Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
An odd thread title to some of the newer forum members (sorry y'all are here) but I've not eaten any potato or tomato or red/green pepper in two and one half years in order to control swelling and pain from RA. After being on Humira 4+ months, thought it was time to see how well the biologic was working.
Prior to Humira if I consumed the least bit of tomato within two hours my hands would swell and hurt, at least one major joint would lock up for two to three days until the tomato cleared my system. Sometimes if I could smell Pizza Hut my body began reacting negatively. Lunch, 11/2/15, went to a local Italian restaurant where all sauces and everything is home made, greeted with "Hey stranger, where you been?" Ordered and consumed a seven inch pizza (onion the only topping other than cheese) and a side order of spaghetti. I don't know how much marinara was involved but it was not a small amount. I finished at 12:45. At 4:00, my neck had some popcorn in it and the third finger on my right hand was stiffer than usual. That was it, period, end of story. Now I was rather lethargic early in the afternoon, guessing that was my liver processing the food I'd not eaten in so long.
Point being that Humira and 3 MTX in combination does seem to be altering my body. The fact that there was still some reaction tells me that I am not in remission but this is manageable. No, I'm not going to push it anymore this week. Next week, maybe, depends on my level of bravery. You newbies hang in there, work at it, be your own advocate.
Prior to Humira if I consumed the least bit of tomato within two hours my hands would swell and hurt, at least one major joint would lock up for two to three days until the tomato cleared my system. Sometimes if I could smell Pizza Hut my body began reacting negatively. Lunch, 11/2/15, went to a local Italian restaurant where all sauces and everything is home made, greeted with "Hey stranger, where you been?" Ordered and consumed a seven inch pizza (onion the only topping other than cheese) and a side order of spaghetti. I don't know how much marinara was involved but it was not a small amount. I finished at 12:45. At 4:00, my neck had some popcorn in it and the third finger on my right hand was stiffer than usual. That was it, period, end of story. Now I was rather lethargic early in the afternoon, guessing that was my liver processing the food I'd not eaten in so long.
Point being that Humira and 3 MTX in combination does seem to be altering my body. The fact that there was still some reaction tells me that I am not in remission but this is manageable. No, I'm not going to push it anymore this week. Next week, maybe, depends on my level of bravery. You newbies hang in there, work at it, be your own advocate.
Congrats on enjoying a food you never really get to. I'm guessing the complex carbs weighed you down. I remember checking my glucose after pasta - I'd still be running a bit high the next day compared to when I wouldn't eat such. But sometimes, a bagel or a pizza crust is worth it!
How do I know if what I eat worsens my RA? I eat garbage most of the time and haven't eliminated anything from my diet but beer and other alcoholic beverages. I'm on Enbrel and MTX and just started disability this week so I can get more rest. I still pour sugar, gluten, and every food that people say to stay away from into my system on a daily basis. I'm ashamed to say I still smoke. I'm considering seeing a natural doctor. Is that a good start? No need to mention that throwing away cigarettes is a good start because I know that. Oh, I'm Italian so giving up a tomato is like the continent of Asia giving up rice.
Greg
I have never seen this, funny.
i think you just tanked out on starch buddy. you can take out the tomato and do a white sauce and dump on 15 vegetables and can the pasta on the side or can the pasta for dessert or whatever :)
culinary nonconformist. you can eat a pizza without tomato sauce and I can eat pizza without cheese (i'm a vegan and I don't do any dairy as dairy causes me inflammation)
depot
gryd: I still smoke. Have done experimenting in regards to tobacco and here is what I have found. DO NOT dip or chew, talk about a flare!!! I smoke only in a well ventilated room (Florida room on the back of the house) or in the car with at least three windows cracked/down. I keep a thin glove on my hand when smoking to keep it from staining (that yellow stain from holding the cig will cause hurt to your fingers). Also, I do not smoke regular store bought cigs; I bought one of those little metal machine things where you basically roll your own...but it isn't rolled, it's actually stuffed. With the machine already purchased I then weekly buy a 16oz bag of pipe tobacco (Gambler brand) and a carton of "tubes". The tubes are the cig paper with a filter already on it but no tobacco in the tube. Pipe tobacco does not have the government mandated chemicals to distinguish a smoldering cig, the pipe tobacco isn't hopped up with extra nicotine and other chemicals to make it ubber addictive. The machine is not hard but it's a very repetitive motion to stuff the tobacco in a filtered tube one at a time but a carton of self done cigs costs $11. That type of over-and-over movement can irritate RA as you know. Found a solution to that. There's a physically disabled person (ex military, can walk) that lives across town that smokes but can't afford them. Took him the machine I bought (like $89), take him a bag of tobacco and two cartons of tubes. In other words, I pay and he stuffs so I still pay about half of what a store bought carton would cost.
Now, tobacco makes me flare if I dip or chew. If I don't cover my hands when smoking I flare. If I smoke a pack of store bought then I begin to flare a little, if I smoke three packs I flare. For some reason smoking the pipe tobacco stuffed into pre-made tubes doesn't make me flare. I think/guess that when lighted and inhaled the effect of consuming the nightshade doesn't reach the gut which seems to be the center of the problem which I am guessing is why biologics work so well because don't they basically change the reaction to certain proteins entering the gut?
