Looking for Inspiration and support for RA condition

[ann1967]

Hi, I was on Methotrexate for about 5 years for RA. Started to experience pronounced hair loss last May and stopped the medication since my RA symptoms were mild.  The acupuncture treatment I got every week helped too. Started AIP in November last year. The crazy workload in December caused my RA to flare up, and I could barely drive with hurting wrists. Also not able to stick to AIP because of the holiday feasts and travels.  At the worst time, I was walking limped due to hurting ankles and back of the knee, and not able to dress myself because of the hurting should blades and wrists.  Took some herb medicine from a Chinese doctor.  Helped a little but not as much as I hoped. Started embrel three weeks ago for fear of losing the function of some joints that were not able to bent since the holidays. Now I am pretty much pain free with mild stiffness in some fingers and weak wrists. But sadly, the resolution I had for AIP also weakened.  I am typically good with breakfast and lunch, all AIP compliant.  However, at dinner time, I have to stuff myself with the AIP food, but still find myself stuffing additional dark chocolates, bread, or dried fruits to feel satisfied for the short term and guilty afterwards.  Almost feel like a monster in my belly demanding these forbidden food.  The onset of perimenopause does not help either. Sometimes I feel very agitated and restless after a meal.
With this long introduction, I'm here looking for encouraging stories that people can get of medication for RA by doing AIP, and tips on how to stay on AIP.  Seems AIP has been very effective for lots of other conditions, but not as much for RA. Would also appreciate information on what kind of food has been associated particularly with RA.
Thank you!

[rheagan]

Welcome Ann! I don't have any personal experience with RA (other than my grandmother ended up quite debilitated by it years ago), but this website www.phoenixhelix.com/ might be helpful for you. Eileen is managing her RA by following AIP. Have you moved to a gluten-free diet? I know when my husband gave up gluten he craved that kind of stuff like crazy and he just had to grit his teeth through it until the cravings eventually subsided. I think it took him 2-3 weeks to "come off" the gluten. Also, if you are craving sugary, starching things, have you looked into the posibility of a candida overgrowth? A candida overgrowth can cause some pretty strong sugar/starch cravings because that's what the candida lives on. Best wishes for your healing!

[healingsue]

Hi Ann. I am no expert, but I was diagnosed with RA about  9 months ago after a period of extreme stress, and so far I have been able to manage my symptoms with AIP. I have been on AIP for 7 months. For the first three months I adhered to it 100 percent. Around the holidays I allowed myself a few cups of black coffee, a few pieces of quality dark chocolate and a few sips of red wine, and since then I have not been successful in turning off the dark chocolate cravings. I thought this article about cravings was super helpful.

I have not gotten 100 percent relief from AIP, so I am continuing along my healing journey by working with one of the consultants and a practitioner and doing self testing to have a look at and begin treatment for leaky gut, gut pathogens & dysbiosis, stealth infections, etc and supplementing for nutrient deficiencies etc.

Hang in there! I have learned that the path of improvement is not a straight line. I am not as afraid of the setbacks as I used to be--I have learned that they usually provide important information, pieces of the puzzle to understanding what is harmful/what is healing for me.

[lindao]

Hi Ann, I have had RA for 27 years and have been on Enbrel and a low dose of Methotrexate for 16 years.  I decided last summer that I wanted to try to get off or reduce these meds, and started AIP in September.  I was starting to feel quite good, but then had a stressful December like you.  I stopped exercising and meditating, was getting way too little sleep, and not surprisingly I ended up having a flare.  It was discouraging, since I had worked really hard to stick to AIP even through all the stress and through the holiday gatherings.  But what it taught me is that diet is only one piece of the puzzle of what I need to heal.  I am still following AIP but have started prioritizing sleep, stress management, and exercise.  I'm also working with a naturopath to do some further testing and troubleshooting.  I've had RA for a long time, so I figure it will take a while to heal, and I'm willing to be patient.  I am back in school getting my master's in nutrition, and everything I'm learning is confirming for me that Paleo is an incredibly healthy way to eat, so even while I am waiting for my RA to respond, I know the AIP is helping my body in many other ways.  In terms of tips for sticking with AIP, here are a few things that have worked for me:  (1) before I started AIP I had already been eating a standard Paleo diet for about four months.  This made the transition to AIP much easier for me, as I had already gone through the pain of giving up bread and no longer wanted to eat it. (2) before I started AIP I prepared for about two weeks, reading recipes, stocking my pantry and fridge, making bone broth and sauerkraut.  I allowed myself to eat as much chocolate as I wanted during this planning stage (and that was quite a bit!) knowing that I would not be eating it at all once I started AIP.  On my planned "start date" I went all in with the AIP.   For the first week or two I missed the chocolate, and nuts, but after that I didn't think about eating these foods anymore.  (3) seeking out great AIP recipes and making sure that I am really enjoying all of my food has really helped me to stick with the AIP.  I have Sarah's cookbook, as well as Mickey Trescott's and a few Paleo cookbooks that I use and modify the recipes to make them AIP.   I also often find great recipes on Eileen Laird's  website (Phoenix Helix) or on her recipe round tables.  (4) making sure that my diet includes enough starches like sweet potatoes and plantains has also helped to make the diet sustainable for me; I think it can be very difficult to try to do AIP going super low-carb (5) during the holidays when I had to eat out at a restaurant, I learned how to be a high maintenance customer and request very specifc preparation of my food ("just grilled salmon with olive oil and salt; no pepper") and if I was eating at someone else's house I either ate before going, or I brought my own food.  I also made some AIP treats in advance and kept them in the freezer so I had one ready when everyone around me was eating pie or cookies (6) it really is true that your tastebuds change after eating like this for a while; now if I feel like something sweet after dinner, I have some unsweetened applesauce or I sautée a sliced ripe plantain and sprinkle with sea salt and cinnamon, and feel very satisfied. Sorry if all of this is old news to you already.  Hope at least some of it is helpful, and wish you all the best on your healing journey!