The MS Recovery Diet by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach

It has been over a year now since I stumbled upon the MS Recovery Diet book and made the life changing decision to read it and follow the recommendations. This diet has changed my life in a way that is difficult to describe in mere words - I am a new person because of this book! Thank you so much to Ann and Judi!!!

Let me share my background information of life with MS as it will help you relate to the improvements I have experienced.

I had been diagnosed for 14 years with relapsing and remitting MS - I definitely had my ups and downs, 4 courses of steroids over 3 years, Copaxone for 2 years and Avonex for just over two years. There was optic neuritis (twice), vertigo, numbness, pain, L'hermette's sign, muscle spasticity, trouble walking, extreme fatigue.... I was never hospitalized but my life was definitely defined by MS. The last year of taking Avonex I experienced full body pain and depression along with continued MS activity. I was having many days in bed - quality of life was not good. I stopped the Avonex and within weeks the dark cloud started lifting. A year later I had an MRI which showed I had a fairly large new lesion and my neurologist insisted that I start Tysabri. I told the neuro that it wasn't fair as I was feeling pretty good - he replied 'your right it is not fair' but made me fill out all the Tysabri paperwork. I went home that day terribly upset - I knew that the meds were not the right way to go. Several days later I was in the disease section of Barnes and Noble when I found The MS Recovery Diet. I started reading it and I knew in my heart that this book made sense. I eliminated the foods suggested plus corn. At first it was tough but I stuck to it. Within two weeks I could feel a difference and my family noticed a difference. My thoughts were clearer, I had more energy (I started swimming), I was happier - the list goes on. Within a couple of months my migraines disappeared, my daily muscle pain disappeared, my energy level increased to a level I had not had in years!!!

One year later I am 35 pounds lighter, my days go from 6 am to 10pm (without a nap or rest), my energy is boundless, I feel strong and I love my life! One thing I have not done is added any of the foods back into my diet. I know that it is suggested to do so but I thought if I was feeling well without them why cause problems? I still have MS and every once in awhile I will get a reminder - very small but it is there. In the past year I have learned to listen to my body - within 30 minutes of eating a forbidden food my body 'yells' at me - an arm might feel like I plunged it into burning water, my mind gets all foggy, I get funny MS feelings. I used to sometimes blame those symptoms to overdoing it and would go lay down or go to bed for the night - always glad when I woke that they were gone or a bit better. (now I realize that my body had cleared the allergen while I was resting!)

The biggest reaction I have noticed is to soy - it is hidden everywhere!! I have become a detective when it comes to foods and vitamins. Even when buying something for the second, third or fourth time I check the label - sometime ingredients change. Did you know that most EFA capsules contain soy? It took me a long time to find one free of allergens.

For anyone who is discouraged while trying to follow the diet - going without is much better than having to live life on medication that can cause a host of other problems. We all have to take control of our health. Nutrition is definitely key when dealing with MS!
Please feel free to email if you have any questions or comments michlswim@yahoo.com
Wishing every one Good Health!
Michelle