Anyway, if you don't smoke, don't start because nicotine is very addicting, cigs stink, they are messy and do cost money. Shoot, I gave up sugar completely for two years but was unable to do so with nicotine. If you need/want the cigs, maybe my experimentation will help. A hand full of walnuts and a cig will help you get over that Italian heritage gyrd. No matter what depot says, that tomato is virtually impossible to replace the taste.
Y'all have a nice weekend.
but on the eating:
i agree nightshades about tomato.
i cook for a lot of friends and I try to do replacement stuff all the time based on whatever the hell their malady is. i do pretty good at this actually.
as to when it comes to stuffing my face, it is better than nothing (re either going without pizza or having pizza without cheese)
the tomato is a glorious thing but then so is ooey gooey cheese.
i have gotten used to eggplant without the cheese (rest in peace nana). i guess there are folks who can not get used to pizza without red sauce. but i'm a pretty good cook. I like convincing folks from a culinary perspective when I have a chance. I would never say it is better, I would say trying is fun.
depot
I am technically allergic to tomatoes, and I really have quite a bad reaction to the leaves touching my body. So I have to wear long sleeves and gloves when dealing with the plants. I probably am allergic to tomatoes, but they are fun and easy to grow, plus a good source of vitamin C, so I eat them anyway.
I have never noticed any food making a difference to my RA. I have always said that the only thing I notice making a difference is good meds. I am vegetarian, don't use much dairy, but not quite vegan. It helps my overall health, but makes no difference to my RA!
As for tobacco, I can't understand why anyone would use it when the facts about it are so well known these days. There are over 5000 chemicals in tobacco, inlcuding 56 identified carcinogens. So if someone gets away without lung problems, I am sure it will catch up somewhere else in the body. Very sad justifying it on the basis that the lungs are fine. I say this because I am so allergic to second hand smoke, and someone else's cigarettes have put me in the ER more times than I can remember.
So think about others if you are going to persist in this dirty, filthy habit. Smoking outside is not good enough for many, especially me. And 1 in 10 people are allergic to tobacco smoke and can have severe asthma attacks with exposure to it. The sooner it is oulawed forever, the better. A smoker, trying to quit, said that to me yesterday! Yep! She knew better. I am trying to help her quit, but I realize she is going to have to be the one to dig deep and break this monkey on her back in the end!
Interesting thing, that you probably don't know, supposing you probably don't grow tomatoes, but if you are a smoker, and you touch or handle tomato plants, they will wilt.
Also interesting how people are so loving and giving to people with serious problems, which smoking is. Maybe they're saying my love for you and my humanity overrides the disgust I feel for your filthy habit, or maybe they're saying shit, this isn't my problem, and you don't live anywhere near me.
We all have our issues, and I'm no saint, but I'm smarter than you are. I truly hope you give quitting some thought, unless you're old enough to not worry about your health, and crass enough to not worry about others'.
That was a little bit more sermony. Sorry, I mean you no ill will, but I can't help myself. I had a dear friend die from lung cancer. He knew it, he figured it was coming, but there he was. His house stunk to high heaven, years after he quit.
I give anyone who has to use self control through dieting a lot of credit.
Really hoped you had some enjoyment from that dinner.
Yes indeed we are all human & none perfect. I sure wouldn't want to even attempt it.
Thanks Greg for sharing with brutal honesty.
Some habits are hard to break & it's not easy. From what I've heard quitting can be as hard as a heroine addict giving up their drug of choice.
We all have those things we need to work on.
I go back & forth with my demons. It's just not easy.
We all have lives here & can never truly know what's going on in each other's. Words of understanding & encouragement can go a long way.
I'm sure there are those people beat theirselves up enough over bad choices.
I'll just Say good luck with qitting when the time comes.
Diabetes. There's one dangerous disease.
I've worked with diabetics for years. My uncle has brittle diabetes.
White starches set him off. We swap out for multi grain & whole wheats. Exercise is huge in assisting with maintaining his range.
Started this response yesterday so just caught your last reply NS.
You nailed it. You can't begin to understand these journeys unless you've been through the exact same. Great points you've made.
Although I'm sorry you paid for consuming what sounds like a great meal. Lord I'm not sure I could give up tomatoes. Love tomatoes & use tomatoes in a lot of meals.
I now have 5 people in my life with cancer, 2 non smokers.
One they believe hormonal & one environmental. A fifth I'm unsure of the cause.
Sixth being stroke victim while having a normal medical procedure done. I wouldn't dare say a word. I'm deeply hurt for each one.
live & learn. That applies to most in life. Whether it's what you do, say or simply observe.
Sammy
I'm glad you agree with me, but you are clearly more polite and beloved than I. Southern charm, no doubt.
That's a lovely photograph in your avatar. You must be quite the photogtapher. I always knew daturas as moon-flowers, and your specimen is especially beautiful. I find it interesting that you like to live dangerously. Enjoy your weekend, and I pray your life isn't shorted too drastically by your choices.