Reading this article linked on Yahoo! made me feel just a tiny bit better about living with a chronic illness because, from the looks it, it seems that health issue are somewhat part and parcel of living longer lives in modern times. Maybe things aren't supposed to be as bad as ME/CFS, but they aren't supposed to be perfect either. I'm also hopeful that my diet changes will minimize some of the other health problems described in this article - as if I'm investing now in better health later. Maybe the net result will even be positive - who knows?
I guess this is why health care costs are rising so much. It is interesting that it took something like ME to get me to change my diet for the better. Hard to give the sweets up (ice cream is my kryptonite)but healthier eating can only help us. Say, has your doctor ever brough up psychostimulants to try? My doc has always said we could try adderall at some point if really needed. I see some people have used these to some degree of success.....
ReplyDeleteHey Bret. So true about it taking something like ME/CFS to change our diets. I wish I would have figured this diet thing out about 20 years ago and maybe...just maybe,..this could have been avoided. Of course, back then, I don't think low carb or paleo diets even existed.
DeleteAnyway, I brought up the psychostimulants question with one of my doctors and he was very negative on the idea.--VERY negative, but I didn't exactly get much of a sense from him as to why. He looked annoyed that I even brought it up. I recall researching for threads on that issue on Phoenix Rising and also getting the same general sense that it was disfavored by consensus, but I can't remember exactly why. But that said, if you decide to try it, please let me know how it goes.
Hope you're doing well.
Patrick, Bret- I take Adderall some days and wanted to share my experience/observations in case you are considering trying a psychostimulant. A lot of people with CFS have bad experiences with stimulants, but not all and they are not close to being a cure. I didn't take any the first year of being sick, and I usually react badly to coffee. But low doses of Adderall definitely help me. It is really useful for when I work (I do some software contracting work which is very hard for me with the brain fog.) A lot of my symptoms have improved but my frontal cortex is definitely not working at full speed.
ReplyDeleteI noticed on Phoenix Rising that several of us reported positive experiences with Adderall/Ritalin on days that we didn't feel too inflamed. I doubt it would help someone who is bedbound since they are likely dealing with massive amounts of inflammation. I think there are several underlying causes of CFS so that may make a difference too. I have a lot of allergic-like symptoms (sinus problems, burning eyes, itching when I eat the "wrong foods") and can't take stimulants when those are bad.
I have spoken with some knowledgable doctors who use stimulants with some patients; one told me he had some patients who take it so they can go to school. If you want to trial it I think you will know right away if it is helpful.
On a side note, I am a paleo-person too and wish I knew to eat this way way before I got sick.