chronic inflammation?

[lori_vt]

I just finished my second W30, and the second was even easier than the first.  I eat pretty close to W30 to begin with, so it wasn't all that difficult for me.  I struggled with getting to 3 meals instead of 5 mini meals (basically grazing), and giving up cream in my coffee, and then even decreasing my coffee (decaf) to 2 cups instead of 3 giant mugs.  During my 2nd round, I came down with a nasty stomach virus.  I couldn't eat much for about 5 days, limited basically to 3 scrambled eggs at breakfast and chicken or turkey soup for lunch and dinner.  I lost a bit of weight, but I had no appetite and even felt nauseous after eating anything.  I got through it and didn't go off-plan at all.  I started eating normally last Friday the 21st, so it hasn't been too long.  However when I was sick, my doctor was concerned that I may have developed gastrointestinal bleeding from long term NSAID use.  Immediately I stopped the NSAIDs (I have been taking diclofenac since August for chronic inflammation).  It didn't make a dramatic difference in my stomach symptoms, but my chronic pain returned within 24 hours.  I've contacted my doctor to ask about the blood test to check for chronic systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein, I think, and another one).

 

I'm posting because I've read a lot of reviews where folks have said their chronic inflammation had improved dramatically by doing the W30 and removing inflammatory foods from their diet.  I'm wondering why I'm having such significant pain while eating clean when I stopped taking the NSAIDs.  This is very troubling to me.  Are there specific foods that are acceptable on W30 that can still contributed to chronic inflammation?  I'm eating only grass-fed, pastured ground beef now, but not other cuts of meat.  And I will only buy wild caught fish.  I'm so discouraged by this!  I don't want to be taking meds, especially NSAIDs, but they work 100%.  I've even taken Tramadol for my chronic low back pain, and that only helped about 50%.  Am I wrong to assume that the total elimination of pain while taking NSAIDs means that I have chronic inflammation that isn't decreasing due to diet?  Help please!!

 

I should mention that I add about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of turmeric to my eggs every morning, along with fresh ground pepper, a little salt and a few shakes of cayenne.  I've begun taking fish oil tablets twice a day as well.  None of this seems to make a lick of difference in my pain.

[Bet]

Lori, if you had damage from NASIDs, you likely have leaky gut. It can take awhile for that to heal. I was in much the same situation as you about 2 years ago. I had mostly stomach issues and was on  the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for a few months. In the beginning all I could have was broth and pureed veggies and some chicken. Having leaky gut means more stuff is getting outside of the intestinal track and can cause inflammation.

 

Do you know the cause of your lower back pain? Is it sciatica or a disk issue? Have you tried a chiro, or had your feet evaluated (if you need insoles). Those can really help. Also Tyelonol is ok to take (as long as you stick to the prescribed amount and don't drink alcohol). I've been using that since I weaned myself off of NASIDs. I still try to not take too much though. I also do epsom salt baths and they help with pain and stiffness.

 

Also, I would recommend that you try the AI diet, which does eliminate foods that can trigger chronic inflammation. For instance,, I never had a problem with eggs, but when I stopped them, the awful pain I had in my elbow was gone, and it hasn't come back. It may not solve 100% of your pain issue, but It may help.

[Tina R]

I have an odd question to ask you. Did you have braces as a teen? Did they remove teeth before your teeth were straightened? Alot of adults have back issues and jaw issues related to braces. My back pain was diminished by getting braces as an adult. I know it sounds crazy but it's true. I don't know if you go to a chiropractor, I go to a cranial TMJ specialist. Also I went to an orthodontist that used the Kois method and braces to fix my bite. It was a long process but worth it! I no longer take any medications for pain.

 

By the way, I did not lose any weight on my whole30. I am trying another one with the FODMAP protocol.

 

If this doesn't apply to you you may still want to seek a chiropractor that may be able to help you. Try to get a chiropractor that will not "crack" your back but will gently nudge you in the right direction. Good Luck!

