Lynne, you wouldn't have seen the ugliest of the food fights- the most recent ones were at about Thanksgiving and a little after, a bit before you found us.

Alto, you're right. I wasn't here then. No wonder there are strong feelings surrounding food... food fights at Thanksgiving, of all holidays! :)

Lynne: I personally want to learn all there is about what works and what doesn't for people. I'm not even sure I have RA, and neither are the doctors. What we do know is that is attacking joints and is inflammatory. My next move is going to be to try to cut out sugar. Good grief...I'll probably have withdrawals. I'm not sure I can do it, but I want to try it. Don't know, if you don't try...right? Until I know for sure what I have, I don't want to take any serious meds. Already tried methotrexate (aaack) and plaquenil (which worked but too many issues w/tummy). ~sorry for rambling. By all means, take us along on your journey!

Lynne,
My post and as I read it the others were intended to give you examples of what is offensive with these types of posts, not what you may be doing.I can see from your follow-up post you are very committed to your plan. You will get feedback that you like and dislike, differences of opinion, even with this advance notice post, and sometimes intent or meaning gets lost in type. Another lesson (the learning never stops, does it ...) ) many learn here is not to take much personally.
I'm glad you have a rheumy you can communicate with freely. I'm on a search for another one, that's another post.....ugh

Marticat, I cut out all forms of sugar and refined flour (which turns to sugar in your blood) a few years ago. Believe me, if I can do it, you can! Sugar works a lot like caffeine. Drink caffeine and you get pumped up, then your energy drops lower than before you drank it, so you need more. Once I had the sugar out of my system for two weeks, I didn't get the screaming mimies for it anymore. Believe me, no one was more surprised than me! I had quite a sweet tooth! Sugar is a known inflammatory for most. It helped me to switch to 6 small meals/snacks a day instead of traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner - and, of course, all the nighttime (usually sweet) snacks. Good luck to you in this venture. You can do this!

I like reading your posts. Please stay! I find them kind and informative! The more information...the better for me and for RA! That is my opinion. The more info the more informed we become. XO

Thanks, RAinthewoods. I'm staying! I'm so grateful to have found this group of warm, wonderful people!

Lynne! You are a Health Coach. We need you to stay and help us out. I will try anything, and it seems sometimes that there could not be anything else to try. And then, there is another idea that has worked for someone else.
Your cheerfulness is wonderful. Keep up the good work.
Lynne

My opinion on it all. I am positive an injury caused my overactive immune response, not allergies. I seriously injured my wrist, and the pain increased steadily for a couple weeks until less than a month later, I got a full blown terrible flare. The first flare ever. It never stopped since then. So since I'm sure what triggered me was an overactive immune response to a torn tfcc in my left wrist. That doesn't mean I don't like hearing what works for others though:) I get new ideas and I am interested. I read the allergy threads and feel more informed. So I think nothing's wrong with saying what's worked for you. We all arrived here from an overactive immune response to something. Many don't know their trigger, and I feel fortunate I know mine. So telling people what triggers you, or what triggered you, can only help educate in my opinion.

Now I havent noticed any food aggravate more than another. Just wine. I think wine hurts me, must be the sulfites. That doesn't mean I don't find some value in your or another's post, however. So I see no problem with what you are wanting to post.

Post away!
:)

@mechelle re: green kitty litter - SO off topic, but i started using arm & hammer essentials kitty litter, it's corn derived. we've gone through so many because the dust bothers me and one of my cats has asthma, so it MUST have bothered her! we tried world's best, it sucked. yesterday's news, the cats hated it and wouldn't use the box we had it in. swheat scoop did nothing - NOTHING - useful: did not clump well at all (and we were using the clumping formula), did not contain any odors, and was highly tracked. i won't use feline pine because it's from pine. i don't know that pine oils would be good for my sensitive kitties.

the arm & hammer essentials lasts longer than the old clumping clay litters we used, it does pretty good with odors (about as well as non-scented clay litters), and clumps really well. i get it at my local supermarket, about $9 for 9lb bag and it lasts a long time! i'm surprised, i keep asking my hubby (who's on litter duty) if we need more litter and he keeps saying no.

