Hi there! I was reading Ann's posting on MS and how it is a multi-causal disease. I want to second that with my own experience. I'll try to sum it up quickly here. I have found the diet to be very helpful in learning what symptoms are caused by what foods. I have also found that I have a LOT of food allergies that go beyond the original five suspects, as others have found, as well. I have also been working with a doctor in the Cleveland Ohio area who specializes in heavy metal poisoning (if anyone wants their web address, I'll be happy to share it). When I was a teenager (I'm in my 40's now) I was told that I had a very high sensitivity to mercury and some other heavy metals. I had my mercury fillings removed in my teens and early twenties. Now, again, I've tested to be very highly sensitive to mercury and four other metals--which have tested to directly impact my myelin. I started going through chelation therapy to remove the metals by taking DMSA every other day, 3 times a week. The problem was that the metals that were being drawn out became a real problem for my MS. I had terrible MS days on the days of the DMSA. So, we discovered two things--1) I had developed a sensitivity for the DMSA itself which we are working on, and 2) I needed a way to immediately capture the metals that were being drawn out without them floating around in my body and making my MS go crazy. I'm three weeks into my treatment now to do just that. I am on double chelation therapy--which combines DMSA to pull out the metals (crosses the blood brain barrier, too) and then an IV chelation therapy to immediately pull out the metals, without allowing them to circulate. I plan to continue this approach for about six months (it takes a long time to get these metals out). In the meantime, I am also working with the same doctors to calm my allergic reactions to foods and anything else that we identify. In short, I swear I can tell a difference already! I'll update later to let you all know how it turns out!
So far so good Mary Beth.
So far so good Mary Beth. The withdrawal symptoms are a good sign. I did exactly what you have done, I cut the grains back and then went off completely. If I were you I would avoid the wild rice and quinoa, they are still starches and that may well be your problem. It is tough to find fillers. Cook larger portions for your meals until you get used to having less fillers. I cook some extra protein, turkey, chicken or fish and keep it in the fridge to snack on if I get hungry, but remember the rotation. Nuts are also good as are avocados but they are very high in fat so only have a little. Soups are also very quick to make and keep well in the fridge and freeze well to help with the rotation problem. For asparagus soup, take some washed asparagus cover with water, bring to boil, simmer until soft then blitz with a blender ot food processor, add salt and pepper to taste. You can use stock from chicken or turkey that you have cooked if you like. The same procedure can be used for celery, zucchini, caulifower, broccoli, etc.
I went through quite a strong withdrawal period, at the same time as cutting out grains, I cut out all starchy vegetables, white potatoes,sweet potatoes, celery root even carrots. Within a few weeks I noticed I was sleeping better and felt in a better mood and after about 10 weeks my legs started to improve as well. When going as strict as this it was much easier to notice my trigger foods, up until that point I really didnt know. I have discovered like you I am sensitive to very many things, so rotate, rotate, rotate - we cant afford to lose any more foods.
Hi there! I am now on day 4
Hi there! I am now on day 4 of my 'no grains' recovery diet. I tried this a few weeks ago and went through withdrawal symptoms on day 2. Then I did a week of one day with grains and one day without grains to prepare my body. This time I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms ~ but I will admit that I feel a little weak. Any comments on others experiences transitioning to the no grain diet would be appreciated. Also I am wondering if I can use wild rice or quoina...they are great fillers.
I have also found a clinic in my city that gives coffee enemas. I thought that I would try one professionally administered so that I could learn how it is supposed to work/feel before I try one myself. Thanks for the info about too much caffeince causing the gitters. That used to happen to me when I drank regular coffee. I will ask them to give me a weak dose. I read somewhere on the internet that you could add some cilantro juice to the coffee to gather more mercury. I will ask them about this and let you know what they say.
From what I've read the coffee enemas help the liver do its job in detoxing our bodies ~ but I guess if you have a lot of mecury you still need to do something else. I'm going to check with my naturopath next week about what type of chelation would be best for me. I am hoping that I can take something at home...
I guess I am a very impatient person. I recall from the book that Darlene made a great recovery ~ but it took a long time. Any comments on how it took others who went grain-free to start to see some improvements would also be appreciated.
I have to admit that my walking is the pits, but I am in good spirits because I have hope ~ going grain-free, coffee enemas and mercury chelation are three more avenues that might start my healing process!
Thanks to everyone!
Mary Beth
Just a little word of
Just a little word of caution, I read somewhere within the last few days that red clover is a legume, so take care. Borochs book states that if using cilantro "which mobilizes mercury and other heavy metals, you also need to take chlorella to transport it out of the body".
Another very effective detox method I use is coffee enemas, when first mentioned to me I admit I was not impressed but in my desperation I gave it a try and am now a convert. You can buy enema kits and special coffee on the internet. I used 3 heaped tablespoonfuls of coffee in the mixture for months and then discovered I was becoming very jittery and lightheaded afterwards. I gave myself a break for a few months and now have recommenced with just 1 tablespoonful of coffee with no jitters! I guess I had managed to senitize myself to the coffee. Darlene who was profiled in Ann and Judi's book used coffee enemas, they are super for stimulating the liver to release toxins.
Having said all of this my firm belief is that the MS Recovery diet is the main source of healing. Good Luck.
Hi there! Thanks so much for
Hi there!
Thanks so much for your encouragement and the information provided about your chelation programs and the diet.
