A day in a life with rheumatoid arthritis – Part 6

It’s been a while since I last blogged about my diet experiment. I thought it would be a fitting time to give an update since I have some news to report.

Back in October I geared up to try a new diet in an attempt to manage RA symptoms. Now, I have to tell you that it’s been a bumpy road. I started and stopped, started and stopped…..

The whole idea was to go off foods that have potential for sensitivity and consume a starch based diet consisting mostly of vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes, grains, and starchy vegetables. Foods such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and meat are considered to cause sensitivity in some people, especially those with autoimmune disease. I found this particular diet information during my search for healing from RA (an autoimmune disease) on Dr. McDougall’s website. What impressed me the most were the testimonials, not only for RA, but a host of other chronic disease like Crohn’s (my father had Crohn’s, which is also an autoimmune disease).

I kept detailed notes about what I ate and noted my symptoms. Here’s what I found;

• Significant reduction in joint pain and inflammation.
• Elimination of heavy thick aching feeling in my whole body.
• Greatly reduced number and severity of flare-ups.

I kid you not. I noticed such a difference in the level of my symptoms that I’m a believer now. I admit, I was skeptical that diet would effect my symptoms, but after going on and off, on and off for actually several months now, as I have been experimenting for quite some time with food sensitivities, I’m sold on the idea enough to continue further investigation into longer term effects.

a change in season

Here’s what I eat;

Fruit, vegetables, green leafy vegetables, some beans, quinoa, rice, salmon, a little cottage cheese sometimes and gluten-free baked goods. Also, I take vitamin supplements.

When I stick to the foods mentioned I feel much better.

In addition to the change in diet, I’ve also reduced the meds I take. Currently, I’m at 5mg prednisone daily and 17.5 mg methotrexate weekly. I still can’t get off the acid-blocker and stomach issues come and go. Haven’t figured out what the triggers for that are yet, other than the meds, if there are other triggers.

I’m happy that while diet may or may not be a cure for RA, I had a positive shift in the level of symptoms I experience. It’s been a long tedious process for me because it actually started a few years ago and I’ve dabbled with it since then. The events (click link to read background) of the past year helped to, shall we say, coerce me into getting serious.

Another indication that the change in diet is helpful and the meds are working will take place on January 13th when I have my 3-month Echo-cardiogram to check the pericarditis situation. Hopefully, all will be well.

During the holidays a video crossed my path that further supports the idea that chronic disease is affected by diet. Dr. Terry Wahls used diet to cure her MS and get out of her wheelchair. Please watch as she tells her story and looks at the science behind her amazing discovery.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only based solely on my personal experience with the exception of Dr. Wahls video. No medical advice is given or intended by the owner of this blog.

New Year Blessings to All The People I Know and Will Meet in 2012!

New year celebration!

This is a post I originally published on January 1, 2011. It seemed apropos for this year as well so with a couple of tweaks I re-post to rededicate myself to another year on this planet together.

“Another year over and a new one just begun.” (Click on link for reference.)
A fresh new start. New beginnings. New adventures.

Here is a new year blessing that I give to myself as well to all the people I know (family, relatives, friends, blogmates, all acquaintances) and will meet in 2012.

May we rise above the stress and struggle in everyday life to see the bigger picture.
May we always find the good in what appears to be the bad.
May we treat ourselves and everyone we know with kindness, dignity and respect.
May we give blessings to others and be open to receive blessings also.
May we give ourselves and others the gift of our patience and presence.
May we always encourage rather than discourage.
May we discover that we are Life Itself having an experience.
And may we see the same in others.
May we find peace and contentment in the beauty of Life Itself.
May we love lots, laugh lots and live lots.
May 2012 be our best year ever.

Happy New Year to all and thank you for being a part of my life. I really appreciate it!

My New Friend

123RF.com image

Two days after I moved into my new apartment in the seniors building (read here), someone angrily rapped my knocker. (All the apartment doors have brass knockers. They’re easier to hear and you don’t hurt your knuckles when you call on a neighbour.)

I opened my door. A short elderly woman leaned on her walker. She snarled, “You parked in my spot.”

Innocently, I responded, “Oh…. I did? The superintendent told me the parking was not assigned and I could park anywhere I liked.”

“He DID, DID he. Well I’ve had THAT spot for 12 years, ever since I moved in here, so you’ll have to find another spot,” the woman growled.

Hearing the commotion, a neighbour from down the hall approached us.

“There is a spot that no one is using at the end of the second row. You can park there if you like,” the neighbour offered.

“Thank you, I’ll move my car,” I replied sheepishly.

I’d had my first encounter with Eileen.

About a week later, I pulled into my parking spot at the end of the row while Eileen pulled into her spot, four cars down. We entered the building together.

“I just came from my son’s house,” she said gruffly. “The family took me out for brunch today for my 91st birthday.”

“Ninety-one, well happy birthday to you! Did you have fun?”

“Oh yes,” she responded as she eyed me suspiciously.

The next time I met Eileen coming in from the parking lot, she had forgotten her walker in her car. When I asked if I could help, she retorted, “I don’t need any help,” and toddled off back toward her car. Feeling a little foolish, I headed toward my apartment.

Eileen approached me one day while I did my laundry. She told me her story.

Twenty years ago, Eileen was on kidney dialysis due to poisoning from chemicals in the workplace. She said it was the worst time of her life. She prayed to either die or get off dialysis. A week later her kidneys started working again on their own and the doctor took her off the dialysis machine. She hasn’t needed dialysis since.

We had a nice chat about her life and her family.

