About four years ago I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was hesitant to go on the prescribed medication because of the possible side effects (loss of vision?? no thank you!) I decided to take matters in to my own hands and make some changes in my life in order to control what was happening to my body. Now I have to admit I was a very big junk food eater. I loved (and still love) chocolate, ice cream, chips, candy-anything that’s not healthy but oh. so. tasty. I knew I needed to make changes so I surrounded myself with some really knowledgeable people and the transformation began.
Getting Started
I have a very close friend who is a holistic practitioner/nutritionist, so I met with her and she was able to help me figure out what I needed to eliminate from my diet (everything!), what would be good to eat, and what supplements would work for me. Following her advise I cut gluten, dairy, processed sugar, red meat, and nightshades from my diet in the hopes that this would help reduce the inflammation. I was a little unsure if I’d be able to do this because, as I said before, I loved my junk food! Surprisingly enough it wasn’t that difficult to do!
So What Did I Eat?
This was an area of concern for me. I wasn’t really used to eating healthy and I was cutting out so many foods I wondered if there would be enough choices so I would stick with this way of eating. I eat a lot of berries and apples but always with a protein (this helps your body to absorb the sugar because even though it’s a natural sugar it’s still sugar). Apples with almond butter and blueberries with raw almonds are my go tos. Wild salmon is a mainstay either grilled or sauteed in a little bit of olive or avocado oil and garlic with cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts or asparagus cooked the same way. I make salads with arugula, vegetables, and often add blueberries and almond slivers and got used to eating the salads with no dressing. Arugula has so much flavor no dressing was needed. Smoothies have become a big part of my diet, often having one as my meal. I use a plant based protein powder (chocolate flavor of course) and add spinach, almond butter, a few organic cherries, and chia seeds along with either almond milk or water plus some ice cubes. I try to make a little extra and then I freeze some in a little dessert cup to have as a snack at night when I’m sitting in my spot on the couch. My daughters always look for recipes for me and I was able to eat some snacks as well (see Public Lives, Secret Recipes for some great healthy recipes!)
This has become my way of eating and initially I followed it with no deviating at all. I was feeling great and my numbers were down (RA levels of inflammation) AND I lost 30 pounds!! I will be honest and say that I don’t stick to this diet 100% of the time. While I did for the first year, now when I travel I will go off (I want to be able to eat the foods from wherever we are). I do try to stick to eating healthy when I am home, but that doesn’t always happen. But when I do deviate, I try to go back at the next meal and I feel ok about it.
My grocery list typically includes:
- blueberries
- strawberries
- raw almonds
- almond butter (I grind this in the store)
- hummus
- cauliflower
- spinach
- zucchini
- squash
- broccoli
- brussel sprouts
- arugula
- wild salmon
- chicken
I do try to buy organic as much as possible, and wild fish and free range poultry as well.
What Else Did I Do?
In addition to changing my diet, I added in a number of supplements. This was done under the advice of my friend, the same one who advised about my diet, my rheumatologist, and my acupuncturist (more on him in a few). The supplements I take change based upon my needs, but turmeric, calcium and vitamin d have remained constant. (Everyone’s needs are different so please consult a health practitioner to decide what will work best for you.)
My holistic friend also recommended I try acupuncture. I had seen an acupuncturist in the past for those lovely hot flashes that come with age, and it worked miracles! So I started going again and my acupuncturist also suggested some Chinese herbs. I typically go for acupuncture once a week and he works on my RA plus my gut. He explained that many health issues stem from the digestive system and so he addresses those issues as well.
The final focus of my wellness was, and is, exercise. Oddly enough I’ve been a couch potato for many, many years (that spot on the couch has called my name and I answered years ago!) This time I knew I really had to make changes and take exercising more seriously. I still need a push, but in the past few years I’ve taken barre classes (I liked them a lot but some of the exercise hurt my hands and feet and now I know it’s from RA). Then I started taking pilates and really enjoy these classes. Yoga is another type of exercise I have found helpful. I’ve been working with a trainer and she’s been incredibly helpful and motivating. She incorporates pilates, strength training, yoga, and cardio and really is in tune to how my body is feeling and what I am able to do at different times. Finally, walking has also been great, but I tend to put this on hold through the colder months (yup, always looking for an excuse!)
My rheumatologist also suggested I see an occupational therapist and so I did. She taught me a few hand exercises that I try to do on a regular basis, especially when I start to feel some stiffness or pain. In addition, the OT recommended compression gloves and therapy putty, both of which have been helpful. My daughter gave me a massage ring, which is used in reflexology, but also feels really good when I’m experiencing pain or stiffness. I also use this ring when I’m feeling good to prevent that pain. A paraffin wax treatment also feels amazing (and makes your hands really soft!) and can be done at home with an at home paraffin machine or many nail salons offer this treatment.
Where Am I Now?
Four years after my diagnosis I am really happy with the way I am feeling. My numbers are down (inflammation levels) and I feel great. One of my fears is that my hands will show signs of the arthritis (yes, I’m vain) but so far, so good! I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish by taking my health into my own hands.
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