Something I wanted to share...
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:46 pm
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis around a year ago in my right hand and since then it's slowly moving to my left hand. I was put on Methotrexate and Hoolio. Methotrexate since the beginning and Hoolio for the past 6 months or so. Neither of these was working or just about working if anything. I always knew of the McDougall diet but was reluctant to try it as it would mean giving up some of my favourite food. Around 2 weeks ago, I hit an all-time low as the medication wasn't working and I am decided to bite the bullet and try the McDougall Diet. Just so you all know, I gave up pretty much nearly all dairy around 2 years ago and same with meat and lived on a primarily vegan diet. My diet was however rich is fats such as coconut, olive oil and other plant oils.
Anyway, around 2 weeks ago I went the final step and removed oils as well not fully sure what to expect but had my expectations set to low just in case it didn't work. Well, let me tell you, the first week I didn't feel much difference, to be honest, but I was just coming out of a flareup the week before so the inflammation would have been high. The second week completely surprised me. Within 2 days into the following week, I felt so much strength coming back into my hand, the pain significantly disappeared and I noticed that doing even the vacuum cleaning around the house didn't hurt anymore. It used to kill me with pain doing this the week before. I could grasp objects like I used to before this disease. For the past year, I used to grasp say the iPad with my right hand but without bending any of my fingers. I was now finding myself holding things like I used to before. My energy levels also skyrocketed! There were days when I'd walk around my city and walk as long as 25KM and still had energy!! My mood obviously vastly improved! Not sure if this is because I was noticing results or if consuming oils were bringing me down. Don't know.
Anyway, today we had an outing with friends and I decided that I would eat like I used to before. I felt it was important to see if it was the diet that had made things better or whether it was purely coincidental. In the back of my mind, I was wondering if it was the drugs that were finally kicking in. I ate ice-cream, chocolate and pizza. Strangely didn't like any of it with the exception of the pizza. I found them a bit sickening now after being off sugar for 2 weeks. The pizza was however DIVINE!
Anyhow, within around 5/6 hours my hand started acting up again!! I couldn't grasp things without feeling pain, I could feel swelling around all my joints which I had noticed was reduced whilst on the diet. If I clench my fist now, I feel a lot of pain. I could this really tightly for the past week without any pain what so ever. I am sitting here now typing with pain. I think this for me is the conclusive proof I needed that the diet is the ONLY way forward.
I'd love to hear from other people who have experienced similar effects after cheating! I was also wondering if my body has gone back to square one again after this feast?!
Anyway, around 2 weeks ago I went the final step and removed oils as well not fully sure what to expect but had my expectations set to low just in case it didn't work. Well, let me tell you, the first week I didn't feel much difference, to be honest, but I was just coming out of a flareup the week before so the inflammation would have been high. The second week completely surprised me. Within 2 days into the following week, I felt so much strength coming back into my hand, the pain significantly disappeared and I noticed that doing even the vacuum cleaning around the house didn't hurt anymore. It used to kill me with pain doing this the week before. I could grasp objects like I used to before this disease. For the past year, I used to grasp say the iPad with my right hand but without bending any of my fingers. I was now finding myself holding things like I used to before. My energy levels also skyrocketed! There were days when I'd walk around my city and walk as long as 25KM and still had energy!! My mood obviously vastly improved! Not sure if this is because I was noticing results or if consuming oils were bringing me down. Don't know.
Anyway, today we had an outing with friends and I decided that I would eat like I used to before. I felt it was important to see if it was the diet that had made things better or whether it was purely coincidental. In the back of my mind, I was wondering if it was the drugs that were finally kicking in. I ate ice-cream, chocolate and pizza. Strangely didn't like any of it with the exception of the pizza. I found them a bit sickening now after being off sugar for 2 weeks. The pizza was however DIVINE!
Anyhow, within around 5/6 hours my hand started acting up again!! I couldn't grasp things without feeling pain, I could feel swelling around all my joints which I had noticed was reduced whilst on the diet. If I clench my fist now, I feel a lot of pain. I could this really tightly for the past week without any pain what so ever. I am sitting here now typing with pain. I think this for me is the conclusive proof I needed that the diet is the ONLY way forward.
I'd love to hear from other people who have experienced similar effects after cheating! I was also wondering if my body has gone back to square one again after this feast?!