Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Lately I have been one day up, one day down. One day I am experiencing very little stiffness and pain and the next day I am feeling dreadful.
I have been taking a close look at my diet and how it is effecting how I feel. I know that there are certain foods that without a doubt have a direct relationship to the amount of inflammation that I am experiencing. Within an hour or so of eating chocolate I start to swell. The same holds true for dairy products. Sugar seems to be an issue for me as well. I don’t know if I need to avoid all sugar altogether or if there is a certain threshold that once I go over that level there is a problem. I don’t know if it is just refined sugar or if natural sugars will give me the same trouble. I know that things that have a high sugar content cause me trouble. The good news is that since I have stopped taking the methotrexate, it is easier for me to tell which foods are causing the inflammation. It was as if the medication was masking the effects that food had on my inflammation. It has been a game of hit or miss on what my body will tolerate and what it won’t. I imagine that this will take some time to find every food that is causing me trouble.
It is hard to plan my life right now because I really don’t know from day to day how I am going to feel. I am keeping a food journal and each day I write down everything that goes into my body and how I am feeling physically. It is helping to make it easier to pinpoint what food is effecting me so that I can avoid it in the future. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and I am very hopeful that once I get a handle on the foods that trigger inflammation for me I will be able to manage the disease much better.
Tags: arthritis, chocolate, dairy, diet, disease, Food, food journal, inflammation, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, sugar
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 12 Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Walnuts are a tasty way to add crunch to your favorite yogurt or salad.
They also have the added benefit of being loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which are great for fighting inflammation. Only 1/4 cup of walnuts provides you with almost 91% of you daily value of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts also have an antioxidant compound called ellegic acid which supports the immune system. Walnuts are rich in manganese and copper as well. Walnuts are a good source of plant protein. They are rich in fiber, B vitamins and vitamin E. I love to just snack on just a handful. It keeps me feeling full and helps with inflammation; the perfect combination in the afternoon.
Tags: arthritis, immune system, inflammation, omega-3 fatty acid, RA, rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, walnuts
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Diet/Nutrition, Health/Fitness, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 5 Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
As of December 18, 2009 all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 count bottles with the red EZ Open Cap have been recalled. This recall has been expanded from an earlier recall of 5 lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets in November, 2009. The caplets were recalled after consumer complaints that there was an unusual moldy, musty or mildew-like odor that was associated with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. As a precautionary measure, all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 with the red EZ OpenCap have been recalled.
Per the press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and McNeil Consumer Healthcare:
The recall is being expanded, as a precaution, to include all TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP.
The uncharacteristic smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole. The source of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials.The health effects of this compound have not been well studied, and to date all of the observed events reported to McNeil were temporary and non-serious. Consumers who purchased TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP from the lots included in this recall should stop using the product and contact McNeil for instructions on a refund or replacement. For these instructions or information regarding how to return or dispose of the product, consumers should call 1-888-222-6036 1-888-222-6036 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) or log on to the internet at www.tylenol.com. Consumers who have medical concerns or questions should contact their healthcare provider. Any adverse reactions may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
For a complete list of all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets 100 recalled click HERE
Tags: 100, Administration, arthritis, caplet, drug, FDA, Food, Food and Drug Administration, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, pain, RA, recall, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, tylenol, tylenol.com
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, News, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 2 Comments »
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Before you reach for that diet soft drink, you may want to rethink what is in that beverage. The sugar substitute aspartame, used in most diet soft drinks does not in fact help in weight loss and there is mounting evidence that it may actually cause weight gain. More important to someone with rheumatoid arthritis, aspartame may cause inflammation and joint pain.
According to Woodrow C. Monte, PhD., Director of the Food Science and Nutrition Laboratory at Arizona State University, “when aspartmae is metabolized, it releases methyl alcohol (wood alcohol), a known toxin that is highly dangerous to humans.” Dr. Monte warns that “once in your cells, methyl alcohol converts to formaldehyde, a cancer-causing agent. Recent studies in Europe suggest that aspartame consumption can result in the accumulation of formaldehyde in the brain damaging the central nervous system and the immune system.
Aspartame is found not only in diet products. It can also be found in cough medicine, toothpaste and even some sports drinks and juice drinks.
Aspartame has been linked to several autoimmune diseases including lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclorosis and rheumatoid arthritis even at low doses. It has been tied to migranes, chronic fatigue, asthma, diabetes,tinnitis and depression.
