As previously, I have looked at nutrition again and last year I came across a Dr Myhills book explaining how a paleo ketogenic diet can help the body to produce energy more efficiently. The diet involves cutting out dairy, gluten and grains, sugar, fruit sugar and high carbohydrate foods such as many root vegetables. The diet advocates eating the recommended protien for your body weight each day, keeping net carbs under 30 grams daily and eating more fats (particular fats such as extra virgin olive oil). I tried this for a couple of weeks last year and it made me feel so ill, on top of feeling dreadful with M.E. and triggered horrendous migraines so I thought maybe it just doesnt suit my body - and stopped it. I had my gall bladder removed 2 years ago, so I was concerned regarding my body's ability to digest such high amount of fats. I continued to read up on this and joined a group containing others with M.E. who have tried this diet - there were some who have had gall bladders removed who felt some benefit so I decided to give it another go, and try to persist. Given Dr Myhills 35 years of experience in treating patients with M.E. and her passion for helping us to get well, I felt her advice is most likely one of the best sources in the UK.
So I found myself 5-6 weeks into this diet, feeling utterly dreadful, despite following it strictly, being in ketosis, eating all the supposedly right foods. On top of which I have been looking after myself - getting good sleeps ( Ive managed to improve my sleeping in the past 2-3 months) , careful planning and pacing, resting, avoiding/reducing stress, stopping drinking alcohol. I have spent most of my time at home this last 2-3 months, avoiding all most activities that would exacerbate my symptoms. I have taken all the recommended supplements to help mitochondria, energy production and immune system - CoQ10, NADH, Vitamin B12 sub lingual spray, Vitamin B6 & 3, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin D, Carnitine. I stopped taking D ribbose whilst on the paleo keto diet as suggested in Dr Myhills book .
A friend of mine had suggested I look at Dr S Grundy's The plant paradox and I thought I would take a peek. I came across a video of Dr Grundy in an interview and was extremely interested in his approach at helping people to recover from illnesses. In his research he has found that Lectins in foods are making many people unwell. Many plants produce lectins, Dr Grundy describes plants as producing lectins as a defense mechanism to ward off predators from eating them or their fruits/seeds. The lectins can cause a whole range of unpleasant symptoms and are present in so much of our food - even meat - as animals are being raised on grains ( often genetically modified and full of anti biotics which he states are also detrimental to our well being). So Dr Grundy advises a paleo type diet avoiding all foods containing lectins - and he has seen great results in his patients, so much so that he gave up his job as a heart surgeon to help people get well using nutrition ( and other measures).
Now whilst watching videos of Dr Grundy explaining his approach, I ate a spoonful of peanut butter as a snack. I had a relatively pain free morning, but in the hour following eating the peanut butter I developed pain throughout my body ( this is one of my frequent symptoms which I often cant put a finger on any cause). During a video he mentioned that peanuts contain lectin and can be one of the culprits to causing our symptoms - to avoid eating them. I had a light bulb moment and threw out my peanut butter :). Now it may just be coincidence that my pain occurred in the hour following eating this, but my gut feeling says its not. I decided right then to give his approach a good try.
So today I have started his eating plan, with his 3 day phase one, having a nice green smoothie for breakfast. What I like about Dr Grundy is that, like Dr Myhill, he is making a lot of this information public so that people can try it themselves, unlike some clinics with secretive approaches who charge the earth - when people who are very ill with M.E. dont have incomes and simply cannot pay for this vital information to help them to get well.
My green smoothie consisted of a handful of rommaine lettuce, a handful of spinach, juice of half a lemon, half an avocado, fresh mint, and stevia/pure vanilla extract to taste - all whizzed up with water. Its surprisingly nice - and a fresh way to start the day.
For this altered diet to work its important to only eat wild caught fish, pasture raised poultry that has eaten natural insects and plants - not been fed grains/antibiotics, grass fed meats where the animal has not been given grains/antibiotics. Now these are not the easiest things to find locally in the UK. and they not cheap - but I would rather give up everything to pay for the right food and opportunity to be well again, or at least less ill. Luckily I live near the sea and a fish quay, my partner is going out hunting today for the right meat/fish. Im fairly confident that I should be able to get wild caught fish from local fishermen.