Lynne, I too have noticed some people seem to get feathers ruffled when others mention success using conservative treatments. Have even seen one poster mention that she doesn't post much because it goes over like a lead balloon. The 'alternative help for RA' group here on ds is not active - though a few of us have tried to get it restarted.

I've known three people to go in long term remission/control using conservative treatments - which I consider diet to be a member of. Each of us were either advanced RA or had had it for at least ten years prior.... Each of us found success with a different conservative treatment.

Be cautious in calling anything a 'cure' with autoimmune disease. A cure means you'll never get it again no matter what. But if the condition reoccurs if you start eating xyz again - then it was never 'cured' it was inactive/ in remission.

Now there is plenty of data on a certain type of homeopathy that works 90% of the time. Just look at allergy shots. So what was once an alternative idea has now become standard treatment. Perhaps that is the future for diet and RA?

You are a valuable member of this group. I've enjoyed reading about your journey. Please continue posting.

Hey don' t question posting ideas or what works for one person may not work for another

I just wanted to add that I'm new to the Board as well, really new:), and I alreAdy feel unbelievably blessed to have gotten a sense of deep support and understanding without having 'met' any of you! Have had RA for a little over 25 years (58) and have dipped deep Into the well myself for the answers to relief and remission. Most important now is simply what will maintain that sometimes illusive but so important quality of life. I don't regret having gone through the natural route, the body/mind/spirit healing modalities ( definitely found healing, just more for the mind and spirit!) and the nutrition path... Being allergic to gluten was big for me but never was the magic bullet. I will say that for me personally, I wish I hadn't waited a year to get on medication. Instead of waiting a year to explore what was 'out there', I wish I had hit it hard from the beginning AND jumped in with all the other potential complementary things that I was hoping would benefit. Again, that's my body. I know each of us will respond differently. Methotrexate and then Biologics gave me my best results until I had to stop Methtx. Started getting deformity in my hands and feet since then, which slowly continues to worsen at this point In spite of Actemra and Arava. Im grateful to have found you guys. Its one of those long journeys that feels quite alone at times in spite of support from family and friends. I've looked through other forums in the past but have to admit, when I see people following their own inner compass, making wise choices based on their own research and life experience, respecting (good) advice from medical professionals, and offer meaningful and deeply caring support to others on the same journey I know Ive found a great group of people.
Guess I should have made this a separate post... I so honor your journey to health in whatever way that works for you Lynne. And when :) you find that success, please share! I may circle around and try the nutrition route again with a new twist.

Thank you all again. I realize RA cannot be "cured." I only hope to stop its progression, i.e., achieve remission. I also hope you all realize that the foods that inflame my body may not inflame yours. That's the reason for doing an elimination diet. Some people's body have an inflammatory response to chick peas (garbanzo beans), some don't. Some have an inflammatory response to almonds while others don't. I really don't want almonds to be one of my inflammatory foods! :) Each person has to do their own elimination program if they want to go that route, and it can be challenging. It's a commitment. I'm ready to make that commitment in the hopes of getting my RA into remission without DMARDs or biologics.

@LionPrincess, I understand your injury is what threw your immune system into overdrive, I'm not certain you couldn't bring it into remission by figuring out what foods inflame your body and avoiding them, though. Just something to think about. I personally think the RMO in my foot triggered mine (it's a rare condition). I'm still going to try to control the inflammation this way.

I'll keep you all posted! I'm exciting to get my book! Wishing a great and pain-free weekend to everyone!

Lynne, since you have come to this board, I have only read and seen positive posts from you. You are to stay right here on this board as your contributions as others here are valuable and you are an integral part of this group. You participate in a cordial and polite manner. This board is for all folks to post whatever they feel or care to post or discuss as long as one does not become rude or abusive to another person. Keep on doing what you do Lynne.