According to the Aspartme Information Center, aspartame is approved by the US Food and Drug Adminstration and the Joint Expert Committe on Food Adititives of the World Health Organization. It is consumed in over 6,000 products and by 200 million people worldwide. It is found in everything from cough medicine to soft drinks.
For me personally, I would rather err of the side of caution and avoid aspertame. My body has gone through enough turmoil. I want to nourish with food that will aid in healing and avoid ingesting anything that may potentially cause harm. You make up your own mind.
Tags: arthritis, aspartame, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, immune system, inflammation, joint pain, lupus, migrane, multiple sclorosis, RA, rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, tinnitis
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA | 9 Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
There are some studies that show that undenatured chicken collegen may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. So can chicken soup help RA? I’ll leave that to the scientists. I know that I always feel better after a bowl of soup! I love soup! Expecially when the weather is cold and damp. This is my chicken soup recipe. It is loaded with nutrients, antioxidants and has anti-inflammatories also. I have purposefully left the size of the cut up vegetables up to you because I know how hard it can be to get small cuts when your hands are hurting and it really does not matter what size they are because they will simmer for long enough to fully cook anyway. I hope you try it!
If I have the time I prefer to make the stock myself. If not commercial stock is fine but make sure that it is low fat and sodium.
Chicken Stock:
1 Chicken Roaster carcass (It is more economical to use the leftover roaster, but you can use fresh chicken (with the bones) as well)
1 small Onion quartered with the skin
2 unpeeled Carrot cut up
2 Celery stalk cut up
16 cups purified cold Water.
Put chicken, onion, carrot and celery in large stock pot. Add water. Heat to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer 2 hours. Place colander in 2nd stock pot strain chicken and vegetables. Remove colander from pot so that stock remains. Put chicken and vegetables to the side to cool. Once cooled discard vegetables and chicken bones.
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion chopped
1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger Root peeled & minced (or if it is easier you can use a grater and just grate it)
2 Clove Garlic crushed or minced ( you can grate the garlic as well)
2 Ribs Celery with leaves diced( or cut to whatever size is manageable)
10 cups Chicken Stock
1 Large New Potato chopped with skin
2 Carrots (peeled) chopped
1 cup frozen kernel Corn
1 Bay Leaf
1 Tablespoon Parsley
1/2 cup Brown Rice
1 Whole Boneless Chicken Breast ( optional based on how you get your stock ) diced
Salt ( I prefer sea salt ) to taste
Pepper ( I like fresh ground ) to taste
In the original pot heat 1 Tbs olive oil. Add onion, garlic, ginger and celery. Saute over medium heat until the onion begins to wilt and the celery begins to brighten. From the cooled colander remove chicken from the bone and cut into bite size pieces if necessary.
Note: If you are using a commercial stock, saute the chicken breast with the onion and celery before adding the stock
Add chicken stock, carrot, potato, corn, bay leaf, parsley and chicken. Heat to boil and add brown rice. Reduce heat to medium, cook for 20 minutes reduce to simmer.
Serve with garnish of fresh chopped scallion or chives.
Salt & Pepper to taste.
Tags: anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, chicken soup, nutients, RA, Recipe
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Diet/Nutrition, Health/Fitness, Recipe, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 7 Comments »
Monday, September 28th, 2009
Over the past several months I have received comments that I think need to be addressed in a much longer format than a comment response. The comments are related to treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and which treatment is best.
We are fortunate enough to have many options available to us today to manage our rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Traditional medicine offers everything from NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) like Advil and DMARD s(Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs) such as Plaquenil, Arava, Methotrexate, Gold, and Cyclosporine to biologics like Remicade, Enbrel and Humira. There is a growing trend toward alternative medicine as a solution to deal with this disease. Each option has its benefits, risks and side effects.
NSAIDs are a class of drug that are used primarily to treat inflammation and mild to moderate pain. These medications vary in potency and include the brand names Advil, Motrin, Naproxen, Anaprox and Celebrex. Between 10% to 50% of patients are unable to tolerate NSAIDs because of their side effects. These side effects include upset stomach, stomach pain, and diarrhea. About 15% of people on long term NSAID treatment develop ulcers of the stomach and/or the duodenum.
