I can't help but posting about the Fibromyalgia and Lyme Disease. I am 43 years old, mother of 3, and I have had FM for more years than I care to; I was also diagnosed with late stages of Lyme Disease just after my 1st child, 22 years ago. So, I've dealt with both for...22 years now. It was DEBILITATING! I couldn't walk much, couldn't push a vacuum sometimes. It used to be that fall and winter was hardest and I would get a break in the spring/summer. Not anymore. I have pain, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and all, all year long now. I usually get worried about once a year that it all has turned to Rheumatoid Arthritis, because the symptoms are getting closer and closer in resemblance as I get older, including the shape of my fingers and joints and mobility. The doctors remind me that I have the FM and Lyme Arthritis for life and to remember to pick the lifestyle that fits it so I can live a better quality life with my kids. So I moved from the city to a more rural area-I'm in Taekwondo, and I do yard work on the good days, and give myself grace on the bad days. I do a lot of walking/hanging out at the wild animal park when we can, for peacefulness more than exercise. and I'm raising chickens now to enjoy and also help with fresh safe eggs for eating.
I will say, the ONLY thing that helped me with ALL THE SYMPTOMS, seriously, its working, is that 3 years ago I quit ALL GLUTEN PRODUCTS, then 2 years ago I quit ALL DAIRY PRODUCTS-even yogurt, and then this last year I quit all regular sugars. So mainly, its protein and vegetables, and fruit limited...I use olive oil, sesame oil, all organic foods, soy, liquied amino instead of soy sauce, limited potatoes, basmati rice and eggs. My pain and my fatigue went away about 80 percent-all year. If I cheated on the diet, I would feel it. If I continued cheating, I would feel it for longer and so it would take a week or two to start feeling better once getting back onto the diet. There's a book called, 'Breaking the vicious cycle'. Its great. It cured my 9 year old of chronic diarrhea, and its good for IBS (which we also have) and it helps Krohns, Ulcerative Colitis and a lot of things.
Because I do this diet, I don't have to take the anti-depressants and all the FM meds. But I'm talking after years of taking all kinds of things, I simply ate meat, vegetables and little fruit, and water/mineral water, and it did more curing of my health than the debiliated people in my FM group. I also drank a lot of water and layed out in the sun...sounds crazy, but it actually would give me energy when I felt really bad. The doctors started taking notes on the affects it was having on me and telling me to keep it up. It does help that I treat the whole family with this diet-since we all have been diagnosed with IBS, Celiacs, lactose issues...and all.
I know meds are good for when people need them, but, I'm just saying, that sometimes, maybe a lot of times, going back to eliminating things and putting things into our bodies that should be there and enjoying that as much as the other foods can make a huge impact and allow us to not have to HAVE the meds. Good luck with the appts. I hope it isn't Lymes, and I hope you are interested in trying the diet-even if its trying it and then going back-just to see the difference. Oh, I didn't have to limit most of the foods-like 'dieting' ideas. The foods are digested faster when they're not mixed altogether all the time.
