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Posted 11/13/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Sherrine - what diet (or links) would you recommend for fibro.  Some web sites say eat fibre, others say don't eat fibre.  There doesn't seem to be one diet.  Any recommendations?

Oxygene  rolleyes

Posted 11/13/2010 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
oxygene,

Fibro is not an inflammatory condition but if you have an underlying arthritis carbohydrates can contribute to your pain levels because they have been linked to increasing inflammation. IBS is often a part of this disorder so you may experience problems if you eat a lot of salads or raw veggies at one sitting. Keeping a food diary will help you find out if you have trigger foods that bring on pain or diarrhea. With our fog it's often difficult to remember what we ate recently and how it affected us the last time we ate it. The food diary helped me figure out that eggs are no longer my friends and that tomato sauce on anything now gives me heartburn.

I'm diabetic as well so I've got to mind what I eat but there have been times when I've just thrown my hands in the air and said, "Heck! I'm gonna eat what I want!" A few days of misery and several visits to the potty later I'm ready to behave again. As I said, the food diary is the best way to find out what makes you feel more rottener than usual. Hope this helps.
Posted 11/13/2010 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Oxygene, I agree with what Jeannie said.  I eat anything but in moderation but I also watch how many carbs I eat.  I lost a lot of weight doing this and I'm also diabetic.  But I feel better when I don't have a lot of carbs.  I haven't seen that food necessarily increases the pain of fibro.  But with fewer carbs, I do have more energy and I overall feel better.  Good food does that!  But, no way will I give up my potato!  turn

 

Sherrine

Posted 11/14/2010 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum, so, "Hi, everyone."

I am a 30-year-old female who has been suffering from the severe pain/inflammation of Fibro for only 2 years, but I have been active in brainstorming and learning from many other sufferers.

What I've seemed to gather (and what truly works for me and many others) is that a GLUTEN FREE diet seems to be where it's at. Also, avoiding sugar as much as possible. Sugar is in nearly everything, so if you actively avoid sugar, it won't be overkill for your body when you eat fruit and other organic foods with natural sugars.

I am a huge fan of Pamela's Products (Google it). They have a huge assortment of gluten-free ready-to-eat products, as well as baking flour/mixes.

I've been eating a lot of Mexican food lately: beans, rice, veggies, corn tortillas (not flour).

Water should be your best friend, too.

Try a gluten-free diet for one week or two weeks (what can it hurt to try it?) and if you don't feel a significant decrease in pain, then you can try something else.

Just my two cents. I hope that if you try it, it helps you the way it has helped me and several others!

:)
Posted 11/14/2010 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
P.S. For anyone too afraid to go on a gluten-free trial run, just note that there are plenty of wheat brand replacements out there. You can find them online, or at your local natural supermarket (Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, etc.). My favorite gluten-free bread is Food for Life's Millet Bread (fruit juice sweetened): http://www.zeer.com/Food-Products/Food-For-Life-Millet-Bread/000066425

Also, pick up some angel hair rice noodles, veggies for steaming, Amy's gluten-free sauce, tofu (or your favorite meat), and whip up some amazing pasta.

There are tons of ways to replace your gluten - and it takes LOTS of searching to find the products that you find taste as good as (if not, sometimes BETTER) than the old products.

Good luck! :)
Posted 11/14/2010 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Oxygene,

I ate whole wheat and lots of insoluble fiber for 40 years, and much to my surprise I found that I do so much better with less of it, and more refined, white starches (soluble fiber!) Chronic constipation was a way of life, which I was used to. But when I tried going gluten-free, that spiraled out of control. Talk about pain!! Searching everywhere online (because doctors were useless) I found a site that talks about a different diet for IBS sufferers. But here I am, going on about something you might not even be interested in - if you are, let me know.

My point is just that everyone's different. For fibro pain, nothing has made a difference to me, and I've tried so many things. Of course, you can't live on junk food and expect to feel good, but I'm sure you already know that.

