Discussion Board

(I posted this in the lounge, too, so more people might see it, but it is also relevant here.)

This is the new Star McDougaller, Caroline Duke

She had psoriasis, a common skin disorder that is also an autoimmune disease.

What is very important about this video is that she got rid of her psoriasis, but it took her a few years.

At minute 3:17 she says, "... within a year, I saw progressive change, and now that I've been on (the) McDougall Diet since 2007, I have absolutely no indication that I ever had an autoimmune disease process."

That is 4 years of "McDougalling", and she only just now felt OK to become a Star McDougaller.

This is very important - IT WAS NOT AN OVERNIGHT" CURE" - IT TOOK YEARS....but it still worked.


I point this out to anyone who, like me, who has one of those inflammatory disease processes, which do not respond rapidly or dramatically to this WOE. I have been experiencing progressive change over the last year, but I am not better.

I am not giving up, and, in my opinion, neither should you.

Such an important point. I, too, have been able to totally get rid of my psoriasis which I suffered for 30 years. It took over three years.
I always called my psoriasis my "curse" and although I tried every treatment, the best I could do was barely keep it under control. It would not go away. Well I realized several months ago that it wasn't just under control, it was completely gone. And quite honestly, although I 've experienced so many benefits from this WOE, I never expected to totally get rid of the psoriasis.

So don't give up. Your body really wants to heal. Just give it a chance and it will.

I totally agree, Pat! I am so glad that your psoriasis has gone away, too

I have had psoriasis my whole life, since I was a baby, and I also have psoriatic arthritis (technically I have only had the arthritis for a few years, but looking back I see other signs of it popping up decades ago). My psoriasis is gone with the wind, but my arthritis is taking longer to resolve.

Still and all, definite progress. I wouldn't stop eating this way whether or not it "cured" me, but it is great to have renewed faith that my body is healing at it's own pace, now that I am giving it the right tools for the transformation.

What does WOE stand for?
I have been on the McDougall plan for nearly a year.
I stopped my Insulin after three weeks.
There are signs of my Psorisis receeding - no flaking, normal skin colour.
Prone to gout, stopped my meds, no attack for over a year.
And the list goes on.
His sweet potato and brocolli weight loss strategy is great. Loosing
3-4 pounds a week, 15 pounds so far, 10-15 to go.

You are having great results. Congratulations!! WOE stands for way of eating -- which seems to be agreeing with you!

Thank you for posting this. I have a couple of Autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis. I'm thankful that my psoriasis was mild/limited for most of my life unlike Caroline Duke. All my lesions cleared up - I have no idea how long I had been on the diet because one day I looked at my arms and realized they looked normal - it was a surreal experience seeing normal skin.

But the reason I'm glad you posted this is because after being on this diet for awhile almost all my other autoimmune disease health issues went into remission - actually I thought they had been cured and I no longer had them. Sadly that's not the case - I had major surgery - 6 hours under anesthesia - and that triggered both my original autoimmune diseases to pop back up, but also 3 new ones to join the family and I'm struggling to deal with them. I continue on this diet, strictly, however because what returned has remained mild and my non-autoimmune health issues like high cholesterol/high blood pressure is in remission and I no longer need medication for that. I'm hopeful that continuing with the diet will eventually put all these autoimmune diseases into remission. I also know without the diet I would be worse. But I have to be honest, I felt fantastic - like a normal person - while on this diet before the surgery and I miss that feeling and I hope to get back there.

I was one who required a long time adhering strictly to the Maximum Weight Loss diet before my cholesterol numbers finally went below 150 whereas my DH, who was cheating at the beginning enjoyed a dramatic drop within weeks. I did lose over 200 pounds - but even with the weight loss it still took a long time.

I guess some of us have more damage to "heal" than others.

From a McD video on Multiple Sclerosis (another auto immune disease) the improvement seems to follow a decaying exponential curve. Meaning a lot of improvement the first year, and less improvement with subsequent years on the diet.

I also have psoriasis and have been on the CB Esselstyn diet (I think the same as McD) for 3 years. I am very happy with the results. Before the diet is was getting worse, out of control, and it was becoming non-responsive to topical meds. After the diet, some spots have disappeared by themselves. All skin areas have improved and are more responsive to topical medications (if I choose to use them - maybe once a month on average).

Congrats to all of you for the progress made against these conditions most still think of as irreversible. Clearly there is a dietary component to them and changing the diet seems to effect change. Fast or slow, progress is good and seeing improvement is always better than the alternatives!
f1jim

I forgot about this thread! Glad to read it this morning.

Vegankit - I have faith that your AI disease will slowly subside once again. Surgery takes a lot of recovery, after all, and stimulates the immune system into action.

Bruce - Decaying exponential curve - very interesting!

f1jim - thanks!

Also - an update - Since around when I first posted this in May 2012, I have gone through a DRAMATIC improvement in my psoriatic arthritis, and the very slight bits of barely there psoriasis I'd get on my lower back during my monthly cycle have disappeared. In terms of joint pain, I am able to do things I had given up on, with my mobility and strength. Like jogging, moving furniture, and doing yoga without a chair or a wall. I can sit on my heels without knee or ankle pain. Or foot pain. and on and on.

In short I am feeling mostly normal, again. Not the "new" normal of reduced joint pain, but really normal.

So, hang in there. See what happens.

I was recently googling ASW video clips to send to a sick relative as a teaser, and I came across one where Dr M spontaneously introduces Phyllis Heaphy to the audience, and says that "after 4 years, all signs of rheumatoid arthritis were gone" for her. (I'll have to look around later and find it - my FIL just had a heart attack so no time now.)

I saw her Star McDougaller video originally and gathered it only took a couple of months. 4 years seems like a long time, in many ways, but I found it encouraging to hear more confirmation that things don't happen overnight for everyone.


Sorry if I am not making much sense - I am a little frazzled at the moment.

Phyllis Heaphy is a regular at the McDougall ASW events so if you feel motivated to talk to her that would be the place. I look forward to seeing her show up regularly at these events. She looks terrific.
f1jim

Thanks, Jim that is great to know! I am planning to attend an ASW as soon as we have the funds - I live in CA and have relatives in Santa Rosa, so that should make it easier.

As noted in a previous comment my Psoriasis is not flaking and
s-l-o-w-l-y fading away.

But there is a simple medical cure.

Four years ago my dermatologist doctor injected the sites (palm size patch on my back and on both elbows. Within weeks the the back and left elbows cleared up. The cleared area look perfectly normal.

There is a limit on how many injections per visit can be made so I made two trips to the doctor months apart. The right elbow treatment could not be completely treated. It is now the size of my thumb and slowly fading.

Enough talk- here is what he used:

TRIAMCINOLONE
Acetonide Injectable suspension USP
DIN 02229540 Code 8800
Available in Canada by prescription only.
Made by Sandoz Canada Inc