Tag: Food
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 »
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 »
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Getting ready for a big storm can take extra time when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). And with hurricane season in full swing and it seems the tropics are starting to become more active, it is a good idea to make sure that you are prepared now in case a hurricane should strike your area. Those of us on the east coast of the United States are used to getting things ready for the hurricane season and there are many things to stock up on. It is important to make sure that you have everything you may need in case you loose power for an extended length of time. Do not wait until the last minute to get ready.
Plan Ahead: Things take longer when your joints are stiff and sore so make sure that you are ready long before the storm is in your path.
Prepare: Put together a Hurricane Supply Kit. Keep the kit in an easy to access location. Make sure to include:
- Water: You will need 1 gallon of water per person, per day
- Food: You will need non perishable food, make sure to include a non electric can opener and paper plates, cup and plastic utensils
- First Aid Kit: Make sure to include at least a 7 day supply of any prescription medication you may need as well as any adaptive equipment you may need. Remember the extreme changes in barometric pressure in a hurricane are likely to cause swelling in those effected by barometric pressure like me. Some medications require refridgeration, so in addition to making sure you have an ample supply, it might be a good idea to look into a gas powered generator and make sure that you have gas on hand to run it.
- Ice: If you are not directly on the coast and there is no need to evacuate, you may need ice to keep perishables cold. Put a thermometer in the cooler to make sure the temperature does not go above 40 degrees farenheight
- Clothing: Put together some seasonal clothing for you and your family members, remember rain gear and sturdy shoes.
- Flashlight: Several flashlights with plenty of batteries
- Telephone: Make sure that your cell phones are fully charged and you land line has a corded phone plugged into the jack.
- Cash: You may not have access to a bank or ATM for a while so it is a good idea to keep some cash on hand in case you need it.
- Radio: Keep a battery powered radio on hand so you can keep up to date on any news should you loose power.
- Important Documents: Should you need to evacuate, put your important documents in a water-tight plastic zip bag (i.e. insurance cards, medical information, etc…)
- Fuel Vehcle: Make sure that your vehicle is filled up with gas prior to the storm.
- Pets: If you have a pet, make sure that you have plenty of food and water for them as well. Keep an additional leash and/or crate for travel if necessary.
- Blankets/Bedding: Blankets and pillows, etc…
- Escape Plan: Should you need to evacuate, have a plan. Decide ahead of time where you will go and how you plan to get there. Have an alternate location and route marked out as well.
Find help: Call around and find a handyman or neighbor that would be willing to help board up things should a hurricane strike your area. It is important to ask for help when you need it and things like taping windows or hanging plywood may be too much especially if you are flaring.
Tags: arthritis, blankets, cash, clothing, east coast, escape plan, first aid kit, flashlight, Food, fuel, hurricane, ice, important documents, pets, prepare, radio, rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, telephone, tropics, United State, water
Posted in Autoimmue Disease, Decisions, News, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA, Solutions | 3 Comments »
Saturday, February 14th, 2009
Because rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease more than your joints are at risk. Studies show that people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to die from heart disease than the general public. The risks may be due to systemic inflammation that responds by turning plaque in the arteries into blood clots. RA patients are urged to control risk factors such high blood pressure, smoking and high cholesterol. Daily exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are essential in lowering the risk of heart disease. There is evidence that controlling rheumatoid arthritis will help protect patients from dying from heart disease.
To help prevent heart disease a diet filled with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil is essential. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon decrease inflammation and flavonoid rich foods in dark chocolate, blueberries, green and black teas are heart healthy foods which may inhibit the buildup of plaque in the artiery walls and prevent blood clots that can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Tags: Add new tag, Food, heart disease, immune system, RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis RA
Posted in News, Wellness | No Comments »
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
On the subject of music, my son Alex turned me on to a great website; Pandora Radio http://www.pandora.com/. It is really a great site. You can create your own radio stations so you always get to hear the style of music and artist that interests you. I have created several stations depending on my mood. You provide pandora with the seed song and artist and it will start playing songs with the same style, artist, rythmn, etc… Not every song it suggests is going to be something you want to hear but by giving the song a thumbs up or down the site will adapt to what it thinks you will like. It is truly amazing how music can transform my mood. It can take me back to a place and time that I have long forgotten. It never fails to brighten my day. I would highly recommend pandora to put a smile on your face.
Tags: artist, Food, mood, music, pandora, RA, radio, recommend, song, soul
Posted in Product Review, Wellness | No Comments »
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