Eileen bowed her head, “I have to apologize for that day I knocked at your door. I was so mean and you were so nice.”

“Don’t think anything of it, Eileen, it was nice to meet you,” I reassured.

That was six months ago.

The other day, I had the pleasure of accompanying Eileen to the Christmas banquet at her church.

We had just seated ourselves at one of the fifteen large round tables in the hall when a lady stopped by to greet Eileen. Eileen introduce me as her friend.

Eileen explained to the lady that she was without a car to drive for a few days.

The lady commented, “They clipped your wings, did they?”

I piped in, “I haven’t known Eileen for very long, but from what I can tell, I don’t think there is anyone who can clip Eileen’s wings.”

“You’re right about that,” the lady chuckled.

Eileen looked puzzled, “What did you say?”

I leaned closer and repeated my statement with a louder voice.

Eileen grinned, “It didn’t take you long to figure me out.”

We laughed. I’m sure I saw a twinkle in her eye.

The Christmas banquet featured a lovely home-made turkey dinner complete with a special guest in concert.

The buffet table was lined with dishes of coleslaw, mashed potatoes, corn, turnip, stuffing, turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, bread and butter. For dessert, we had plum pudding and cherry cheesecake (so much for my new eating plan, Oh well, it was worth it).

The special guest was Eduard Klassen in concert with his Paraguayan Folk Harp. Here is a taste of Eduard’s beautiful gift of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bShYqGfko8k&feature=related

Hope you enjoyed Eduard’s music. It was a lovely Christmas concert and a lovely afternoon spent with Eileen.

Thank you Eileen.

Seniors need Passion and Books need Readers

First, seniors need passion.

What is a senior?  The term used to describe someone over the age of 55 or 60, depending on where you live or travel.

What is passion?  Strong or intense desire and enthusiasm.

Poor financial planning and disease culminated a small, but comfortable geared-to-income apartment in a lovely senior’s complex. I moved in during the month of May. With the serious health challenges that followed, it was what I needed.

The tenants look out for one another and are always willing to lend a helping hand in whatever way they can.

We have a tenant’s association to organize activities. In the fall and winter we play darts and euchre. We celebrate birthday’s every month with a special supper and some months we have an additional “cake and ice cream” night. This month we’re having a breakfast instead of supper.

Good luck!

There is always a jig-saw puzzle in process on one of the tables in the two lounges. Every night some of the ladies gather in the lounge to play cards. My apartment is next door to the lounge. Some nights the excitement and laughter filters through the wall making me giggle.

It’s wonderful that activities are available, but still, time drags on for many of the tenants. Some don’t sleep well. Many watch the television for long periods of time. Some isolate. Some are bored. Most have health challenges.

The lyrics of Peggy Lee’s 1970 number 1 hit, “Is That All There Is?” come to mind. I particularly love the line, “If that’s all there is my friend, then lets keep dancing.”

I love to dance (although I can’t right now) and I’ve found the perfect 71-year-old female DJ who can mix the tunes. Mamy Rock Ruth Flowers is featured on a blog called Late Bloomer by Debra Eve. Ruth was 69 when she discovered the passion that “energized” and “made me feel so much younger”. (Click on Late Bloomer to read the full article and watch Mamy in action)

I wonder if our tenant’s association is interested to plan a Mamy Rock event. Although, we’ll likely need a new venue, the lounge will be too small for the 60+ crowd I expect will attend.

Why is passion important? Passion gives a sense of purpose. It is said that people who live with passion also live longer and happier lives.

At 69, Ruth Flowers (Mamy Rock) found her passion and ignited the innermost flame of youth. At 56, I found a passion that excites, energizes and provides a new sense of purpose.

Books need readers.

Significant health challenges have interrupted my ability to earn income and I’m looking for ways to survive while I get back on track.

I’ve made a list of used books and tapes that I will gladly share. To view the list, please visit my other blog by clicking here. The offer might be more feasible to the local folks, but I’ll let you be the judge.

Once again, thanks for reading. I hope everyone enjoys Debra’s article on Ruth Flowers.

May we each realize our passion to live long happy lives with purpose.

A Moment of Clarity

A piece of the Light

At 6:00 a.m. my stomach burned with the acid created from ingesting the prescribed pharmaceutical drugs to treat the rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. Feeling tired and wanting to sleep, I wasn’t impressed with this moment of stomach pain.

I had a choice. I could either get up and take a pharmaceutical acid-blocker or I could practice present moment awareness (mindfulness). Since I’m involved in the “Managing Pain Mindfully” program, I chose the present moment.

I relaxed my body and brought my awareness to my abdomen to feel the pain.

What does it feel like? Burning and uncomfortable.

I’m reminded of something that I learned from reading Lester Levenson’s writings. Lester suggests to ask yourself, “Who am I?”.

An image came to my mind.

A huge golden light with light-rays shining forth much like the sun. I am a ray of that Light. Okay, maybe not the whole ray, a piece of ray. I am connected to the Greater Whole Light along with 7 billion humans, the earth and rocks, vegetation, animals, stars, planets, everything we see and everything we don’t see. This Light is Life Itself. I am a piece of this huge golden light; the creative intelligent life-giving energy of Love Itself.

As I contemplated the image, I felt immediate relief from stomach pain and burning. Shortly thereafter, I fell back asleep.

I may get a different answer the next time I ask myself, “Who am I?”. But for now, the image of Light and Love makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

By the way, this post is my 100th for this blog. It’s an accomplishment for me. Yay, Marianne.

And thanks for reading. Hope everyone has a fantastic day!