Diet for RA?

[megsybeth]

I've been gluten free, confirmed Celiac for about eight years now. I have a feeling another AI disease might be starting. A few times in the last few months I've had an inflamed gland in one or the other armpit, aches, and a really sore spine. I often have canker sores at the same time. Right now I'm dealing with sciatica as well. My aunt and cousin both have Lupus so I worry about that, but wondering if it could be RA.

I feel like I should see a rheumatologist at some point, but with Covid lockdown in my area, combined with an immense amount of skepticism about doctors after having an undiagnosed AI disease for so long, I'd rather play around with diet first. I strongly suspect I need to be grain free. I just know this. I feel like this happens when I get really carby, especially corn chips, corn tortillas (so there could be some cross contamination too).

Does anyone have a good diet to get me started? gluten-free is no problem for me. I've done keto plenty of times and think my body really likes it, but I know there are other specific starch free diets. I also just sometimes get so sick of my go to keto foods that I can't even eat them, hence the carby binges. Are there specific diets that are best for RA?

Would just like to have something to try for a month to see how I feel. Really appreciative of any books, form links, etc.

 

[cyclinglady]

Hi!  
 

I am sorry that you think you have another autoimmune disease.  😥   I get it.  I was diagnosed with my 3rd one two years ago and trying to avoid a 4th.  RA maybe in my future too as my mother was just diagnosed and my grandmother had it too.  Anyway, you could try the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (Paleo).  It might help.  A tiny study done at Scripps showed (lab markers) around a 78% improvement in patients who had IBD.  They did a second tiny study with Hashimoto’s patients, but the results were not so great.  RA results from just comments on the internet are so, so.    But food can heal, in my opinion.  Worth a try.  
 

Study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5647120/

Diet:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320195
 

But.....even though we are in a pandemic, you should call your doctor.  Even a teleconference would be useful.  Like you, my celiac disease diagnosis took decades to get.  But sometimes those guys and gals in white coats can catch some really bad stuff.  I thought for sure I was getting gluten into my  diet.  Even the Fasano diet (super strict gluten-free) did not work.,  my GI convinced me to get an endoscopy.  Found a healed small intestine, but autoimmune gastritis.  Swollen lymph nodes could be a sign of Lymphoma.  And we know that celiac disease is linked to lymphoma.  Rare, but possible.
 

 You should also get another antibodies test panel for celiac disease.  Maybe you just have active celiac disease.  It is possible.  Symptoms for active celiac disease can change.  

Edited July 21, 2020 by cyclinglady