DMARDs cover a variety of different of drugs. Anti-malarial drugs such as Plaquenil (Hydroxycloroquine) are considered a DMARD and were initially used to treat malaria. It was discovered to help arthritis when patients noticed an improvement in their arthritis symptoms while taking plaquenil for malaria. Plaquenil effects the immune system but doctors do not know how it works for rheumatoid arthritis. Arava (leflunomide) interferes with genes in developing immune cells. When taking Arava, liver monitoring for toxicity is required. You should not take this drug if you are planning to get pregnant or are currently pregnant because of birth defects. The most common side effects for patients taking Arava are rash, nausea, hair loss, liver enzyme elevation and anemia. Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug that initially was used to treat acute leukemia. Methotrexate (MTX) has become the gold standard for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methotrexate interferes with the growth of cells in the bone marrow. The most common side effects from methotrexate include stomach upset, hair loss, diarrhea, and mouth sores. Folic acid is given while taking this medication to reduce the side effects. Liver function monitoring is necessary to watch for toxicity. Methotrexate should also not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Injectable Gold has been shown to improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis however toxicity is common and constant monitoring in necessary. Side effects include rash, diarrhea, conjunctivitis and marrow suppression. Cyclosporine is a medication that is used primarily for the prevention of rejection of transplanted organs. It is effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis because it stops an overactive immune system from attacking the joints. Side effects can be severe and include hypertension, kidney problems, headache, nausea and diarrhea.
Biologic response modifiers (biologics) are the latest treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation. They work by blocking the tumor necrosis factors(TNF) components of the immune system. People with RA have too much TNF in their bodies and it overwhelms the immune systems response to inflammation. Biologics such as Enbrel, Remicade and Humira are genetically engineered proteins that binds to and deactivates the TNF molecules before they can do damage. The risks in taking this class of drug include serious infection including sepsis and tuberculosis, nervous system diseases such as multiple scholosis, allergic reactions, lymphoma and congestive heart failure. Because these drugs are fairly new their long term side effects are not known.
There has been much debate on the effectiveness of complimentary and alternative treatments options for rheumatoid arthritis. These treatments include GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid, Tai Chi, herbal supplements and acupuncture. There are many more complimentary and alternative treatment options that will be discussed in future posts.
GLA (Gamma-linolenic Acid) is an essential fatty acid found primarily in plant oils. It is found in borage oil and black currant seed. In preliminary testing it has shown to reduce morning stiffness and swelling however studies have been small to date and additional research would provide more information. DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is an omega 3 fatty acid found in cold water fish. Several studies have shown that DHA reduces inflammation but not the progression of the disease. The movements of Tai Chi improve strength, flexibility and balance. There is no indication that Tai Chi effects the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Acupuncture in thought to stimulate the release of chemicals called endorphins that block pain. Acupuncture is very effective in treating chronic pain like that in rheumatoid arthritis. The list of supplements as an alternative solution to conventional medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis include vitamin E, MSM, copper, manganese, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, bromelain, ginger, turmeric and boswellia. These alternatives have proven to help in inflammation and in some cases joint damage.
The benefits of using conventional medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are that knowledgeable doctors using this method are readily available and the medications work for many people. These medications have significantly improved the lives of many with rheumatoid arthritis. The downside to this treatment option is the side effects can vary from mild to severe and some long term effects are not even known.
The benefits to choosing an alternative medical solution for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is that the side effects to these treatment are few and are less damaging to the body. The disadvantage to complimentary and alternative treatments are that finding a qualified medical professional that can help guide you through all the options available can be a challenge and there is debate on whether or not they can help with joint damage.
Ultimately the choice for a treatment option is a personal one. What matters is what works for you. Everyone has their own body chemistry. What works for one person may not work for another. The advantage that we have today is that we have options, many options, and if something is not working for us we can try in another direction until we find our own solution. It is not up to me or anyone else to decide what is best for you and your body. Trust yourself to figure out what is best for you.
Tags: acupuncture, advil, ananprox, anemia, Arava, arthritis, black currant oil, bone marrow, borage oil, boswellia, bromelain, celebrex, chemotherapy, congestive heart failure, copper, damage, DHA, diarrhea, DMARD, Enbrel, folic acid, ginger, GLA, gold, hair loss, headache, Humira, hypertention, immune system, joint, kidney, leflunomide, leukemia, liver enzyme, lymphoma, m, manganses, methotrexate, MSM, multiple sclerosis, naproxen, nausea, NSAID, plaquenil, pregnant, RA, rash, Remicade, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, selemium, Tai Chi, toxicity, tuberculosis, turmeric, vitamin C, vitamin E
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Coping, Decisions, Diet/Nutrition, Good News!, Health/Fitness, Lesson Learned, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions, Wellness | 10 Comments »
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