I have no idea if I can reverse my RA and/or Celiac Disease BUT I’m going to find out. What do I have to lose at this point? If this worked for 1 person out there, maybe, just maybe it might work for me. This journey may result in me being right back where I started but I figure it doesn’t matter because I’m miserable. I need to do more to repair my damaged intestines and stop continuing to aggravate them with each bite I take. So I’m challenging myself to a 30-day autoimmune gut-repair diet. I’ve looked at several versions of them and the one I’m going to follow is found here: https://drknews.com/autoimmune-gut-repair-diet/
I downloaded the cookbook The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, by Mickey Trescott, and I’ll use that as a suggested guide but really stick to the more limited 30-day gut repair diet first. After 30 days, I’ll decide whether to continue with the same plan for longer or ease into adding a few more food groups into my diet as suggested in Mickey Trescott’s cookbook.
Day 1: 8/1/15 Today I made a plan for food for three days and I got my husband on board to gather support (Although he is not following my diet, he will support me.) I went to the grocery store with a whole new viewpoint. I stayed on the right side of the store in the produce section and visited the meat counter to get salmon and chicken. Dropping dairy, nuts, and eggs will be seriously hard, but if we don’t buy it, I should be alright. I have ignored countless temptations to have bread and other gluten-filled foods that make me incredibly ill. My attitude now is: It’s not worth it. It’s not worth the sluggish feeling, bloating like I’m about to give birth, stomach muscle spasms, indescribable gas, fatigue, and headaches. I’m done with that.
Why am I doing this?
Three and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Symptoms and blood tests revealed I had Celiac Disease, too. Two autoimmune diseases were destroying my body. Here I am in August of 2015 with some symptoms resolved but other still in full force. By giving up gluten completely and starting medications early to slow the progression of my Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have far fewer headaches, no rapid heart palpitations, less nausea, diarrhea, cramping, and muscle spasms. I still have chronic fatigue and I can still get surprised by intestinal problems after I eat, even when I am confident I have completely avoided gluten. I decided to give up dairy and as I was reading about some new recipes, I came across a post on social media that I had seen before several times. There are claims made that if you follow a diet to repair your gut, you may be able to reduce or even reverse autoimmune conditions like RA! I dream about a day when I will wake up and have no joint and muscle pain and not feel like the flu is running rampant in my body. I know others who have experienced that joy of remission from taking medicines that work for them. I am still experimenting with cocktails of meds and have changed up my biologic multiple times seeking the ultimate recipe for fighting this horrible disease. I’m not there yet and I’m frustrated.
I’ll check in here and update my progress. I am optimistic and I have motive to make it work. We’ll see.