|
Bernard's Arthritis Story - page 5 |
||
|
The reaction was an overall stiffness, joint swelling, nausea, headache, flaring psoriasis which was itchy and peeling, itchy skin (particularly on the back and sides), a crawling feeling on the legs, (I kept thinking ants were crawling up my legs!), Tinnitus became loud, there were spells of vertigo and I had a dull throbbing headache. In
the case of the Tartrazine colouring test, I got a substantial increase
in pain but it did not seem to affect the inflammation. Blind tests were used for Sodium Metabisulphite and MSG. The tests were taken in the morning. The metabisulphite reaction was of indigestion and stomach pain; which came about four hours after eating the next main meal in the evening; apparently due to indigestion after eating. Stomach rumbling, abdominal pains, severe flatulence, bowel trouble and haemorrhoids due to the diarrhoea followed the stomach pain. It took me some six weeks to recover from this test. I
had no reaction to MSG, nor did the blind tests effect my arthritis in
any way. I had achieved the impossible in only twelve weeks! The pain and inflammation were leaving me! I did not believe in diets and neither did my rheumatologist. However, I was sure I was on the right track. The next step was to go and see a Wollongong Hospital Dietitian and see if I could prove I was right; and that it was some foods that were effecting me. On the 15th August 1995 the doctor accepted that food might be a problem so he gave me the required referral to the dietitian at Wollongong Hospital. Although I am now virtually free of the symptoms of the arthritis. I do get stiff and sore if I don’t watch what I eat, or, if I get really tired and am not sufficiently active. The acute and chronic pain and inflammation, however, are gone. The skin-itch along with the pain from the air drafts is no longer noticeable. I no longer feel the cold. The
noise in my ears has settled, together with the ever-present psoriasis
that shows signs of healing over a long period. |
At this time the thick spongy toenails have re-grown giving me healthy nails that, with my feet, are no longer fungus prone. I have also lost any sign of body odour and my clothes no longer smell. The size of
my body has shrunk although I have put on approx. 3 Kg. (6 Lbs) in
weight, this may be because I am much more active, so causing conversion
of fatty tissue to muscle. A
general increase of strength indicates this.
The loss may also be due to a loss of fluid.
Feeling bright and wide-awake encourages activity and the use of
more energy. It is wonderful to feel invigorated after a meal instead of feeling dopey, and to have an effective digestion, regular bowel habits and no piles. It is obvious food is now being properly digested. And I am now getting the nutrition I need from much simpler foods. The improvement in my sense of taste and smell more than compensates for not eating rich tasting foods. I had been diagnosed to have
bone damage. My wife and I now both eat low chemical foods. We have been able to have ultrasonic bone density testing done each year. At the end off the year 2000, my wife's bones have strengthened and my bones have not deteriorated when measured on an age corrected basis. The fourth and fifth fingers on my right hand appear to have a permanent stricture of about 35 degrees. (Can't be straightened). Small errors such as a having cup of ordinary coffee, or cough lozenges with ‘colour’ give me an observable reaction. No more ‘Chronic Fatigue’: One thing I am very pleased with is the loss of what I used to think of as tiredness, but was in fact lethargy, what I would imagine it to be like if one was drugged. It was like I was being fed a constant very mild dose of anaesthetic. |
|