I almost started crying in the internet cafe as I read your responses ~ your kindness in providing this information is very, very much appreciated!
I am starting to digest this information (no pun intended!) and I am going to discuss these chealtion programs with my naturopath. If I start with cilantro, I guess I can only use it once every 4 days...In the meantime I am realizing that I need to take my diet to the next step. I am now going to go off grains slowly and rotate religiously.
I will definitely post information about what chelation program I go on, and how it works out for me.
Thanks again!
Mary Beth
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Hi Guys, I too have had my
Hi Guys, I too have had my mercury fillings removed and am undergoing a chelation therapy. I took an allergic reaction to the IV treatment so I get an injection every 3 weeks now instead, and I take DMSA once per week. This procedure alongside the diet and anti - candida protocols is really helping me. Mary Beth, I have read a book "Healing Multiple Sclerosis - diet detox and nutritional makeover for total recovery" by Ann Boroch, you may find it very useful. She drank red clover tea as a chelator, she also discusses the use of cilantro and recommends "a new cutting-edge chelating product" - Natural Cellular Defense by Waiora. However, all these things need to be introduced slowly and are recommended alongside other herbs and minerals, so best to get the book before jumping in. There are loads of additional ideas in the book which you can also try, like ways of detox. She also has a website http://www.annboroch.com. I have also just started to read another book "I was poisoned by my body ... I have a gut feeling you could be too" by Gloria Gilbere. This lady was allergic to everything and down to very few foods all because of leaky gut, she tells her story of how she has recovered and makes recommendations you can try.
From a personal point, I didnt start to heal until I elimated all grains, sugars and starchy vegetables. My diet consisted of lean proteins like chicken, turkey and fish and vegetables like cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, fennel, cauliflower, zucchini and most salad vegetables. Try to rotate your food as much as you can even though you are very limited. You could also try some enzymes. An excellent book is "Enzymes: Go with your Gut" By Karen DeFelice, there is also a website - www.enzymestuff.com. Taking enzymes between meals helps recovery, taking with meals helps digestion. Enzymedica do a great range, they have "lacto" for dairy digestion and "glutenease" for gluten and dairy digestion, I take one each of these when I want to cheat and have a slice of bread or a cookie (which is rare I admit and only because I have grown in confidence in my diet). They reduce my reaction by about 85% but of course everybody will need to test their own tolerance on this. Sorry I have gone on so long. Good Luck, dont give up - there are loads of options - you arent going to need that wheelchair !!!
Hi Mary Beth, I have not
Hi Mary Beth, I have not looked into the chelation options that you found on the internet. The first approach I did was taking capsules at home three times a week. I found that I had very bad MS days on the days that I took the capsules. It got to a point where I could hardly make myself swallow the capsule, because I knew what a bad day I would have. So, finally, I had to stop that plan. I am now on my 6th chelation IV treatment. I am going weekly. I am finding that I do NOT have those same bad MS days in this process. The IV chelation therapy pulls the mercury out much more quickly and completely than the approach that I started with before. It seems to get it out before it can cause me problems. In fact, I swear I am noticing improvements. Now, on the day of the IV therapy, I am exhausted after it all. It's a long day. The IV itself takes about 4 hours, but I'm sticking to it, because I am noticing improvements. I know that some people try to do two IVs a week--I think that would be difficult on a sensitive body. I am going for the "slow and steady wins the race" approach. I hope you find an approach that works well for you. I'm sharing my experience so that you can see if you notice an additional aggravation of symptoms by getting that mercury circulating in your body. I just couldn't do it that way. It is more costly, though, for the IV therapy, but I'm sticking to it. Keep me posted on your progress, as well!
By the way, I am also very sensitive to many many foods. I am currently on no grains of any kind--non-gluten or otherwise, lean meats and fish, vegetables--excluding corn, green beans, cabbage, onions, and a few others, and flax oil and water. . .and a little green tea with no sweetener in the morning--very weak. I am fortunate, so far, that I seem to be tolerant of fresh fruit. Canned fruit is a definite no-no, even with no added sweeteners. I'm trying to be very careful in rotating my fruit intake to only have it in the morning in a smoothie (with no dairy or rice milk or anything) and rotate, rotate, rotate, so I don't "lose" my fruit.
Best to you! Keep us posted!
Hi Justme. Thank you so
Hi Justme.
Thank you so much for this information. I have been struggling with the diet. Like you I have a lot of foods that I am sensitive to and I also am very sensitive to mecury and some other metals. I had my mecury fillings replaced almost 4 years ago but I never had the mecury or the other metals inside me removed. Instead I started on the diet path. However, I have reached the point where I am only eating chicken, fish, flaxseed oil, a few vegetables (that I am not sensitive to) and a few non-gluten grains (excluding rice), water and a probioti. I am not sure what else I can give up...
I was starting to get discouraged, but you have given me new hope. I am going to start a chelation program. I have done some internet reserch and I have come across Nonocolloidal Detox Factor and Detoxamin. These can be taken at home, which saves the time and effort of intravenous treatments. Did you look at these options?
I am sure that the diet is very benefical to many people, and it has probably slowed my deterioration, but right now I am having a lot of difficulty walking and I know that I must do something more than the diet to avoid moving into a wheelchair.
Thank you again for giving me another option to explore!
Good luck to you and please update us on your progress.
Mary Beth