I’m new to this site. I was diagnosed in mid-December 2009 and started the diet on March 11, 2010; ironically, the same day an attack started. I decided to completely eliminate everything - gluten, dairy, legumes, yeast, eggs. I have also eliminated refined sugar, alcohol and caffeine. This may seem extreme, but it was the easiest way for me to transition from being a vegetarian for 10 years, to eating lean meats again.
Thanks to the support of my fiancé, I’ve been able to follow this diet religiously so far; however, my symptoms have gotten worse – tightness in my legs is quite severe, making it difficult to walk. This is not something I experienced before starting the diet. I did read on this site that some people get worse before getting better – is this true? I review everything I eat every day and keep a food journal, but I’m wondering - because I’m still healing - how can I differentiate between symptoms from an attack vs. symptoms from food?
I know it could take some time to repair the existing damage, but I’m curious as to when I might see some positive changes and what else I can do to speed up the recovery? Thank you, T.T.
Thank you to everyone for
Thank you to everyone for your comments. I have been on the diet now for 3 months and have followed it religiously, with the exception of the one week before my ELISA Test. I have the test results now and have adjusted my diet to eat only those foods that caused No Reaction. My question is how do you know when a food triggers MS symptoms? My symptoms have gotten progressively worse since starting the diet in March and I don't see how they are food related, as I did not have some of these symptoms when I was eating eggs, gluten, etc. and I'm not eating anything outside of the No Reaction zone. The symptoms I experience are brain fog, dizziness, and tightness in my legs (a new symptom and it's getting worse.)
Surely there are people who can have a relapse while starting this diet and experience symptoms that are related to the disease or stress and not the food? I'm not on medication and I'm relying on this diet to relieve my symptoms, not to start new ones. What do people consider as an improvement in their symptoms? Thank you, T.T.
Hello, I’m also a rookie,
Hello, I’m also a rookie, having started March 14, 2010, eliminating the 5 usual suspects wholesale and like others experiencing increased disease activity, (I just had an MRI to confirm this.) Unfortunately I felt so bad I have cut back on gym time making my physical status even worse. I figure the abrupt change to my system is the cause and over time will even out.
I’ve been SPMS for 20 years; have tried Avonex, Rebif, and Novantrone with no positive results and now am ready to do something that makes sense.
I’m excited by other’s outcomes on the Diet and despite the rough start I intend to stick with it.
BILL
Hi there! I have been
Hi there! I have been following the diet for over a year and a half. I see definite improvements, so please keep going and keep trying. Yes, some symptoms can become worse when you first start and even along the way. For example, I have eliminated lots and lots of things throughout this process. BUT I was still eating rice. I found that I could not eat rice any longer, either--just recently--and then when I tried to add it in a couple of times, I had terrible MS days. .. worse than some of my days before. It almost seems like the reactions can become stronger as our bodies learn to clear the "background noise" after we clear out a lot of these foods. I don't have a lot of time to write more, I'm sorry. But, I would suggest a detailed journal of the foods that you're eating and your corresponding symptoms. I learned a LOT that way! Also, look to elimate some other common offenders--soy, corn, all added sugars. Really, though, try journaling. I am now down to no grains at all and I'm finding that it makes a big difference in my symptoms and feelings. But I would not have discovered this without the Elisa testing and a lot of journaling. And, remember it takes time, time, time and patience to uncover all of this. Keep to it! There are others here, too, working just as hard and supporting you! Please let us know how it goes!
Hi, I'm pretty new to the
Hi,
I'm pretty new to the diet as well (March 4, 2010). I've found from reading the blogs that you do get worse before you get better. I also eliminated everything. I think we go through some kind of withdrawl from all of the foods we've taken out. I noticed over the weekend that when i ate some of the things like sugar and dairy (for the food test on this Friday) I had intensified numbness in my left foot. After a while it went back to normal (somewhat numb) I am hopeful that all of this will soon go away. It just takes time. I think that it is the food that makes these symptoms occur.
Good Luck.
Lola.