[lori_vt]

Thanks for your responses.  My back pain started in 2009 after I had ACL reconstruction.  My osteopath said it was related to loose ligaments.  I had 3 years of prolotherapy injections, regular osteopathic manipulations, and regular (2-4 times a month) physical therapy.  There is some degeneration in my spine, but my doctor said it surely doesn't relate to the level of pain I'm experiencing.  It was my p/t who finally got me on a more progressive core-strengthening program that helped me reduce my back pain.  She has also done a lot of work on my feet (she is called "the foot fairy" from her years of work treating men and women in the military and the chronic foot issues they have).  The other related pain is in my hands and joints.  My doctor(s) have all said that I'm doing all the right things to address my pain, but I still have it.  I did have braces as an adult (age 22), and they had to pull 4 teeth to make room for the correction.

 

I looked at the A1 template and was so very very sad.  I raise chickens, so I usually eat 2-3 eggs every morning, and they are "free-range," and I know what my chickens eat.  I also noticed other things that are staples in my diet.  Decaf coffee (I can give this up; don't want to, but I can - I did it last week when I was sick), sweet potatoes (I LOVE THEM!  I eat them with breakfast every morning and sometimes at a second meal as well).  I can use another starchy carb (love plantains too - are they on the A1 list?  man, I hope not...)  And peppers??  Oh no!  I use cayenne in everything.  And jalapenos.  I love hot and spicy food!  My doctor said I might want to try using Voltaren gel as opposed to oral diclofenac for inflammation, although some might still cross my gastro tract.  Oh boy, I surely hope I don't have leaky gut, but it sure sounds logical given my history.  I never get stomach problems, generally a flu or virus hits me in the lungs and bronchial tract, so when I got the stomach thing last week it completely knocked me out.  And I'm still having stomach issues.  It makes me sad to think I might need to adapt my delicious food choices again.  However if it's food that's contributing, I know from doing two W30's that I will find something else and will be happy  

 

I lost weight both times on W30, and I eat a lot of food.  I have never been one to limit my quantity, and I'm a small person.  I think my co-workers talk about me behind my back lol when they see the 4-5 containers I carry down to the microwave and they only have one container of some disgusting, hard-to-identify item.  I'm 5'3 and weigh about 125.  I have been adding more fat to my diet, I am definitely not a fat-phobe.  I LOVE fat!  I eat at minimum one 2" wedge of fresh coconut every day, plus coconut oil in my coffee, and coconut oil or ghee for everything else.  And some avocados.  And olives.  And occasionally some nuts.

 

I'll try a little time without eggs (wahhhhhhh ) and see how it goes.  And I'll stop using ghee for now.  And maybe even coffee even though it's only decaf, and I'm drinking 2 cups a day now.  I've taken Tylenol now and then, and only will take 325 mg tabs because it is so hard on the liver.  The 500mg is really too much at once. 

[Guest Andria]

Just wanted to chime in (having fallen off the wagon I have not posted in long time, but trying to get motivation to do the AI protocol again)

 

***Sweet potatoes are absolutely allowed on AIP****

 

 Whole30 has a shopping list for the AIP and sweet potatoes are definitely a-ok!

 

I hear you on missing those spices, but the nightshades contribute to lots of inflammation for people.  

 

You only have to try the protocol for 30 days (minimum) and then you can reintroduce eggs, nightshades etc to see if anything is effecting your pain.  You may luck out and be able to tolerate some of those things.  But with your level of pain/inflammation you may need to push the envelope further than just the regular Whole30 protocol.  

 

Good luck! Now I need to listen to my own advice ;-)

[Bet]

lori, try it for 30 days and see if you see an improvement. I have added back coffee and very small amount of paprika with no problems. Eggs I can have if they are in something, but I no longer eat eggs. I had been eating 2 a day before that for breakfast, and that was obviously too much. But you may be able to have them once or twice a week.

 

Oh, and I probably would die without sweet potatoes!