Last year I also tried cognitive behavioural therapy partially to see if it would help with my PMDD ( pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and partially to help with M.E. I learned nothing new that I didnt know from being a nurse. But it led to a next treatment idea for the PMDD which is currently working well for me - despite my Dr not having a clue about this treatment, I quite literally had to explain the latest treatments to her. I now take Fluoxetine on the very first day of any symptoms for around 7 days, it helps me within 48 hours ( unlike the usual action of this drug which takes weeks or months) It isnt working as an antidepressant but it can allieviate symptoms rapidly. My whole life I have struggled with these symptoms not knowing it could be helped until last year - quite ironic that I start treatment as I start the whole perimenopause. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442940/
But reducing my stress levels by getting the right treatment for PMDD is something that can help the M.E.
What I have managed to do is find my own ways to reduce stress, stop being a worrier and find peace of mind - I continue to strive to improve with reducing stress - its a work in progress, although I have just recently dealt with one of life's most stressful events relatively easily due to my new approaches. I use a lot of positive thinking strategies which are found in abundance on youtube.
Another thing I tried last year was Acupuncture - from a lovely lady who has helped herself to better health following M.E. Now I do feel that timing was not good an I was on the brink of going through two very stressful things ( moving home etc) so I believe this may have affected my body's response. I attended numerous sessions, but varying reasons resulted in difficulties in having a regular weekly session. My practitioner is a wonderful lady and I feel that at some point I would like to revisit and see if she can help me further, but at that point last year I was not seeing signs of improvement - I really do think this was highly likely due to other factors and that if I can try it again now I might see some results, but feel other negative forces hampered my progress. I did find that the acupuncture helped me on my path to sleeping better and also helped me to reduce stress. I had no choice but to stop treatments due to financial restraints, it is what it is -but I can see me trying to determine ways to pay for treatment in the future. The treatments brought me peace and calm at a time that was highly stressful and Im very grateful for the practitioners efforts. TBC
So towards the end of last year I moved into my wonderful partners home, I cannot express just how amazing he has been regarding the M.E. and helping to find a way forward to promote my best chance at recovery or being as well as I possibly can. He helps me with anything and everything that I struggle with, he prevents me from getting worse by doing all the cooking etc. I have been so incredibly lucky to find someone who is such a rock. I really feel that we are on this journey together and that he is holding my hand as we walk through it, negotiating the twists and turns as just a different sort of life adventure. Michaels support has enabled me to use what little energy I have each day/week/month to do things I love instead of making myself ill doing housework and cooking, resulting in never managing to do what I love. So most weeks we go out on a drive somewhere nice and if Im up to it we explore a park/nature reserve/coastal path with me on a mobility scooter. When Im not getting out I use our dining room as a sort of mini studio to take photographs of flower etc - its all set up so that even if I only have a little energy all I need to do is sit at the table and snap away - with everything I need within reach.
Earlier in the year I had decided that when I struggled to get out I would concentrate on something positive to help me get through it, which is when I decided on doing mostly macro photography at a table top, sat down. I gave myself big goals - Ive always believed that if you believe you can do something then you can. So my aims were to try to get an image placed in the International garden photographer of the year and to do my best in the SWPP and NPS competitions as entering each month gives me a little something to focus on when stuck at home the majority of the time.
Well I didnt get placed, however I am really happy to have had a couple of images shortlisted in the macro section and to get my portfolio shortlisted. The images of the lady bird above and below are part of that portfolio.
These next images were also shortlisted
I did even better in the National photograph society's monthly competition, being awarded a total of 22 gold awards and 41 highly commended - which landed me one of my proudest photography achievements to date - only last week I was announced overall Photographer of the year for the NPS - which is a massive achievement for me. I really hope that others with M.E. reading my blog manage to complete reading the whole blog and realise that even though ill and pretty much stuck at home for 95% of life it is still possible to make positive things happen - if you put your mind to it. This hasnt been easy - Ive suffered after every mini photo session and the majority of it has been done sat at a table at home. I started learning photography 13 years ago after getting M.E. and Im mostly self taught, having used the most basic, cheap equipment for many years, but perseverance and determination has got me to this point. So I just want to say to others with this horrible illness to keep going, and find ways to adapt, look for the most positive way forward that you can find at that time in your life and take things one step at a time.
Many of the images included are images awarded by the NPS. A few were also awarded by the SWPP.
I will try to update soon on my progress
My wonderful partner Michael - this one was awarded a gold too :)
