, carrots and other hard vegetables I had to steam)
-zucchini, cucumber and squashes are great and you can do so much with them
-yellow apples, blueberries and lemon/lime juice were the only sweet fruits in the beginning
-occasional brown rice and sweet potatoes (with cinnamon..mmmm) for some complex carbs (only 3-4 times a week in the beginning)
-and the best part was eating a lot of avocado... which to me is a wonder fruit with lots of vitamins, good fats and protein. Also makes a good substitute mayonnaise (blend avocado, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, etc)
-most herbs and spices (but I avoided hot spices initially especially the pepper spices)
-apple cider vinegar
-occasional agave for sweetener if needed
-green teas and ginger tea for hot beverage
-water throughout the day and with meals --> drink a lot throughout the day but sip it instead of gulping to help with absortion
-also take an acidophilis probiotic (allergen free) with L-glutamine before breakfast and dinner
-multivitamin
-cod liver oil supplement after breakfast and dinner
I avoided all of the foods mentioned in the MS Recovery Diet book and also avoided the nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes (except sweet potatoes)). I will probably always avoid tomatoes.
Hope it helps and remember that you may feel worse in the first few weeks but stick to it and be as restrictive as you can until you start to feel better and rotate foods if possible. Even if you are restrictive you still must make sure your body gets the fuel it needs to function and heal. Even if you have trouble sleeping you should still try to get as much rest as possible by lying flat even if you have to rest several times throughout the day in the beginning.
Good luck. I hope this helps.
Jason