Debbie
Posted 11/14/2010 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi "Ktpie"! Welcome.... I just found out I have fibromyalgia and am contemplating changing my diet. I do already eat healthy but I have never gone gluten free. I have already had a couple of people say it helped them, but what interests me, is HOW? I guess I don't understand how gluten is related to Fibro pain. I wouldn't mind trying it but it's hard when you have a five and a six year old to feed who may not like the gluten free stuff. Do you have young kids? either way, I am also more holistic minded and do not want to be on drugs because of all the side effects. I don't judge those who do though.
Posted 11/14/2010 1:29 PM (GMT 0)

I have not found food to be a contributing factor, one way or another.  Eating healthy is fundemental in fighting any disease.  Over the years, I have developed many food allergies however, and I am finding it frustrating because I have had to eliminate so many things I used to love to eat...nuts/legumes being at the top of the list.

So far I can still eat chocolate and have not found that to worsen my pain in any way! turn

Donna

Posted 11/14/2010 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Ah, chocolate - one of the four basic food groups!
Posted 11/16/2010 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
I was thinking chocolate first thing!
If you want protein try dark chocolate almonds they work good for the sugar craving and theres other benefits wit it too.

I have also cut out lots on bread and dairy. Istill eat some meat mostly fish and chicken,but noe if i have beef or pork i get it from my mother who raises them hormone free.
Most of meals im cooking now is a lot more veggies and avegetarin meals. It takes time,my husband does what he can to help me and i love him for it!
Posted 11/16/2010 7:36 AM (GMT 0)

bridget10 said...
Hi "Ktpie"! Welcome.... I just found out I have fibromyalgia and am contemplating changing my diet. I do already eat healthy but I have never gone gluten free. I have already had a couple of people say it helped them, but what interests me, is HOW? I guess I don't understand how gluten is related to Fibro pain. I wouldn't mind trying it but it's hard when you have a five and a six year old to feed who may not like the gluten free stuff. Do you have young kids? either way, I am also more holistic minded and do not want to be on drugs because of all the side effects. I don't judge those who do though.

I have no idea. I do know that people who truly have Fibromyalgia are extremely sensitive to so many things throughout all 5 senses: smells (cannot handle any perfume smells), taste (too much flavor or spice can be unnerving), touch (duh), etc. etc. EVERYTHING seems sensitive. So, it only makes some sense (to me, but I'm absolutely not an expert) that too much of anything could cause aggravation/issues and gluten is in EVERYTHING; and for some reason a large amount of people with Fibromyalgia are claiming that gluten causes drastic inflammation. It was confirmed by my Gastroenterologist. Like I said, I'm not an expert and haven't done much research on WHY it effects people with Fibro the way it does, but so many people are testifying on behalf of the gluten-free diet in lessening the pain. More & more grocery stores are supplying gluten-free products and the producers of these products are getting better & better at making them organic/natural and tasty.

When I quit gluten, I lost 10 lbs and felt better than I have in SO long. I could think more clearly, I had significantly less anxiety, I slept better, etc. and several of my friends with Fibro tried it and are as devoted as I am, now.

Not only that, but there are recent studies that are showing that babies and toddlers who consume gluten are at higher risk of ADHD & Autism. This makes me wonder if gluten affects the brain and not the body directly. It's just so weird to me to imagine that something from nature, like gluten, could be so harmful.
Posted 11/16/2010 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
P.S. I deleted my signature in the "edit profile" section, and the box labeled "include signature" was un-checked. I can't figure out how to make that go away (where it says "Relax." under my posts)...
Posted 11/16/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Gluten not only affects some people with stomach problems, but it is a major contributor to inflammation for some people.
Posted 11/16/2010 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I recommend that everyone try going without gluten (completely) for 2 weeks just as a test. So many people report feeling better "immediately". My Fibro pain went from a daily '10' to a sliding scale between '2' and '6'. I still have my '10' days, but they're much more rare these days. It's not 'just' the lack of gluten, but also the added positivity and never overdoing it on my lesser-pain days. :)

I don't consume: gluten, processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine, potatoes, white sugar, etc. foods that cause inflammation. What's the point in feeding yourself all sorts of things (including negative thoughts) that cause you to feel pain, just so you can turn around and treat it with a bag of prescription meds?!
Posted 11/16/2010 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, wish that had worked for me! :(

Debbie
Posted 11/16/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Did you try it? And for how long?
Posted 11/16/2010 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, I tried it for about 6 weeks, and all that happened was I became WAY more constipated than I already was. Strange, I know! Just goes to show how different we all are. I wrote more about that experience earlier in this thread...
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