[Robin Strathdee]

I think the AIP is worth a shot

[lori_vt]

Thanks everyone.  I printed out the AIP protocol from the W9/W30 website.  It's definitely worth a try!  *Especially* if it makes me feel better.  And I made an appointment to see my PCP about some testing.  Maybe the inflammation test and maybe the leaky gut test.  But the diet is something I have control over, and I like that.  Guess I'm pulling some things out of the freezer tonight.  Oh wait - they probably all have nightshades (peppers, paprika, cayenne) in them    Maybe I get to do a little cooking up tonight. I just made Well Fed's coconut almond green beans last night.  I can always freeze them for the future as a test for red pepper flakes.  I'll report back.

 

Onto another new phase.  Hopefully this will give me some answers!

[debbiepearson]

I was using Nexium for years and every time I tried to get off it, the pain was indescribable. It finally dawned on me it was probably withdrawal symptoms more than acid reflux. A homeopathic doctor had me take marshmallow root for 2 months to replace the Nexium and then I was able to ween myself off the marshmallow root. Worked like a charm!

 

I stay clear of foods that seem to aggravate my digestive track like spicey foods, but I have not missed the Nexium now for 3 years. Was a huge relief to finally be off the medication.  Best to you.

[AllyB]

My husband had a lot of inflammation issues and leaky gut.  He's been taking embrel for a year or more and his goal was to change his diet so he could stop taking it.  He doesn't eat potatoes, wheat, nightshades and dairy.  Nightshades (which potatoes are) gives him achy, sore joint symptoms including his back and knuckes.  Too many peppers or paprika also isn't good for him (although they usually cause a psoraisis breakout.)  And he discovered on the whole 30 that dairy is an issue as well.

 

After completing our whole 30, most of his achiness and sore joint problems were gone.  He added back homemade beans in an effort to continue to heal his gut.  He is persuing 'resistant starch' as a way to help his gut flora.  I know that it's kind of a new topic and some people think it's a fad.  I don't care what the reason is   The beans seem to be continuing the improvement he got from doing his whole30.  He also takes probiotics to go with the resistant starch.

 

It's been a month and a half since finishing our whole30.  He told me on saturday that he woke up feeling 'really good'.  I said "that's nice."  He continued on to tell me that he can't remember the last time he actually woke up feeling 'good'.  He said there were years where it was all he could do to get out of bed each morning and he would drag around all day long sore and achy.  It made me sad that he suffered for so long.  He didn't realize that it wasn't normal to feel so crappy.  But now after doing a whole30 and continuing to eat that way, he said he has a new benchmark for how he should feel.

 

So if you can try removing nightshades and maybe research ways to heal leaky gut, it might be worth it.  It certainly has been beyond awesome for my husband.

 

Good luck!

[AllyB]

I should add to what I wrote above...while we are following whole30 eating pretty closely, the beans aren't compliant.  However, we accomplished our goal of doing the whole30 by identifying trigger fooods for him.

[lori_vt]

I've been looking into the AIP, and have had good intentions of trying that for a while, but I seem to give in to my evil sugar monster and/or carb monster and haven't had one solid AIP day yet.  Most days it's 2 out of 3 meals.  And I might have one complete day, but it's followed by a terribly non-compliant day.  The AIP protocol is harder for me to wrap my head around because the things that I need to give up have been my staples for so long.  The peppers and nightshade-spices are the hardest.  I don't eat that much tomato except in some dishes, so that's not as tough as jalapenos, red peppers, poblanos, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, fennel.  I've been very successful in eliminating eggs for now, but geez, this is a huge change for me. 

 

Going back to dr for follow-up this afternoon.  My stomach is still so out-of-whack.  I had a stomach x-ray last week which showed that there is no leakage or perforation, so my dr said it was okay to resume the diclofenac.  My pain had risen back up to a 6 in just 4 days.  I would love to get off of it - I'll have to try the marshmallow root tea.  I add turmeric to everything now.  I have started drinking kombucha hoping to settle my stomach, and also eating sauerkraut.  So far, no change. 

 

I'm doing my best to get some AIP-compliant days in a row, because I think once I get on a roll, it will be easier.  <sigh>