Great news! I'm a bit confused regarding the wheat - are you taking or not taking? "Given up wheat since November" vs. nurse practitioner "suggested wheat idea"

I gave up wheat- sorry for the confusion. My nurse practitioner has rheumatoid arthritis and controls symptoms with diet. Arthritis drugs are pretty nasty, so that is what she was addressing...

that is wonderful! I am so happy for you.
(((HUGS))))

Yay! Really good news.

That is amazing news motsy!! I am all for alternatives. Do you credit the improved lung function to weight loss or giving up wheat? I know you said you have no idea, but asking anyway, maybe your NP has an opinion on that. I would give up wheat right now, if it would improve my lung function. But if I lose 22 pounds, I will be gone!! :)) But willing to find healthy fattening foods to counteract weight loss if it would improve my lungs. Any improvement in your arthritis or colitis?
Kudos and hugs to you!!
J

Colitis is completely gone- Joints come and go, but I am not taking diclofenac either. She really wanted me to get off that for possible kidney problems down the road. There are gluten free alternatives that are higher calorie. They are a bit expensive, but just substituting non bread higher calorie foods might help you. I did make more than one change, so it is a bit difficult to know which one helped the most.

Wonderful news !!

BJ

That's wonderful! I was at stage 3 last fall. Not sure what I at now. I stopped taking Diclofenac also. Scary stuff!

Asparagus and Glucosamine Chondroitin seem to help my arthritis just as well!

You are the first person I have found that had improvement in PFT results. Gives me more incentive to get on the treadmill.

Thanks for the encouragement! I was pleasantly surprised, though I do know I have been feeling better the last few months.

@misidgy: Actually improving ones PFT is quite common IF; it is their initial diagnosis havent started on any treatment yet; they learn how to take the test; removing or reducing any comorbidities in the meantime. The average first/second time DXed patient shows up constantly SOB, over-weight because they havent been paying attention to their diet or exercise, perhaps still smoking, and some kind of running battle with sinuses, asthma, GI stress, inflammation, sore throat, coughing, etc. Under these conditions one is lucky the technician can actually measure anything close to your true statics.

Getting horrible numbers at first is a good thing as it serves as a Wake-Up Call. (Smile) Your numbers will improve once you start treatment and a diet and exercise regimen. Example: I was 18% - after a year I was 27% - not that my lungs physically improved (they probably are a bit worse) - the difference is totally in treatment and monitoring.

weight loss does help a lot in the progression of copd..44 pounds that's great..I lost 70 in past 3 yrs.. I don't have to take my oxygen anymore at nights

Common wheat harvest protocol in the United States is to drench the wheat fields with Roundup several days before the combine harvesters work through the fields as the practice allows for an earlier, easier and bigger harvest.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, as of 2012, 99% of durum wheat, 97% of spring wheat, and 61% of winter wheat has been treated with herbicides. This is an increase from 88% for durum wheat, 91% for spring wheat and 47% for winter wheat since 1998.

Monsanto's Roundup probably carcinogenic, World Health Organization says.

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-20/who-classifies-monsanto-s-glyphosate-as-probably-carcinogenic-

I have read about wheat issues for growing and harvesting. It is rather odd that so many of us have problems now- our grandparents didn't have problems with wheat-

motsy, often I think about "why?" Seems recent generations messed up royally.

For example, we've affected the environment so that which wasn't a problem with past generations is now a problem - either from the food, air we continue to "ingest" or an alteration in our internal system based on heredity aka DNA.

But the generational changes made weren't intended to cause harm, but to benefit. I remember long ago when refrigerated milk quickly turned sour (Yuk).

Don't know why I'm talking so much - guess spring is in the air. Pollen count is high.

Yadayadayada....

This is a video by Dr. Stephanie Seneff, MIT research scientist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIC58VpYE4A