Yep, we both thought it would be ok. I got away with it one week, then two and even three. Now two months latter I am paying the price.
What did I cheat on? My diet. The doctor will tell you it is all in my head. That there is no way night shades could possibly make me hurt like this. But there it is. I ate potatoes with my family. French fries, baked potatoes, potato salad. And I am paying a huge price.
My hips feel like they are filled with glass. My shoulders, arms and neck ache. I can't bed to pick anything up off the floor. Nothing helps.
I have gone to the doctor over and over again. I know something is wrong. It isn't normal to hurt like this. I have too much to do to lay in bed all day and whine. Finally I am pulling out of this funk I have been in for so long and now it hurts do even think. Yuck. The last doctor I saw called me a hysteric. He spent an hour explaining how the uterus makes women susceptible to what he calls hysteria. That I am high strung and seeking attention.
Oh yes. Attention. How? All I do is scream at my family to leave me alone. Every time my son hugs me, I can't but let out a quiet squeak. His small arms hurt. At 10 he is strong but shouldn't be strong enough to hurt me like that. I straiten my back and walk with determination. Only my family knows what it costs me to act like I'm not hurting.
The only thing that helps is eliminating some foods from my diet. I wish someone would listen. I wish someone would help. I've given up on doctors.
So... What now? Back on the strict diet and live with a timer in my hand. Move for 15 minutes, rest for 15 until I am feeling better. I hope it helps. I don't know what else to do.
What did I cheat on? My diet. The doctor will tell you it is all in my head. That there is no way night shades could possibly make me hurt like this. But there it is. I ate potatoes with my family. French fries, baked potatoes, potato salad. And I am paying a huge price.
My hips feel like they are filled with glass. My shoulders, arms and neck ache. I can't bed to pick anything up off the floor. Nothing helps.
I have gone to the doctor over and over again. I know something is wrong. It isn't normal to hurt like this. I have too much to do to lay in bed all day and whine. Finally I am pulling out of this funk I have been in for so long and now it hurts do even think. Yuck. The last doctor I saw called me a hysteric. He spent an hour explaining how the uterus makes women susceptible to what he calls hysteria. That I am high strung and seeking attention.
Oh yes. Attention. How? All I do is scream at my family to leave me alone. Every time my son hugs me, I can't but let out a quiet squeak. His small arms hurt. At 10 he is strong but shouldn't be strong enough to hurt me like that. I straiten my back and walk with determination. Only my family knows what it costs me to act like I'm not hurting.
The only thing that helps is eliminating some foods from my diet. I wish someone would listen. I wish someone would help. I've given up on doctors.
So... What now? Back on the strict diet and live with a timer in my hand. Move for 15 minutes, rest for 15 until I am feeling better. I hope it helps. I don't know what else to do.
That's awful! The only thing I can compare this to in my life is migraines. Once I got rid of a bunch of foods my whole world changed.
ReplyDeleteI assume you have seen an allergist. I so hope you are feeling better soon and whatever is making you feel so sick finds its way out of your system.
It must be so hard to keep up the pretense of feeling ok at times. I'm not very impressed with your doctor either! Have you considered/tried any alternative therapies? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteDee x
Susie, It is awful. Think of it as a full body migraine. I see my allergist several times a year but nightshades are not an allergy, only a food my body is sensitive to. The pain nearly disappears when I don't cheat.
ReplyDeleteDee, I wasn't impressed with that doctor either. I was speechless and kept thinking, "did I just go back in time? Who is this quack?" Avoiding nightshades is an alternative therapy and not recognized in the medical community but it works! Thank you. I also visit a chiropractor when we can afford it.
Here is a link that may explain it a little better. http://arthritis.about.com/b/2006/09/25/nightshade-vegetables-should-people-with-arthritis-avoid-nightshade-foods.htm
I don't have time to check out your link right now but I copied it for later, but I wanted to mention that several years ago I had significant joint issues and through research discovered that vit c can remove the toxins stored in joints and have ever since done a vit c flush or cleanse every time I have flair ups and it helps immensely to get past the worst of the pain while getting back to what I should be doing to keep myself the healthiest possible (eating right/excercize...) I always use emergen c for it - you'll want to google vitamin c flush or read about it somewhere - it's quite simple, really, and if it helped would probably be worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteThank you my anonymous visitor. I will check it out!
ReplyDeleteHave you gone to a naturopathic doctor? I find that they often are more ready to really put in the time and effort to find out what is really wrong, and more readily believe what you tell them. They are also more ready to welcome and suggest alternative ideas, such as changes in diet, instead of just prescribing meds.
ReplyDeleteAlice, Thanks for the reminder. I had found a naturopathic doc in our last state but haven't even thought to look here. The last visit to a neurologist was so discouraging.
ReplyDeleteWow, I hope you feel better soon! It's so strange how many thing we have in common.
ReplyDeleteI too have problems with foods and body pain. I have been told to see someone for arthritis, but only just found about nightshades and the role they can play.
I know it's not an allergy, but I do also have food allergies. Do you as well?
I think it's interesting how foods and things can play into whole body shut downs.
I would look into a different range of Dr.s
I would be livid if someone told me it was hysterical.
My joints are very sensitive to certain foods. (hands and hip bone area)
At one point the pains in my hands had them thinking I had rheumatoid arthritis, but the it disappeared for a few months at a time.
Do you keep a food journal, or do you already know which ones bother you the most?
I have had two allergists suggest that allergies and arthritis have correlations though... it's auto immune based I think?
Sorry to ask so many questions DR! I went on a spree!
Again, hope you feel better ASAP
I have pollen food allergies. The proteins in some fruits are similar to the ones in the trees and grasses I have an allergy to. Citrus makes my mouth itch and I can't even go near mexican food.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to get a appointment with a rheumatologist but my the GP I had at the time didn't listen to me. It comes and goes. Here and there. Feet, hands, balance, vision and memory are the most common. Dizziness to the point I couldn't stand, facial paralysis, One night a few years ago, I woke up and couldn't speak. My face was drooped. Scary. Hysteric? really? Grrrr. hate doctors.
My allergist thinks it is all auto immune based but it is not an area he is specialized in. He is the first one to notice neurological problems.
There are answers out there, I know it. We need to find the right doctor at the right time to find out what is going on.
OMG D's Rose... "The last doctor I saw called me a hysteric. He spent an hour explaining how the uterus makes women susceptible to what he calls hysteria." Are we back in the 1800's? That's ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteI was tested for food processing and definitely do best when I avoid sugar and carbs. Thank goodness I don't get pain from them, but I do not process the carbs well and I have other symptoms. Whether you have have food allergies or an auto-immune issue...the bottom line is, listen to your body!
Sara, I was shocked and asking the same question. I am listening to my body not that quack! I think he just liked to hear himself talk.
ReplyDeleteWhen I watch what I eat I feel much better. It still hits me but not as often and not nearly as hard. In a few weeks I should be feeling much better.
Hope you are feeling better! I've been reading up on those nightshades! VERY interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt will take a few weeks to get the yucky stuff out of my system. But it will get better.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wondering if you've been tested for fibromyalgia. If not, I suggest googling "fibromyalgia & nightshades." By the way, I can understand your frustration with doctors. Unfortunately many are behind the times on info regarding just how food can affect our bodies.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I have been tested. Thank you for asking. My allergist thinks what ever is wrong is auto immune. I'll be glad when MDs catch up with the times.
ReplyDeleteYou are what you eat, right? but somehow that gets lost.