Nutrition and Lupus

It has been more than six years now since the doctors started putting one and one together and realized I probably have lupus (it took another six months get to in with a rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis.  As someone who REALLY hates to take meds I figured I would take a nutritional approach to managing my disease.  I started off cutting the meat out and that lasted a while, technically I was a pescetarian.  There are certain aspects that respond well, mainly the no red meat.  Over time I went back to meat, not huge on red meat but I do enjoy it occasionally.  I continued my research and found that gluten and dairy are two triggers. I am not huge on dairy, but enough so I try not to cut it out of my diet unless I absolutely have to.  I started down the scary road of being gluten free.  Almost immediately I noticed an improvement.  Again, I stuck with it for a while and then decided I was fine and gluten didn’t affect me any more…  One of my constant reminders of my disease is costochondritis (inflammation of the rib cartilage), I have been to the ER a few times to ensure my heart was fine and I get the normal “It’s just your lupus.”  After a REALLY bad bout of the pain I figured I would go back to gluten free and within two days I could breathe easily without using any “as needed” medications.  I accidentally consumed something that had gluten (I didn’t check before I ate it, STUPID!), the next day I thought I was going to die! I am not to the point of being anal retentive about what I am willing to consume.  I have also found out my kidneys are not a huge fan of cola!  Once my kiddos are back in school and things calm down a smidge (trust me, life will never truly calm down!) I would like to give the autoimmune paleo diet a try.  I think it would be interesting to find out what all my body handles, what it barely tolerates and what annoys it.  I look at my son and he eats almost anything that doesn’t move fast enough and those days are long over for me.  This is the body I have until it’s my time and if I don’t take care of me, who will?

I guess it will truly be trial and error!

I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR A NUTRITIONIST, NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME SO YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle