Milk and Gluten? Can avoiding these really help?

VictoriaPlum

Hi I'm still at the stage of getting a diagnosis. My RF came back abnormal but still waiting results of CCP.

Naturally I've been Googling because if someone tells you you might have RA it's bit scary. And I've come across some people online that said they had either excluded milk, gluten or both and have little pain now!? Is this true? I tried a gluten free diet a few weeks ago for 2 weeks but it made no difference, maybe it wasn't long enough. Also, why would my body now start reacting to gluten when I've been eating it all my life?

Confused and scared
v

Wonkylegs

Hi

confused and scared are quite normal feelings when faced with all these questions! sometimes our good friend Google helps to ease them, but at other times it can serve to worry and confuse us more :roll:

THere isn't a right and a wrong answer to your question as far as I know. That doesn't help I know, but you will gradually learn that a lot of the RA rollercoaster ride involves 'try this' followed by 'wait and see' :roll:

The gluten question is a quite interesting one, because I know one person who has been advised to avoid gluten to help her arthritis. However, she was told it had to be complete, and that it would take many months before she might notice any improvement. TO date she hasn't been impressed.

There are people on the forum who have more experience than I do of trying out different diets. They may be able to help you more.

However, I do know that the Arthritis Care helplines people usually advise that there is no clinical evidence that any particular diet (other than a normal healthy one) can help.

good luck and don't panic

Wonky xxx

dreamdaisy

As someone who has struggled throughout life with food intolerances I can tell you that they can start at any time, just like hay-fever. If you have RA then that means your immune system is over-active, triggering bodily reponses to things that do not normally harm one.

Some people do find relief from cutting out certain dietary components, but it can take a while for any benefits to come through. Gluten (wheat etc) is more commonly linked to IBS, Crohn's etc but we are all different in how we react not only to meds but also to food. The only way to find out is to try but give it far longer than a fortnight. Other recognised triggers are alcohol, all dairy including cheese (though a plain yoghurt might be OK), vinegars and fruit. DD

VictoriaPlum

Thanks for all your replies, it really helps.
I can't wait to see the Rheumatologist and get some answers from him. Doc will refer me once all test results have come back. The waiting is enough to make anyone go insane.
xx

jillyb1

Love the name , Victoriaplum , I have been a RAer for 31 years now . I avoid all dairy , citrus , raw tomatoes , and all the nightshade veg ( potatoes , aubergine etc. ) . I also have no alcohol and very little caffeine ( high blood pressure ) . As to easing the pain ? Guess I'll let you know when that happens ! My symptoms are far less severe on a restricted diet and I'm more mobile ; but the pain remains . One point I'd make though , your rheumy will most likely tell you that diet makes no difference whatsoever , we are all very different creatures and many people find no benefit from a change of food habits ; but it works for me . Jillyb

elnafinn

Dear Victoira

I can quite understand that you wish to find out as much as possible about RA and are looking on the net for guidance. In my humble opinion I would not rush to change your diet. There is no proof that this helps, but of course everyone is different so some may well improve on a certain diet or by refraining from eating certain foods. There would certainly be no harm in a "special" diet but you may as well get a diagnosis first and then decide if that route is one you would like to try.

There is quite a lot of information that you can download from this site and you could call the helplines next week and have a chat with them if you wish and they can send you literature in the post that may be of interest to you.

I would suggest the best thing you can do is to stay with us and ask any questions here that you have, never think that any question is "silly". You can guarantee you will receive replies. You can also have a rant on here and we will understand as we do it too.

Of course you are confused and scared, we have all been that, it is only natural to be so. Tell us about your fears and we will help, support and advise you the best we can. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Chin up, things will get better, promise.

Hugs
Elna x

wannabewriter

Hiya,

I’m with the others on this, that special diets are inconclusive. Having said that, I think that it does work for some people – and part of me thinks that might be because if you are prone to inflammatory responses it might not just be limited to joints and therefore it might be to do with the gut as well (But I am in no way a doctor and this is just supposition!).

Also, I have found that cutting way back on sugar has personally helped me an awful lot. Nowadays, if I scoff more than a couple of small chocolates in one sitting or similar, then I very quickly get achy joints again, and my eczema also comes up almost immediately when I’ve had too much. I only noticed this once I had cut sugar out completely for two months then started building it back in again – special diets take a while to kick in, I think.

I don’t have RA (I have OA and fibro) but my body definitely has some inflammatory responses going on (for example, I KNOW bread is bad for me from a yeast perspective – bloating etc is not pretty), and I have other autoimmune conditions which I think are all linked.

So, as clinical evidence is inconclusive, but anecdotal evidence suggests it CAN help SOME people, I would talk to your doc about it and see whether they reckon it might be worth trying (hoping you have an open minded doc who can think about these things pragmatically and without prejudice!).

All the best with it!

WW

x

theresa4

dreamdaisy wrote:

As someone who has struggled throughout life with food intolerances I can tell you that they can start at any time, just like hay-fever. If you have RA then that means your immune system is over-active, triggering bodily reponses to things that do not normally harm one.

Other recognised triggers are alcohol, all dairy including cheese (though a plain yoghurt might be OK), vinegars and fruit. DD[/quote

Oh well no alcohol for 2 weeks and still flaring so Im safe to drink

Theresa x

mp1952

Hi Victoria

I avoid red meat, tomatoes, citrus, potatoes, spices, and try to limit cheese, milk and sugar. I definitely think there is something In this diet issue - I love Italian food but can guarantee that if I eat it then within 4 hours my joints play up... Same with curry.. Unfortunately.



Marion x

PS I have RA

sailrib

I dont know how it helps RA but both my Dad and I are not allowed to eat Gluten or Milk.

My Dad ate Gluten and Milk for 53 years before his body could not take it and I ate it for 16 years before I could not take it.

I know you have to have the diet for a minimum of 4 months before you start noticing any different. That is what I got told and when I got to about 6 months, my skin was glowing.

Hope that helps. x

VictoriaPlum wrote:

Hi I'm still at the stage of getting a diagnosis. My RF came back abnormal but still waiting results of CCP.

Naturally I've been Googling because if someone tells you you might have RA it's bit scary. And I've come across some people online that said they had either excluded milk, gluten or both and have little pain now!? Is this true? I tried a gluten free diet a few weeks ago for 2 weeks but it made no difference, maybe it wasn't long enough. Also, why would my body now start reacting to gluten when I've been eating it all my life?

Confused and scared
v