Hi,

Over the years, I have tried different things with my diet. What I found is that there are individual items that effect my and in different ways. I have also read that different people react to different things.

Since you are having more pain as you greatly reduce your sugar, you might want to add some back into your diet and note the results. For me, too much sugar can drain me quickly, but not enough can affect me also. I have had to cut out green and red peppers and cilantro. I also struggle with other hot spices.

I great deal of dealing with CFS is trial and error. I would continue to experiment with your diet but sometimes you may need to put things back if you react badly when you remove them

I hope this helps.

I have been gluten-free for 10 months and on an autoimmune diet (kind of like the GAPS diet) for six months: no grains, no legumes, no nightshades, no eggs, no sugar, no dairy. I have been very strict with all of it except sugar (but I've cut way down) and I allow myself oats for breakfast. I'm not any better, unfortunately, but, honestly, if I was told to eat nothing but celery for a year to get better, I would do it. I am desperate. I can't help wondering if I would be WORSE than I am now if I hadn't changed my diet. I have zero joy in food anymore, but I am committed. Good luck!

Ive always felt better when I've cut sugar and carbs out of my diet and increased veggies and protein.always..its just very difficult for me to be so discilpined with my eating.i'm suprised your pain increased when you cut out these foods.I wonder if sugar releases a hormone that curbs pain.like seratonine?? im going to read on it as now I'm curious.because when i eat sugar ,chocolate it has a calming effect on me. but makes me very tired too....

I found an article that says foods with seratonine decrease pain and help sleep.
if anyones interested http://www.livestrong.com/article/24303-foods-release-serotonin-brain/
there are other foods that u might be able to increase that have seratonine to help you thru this time

Hello Luna 991, thank you for this post and the comments from
everyone. Diet has been an ongoing challenge for me for
probably about 6-10 years. That's because I have Lyme illness
also and it is highly recommended to give up sugar, alcohol and
caffeine. This I have done with the exception of some teas once
in a while that have caffeine. Coffee was a difficult challenge but
I no longer miss it.
About the incresed pain. I find this rather odd also. I have
had pain in my legs off and on during the night. It comes in the
form of leg cramps which wake me up. I was told to take magnesium. So I take magnesium malate before bedtime. I'm
also told that calcium helps with muscle pain. So a cal-mag
combo supplement is good. All of this has helped me.
I would be leary about increasing the sugar because
sugar's known to cause inflammation. That's my in put.
And I wish you well with this and hope it clears up.
Also, are you taking any supplements like B vitamins?