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Lyme Diet

I am having a problem with following any type  of diet...Not sure what to eat. I pretty much eat whatever I want eventhough I know I have to change that.

Can anyone give me a briefing on what you eat? Do you have to eat all organic? What type of sugar, is equal ok?, Do I reallyy have to give up coffee???

I don't like this part at all!! Does anyone have a basic quick list to refer to for me?? I have been searching and so far everything I have to buy,,, funds are not that great right now, so I am trying to get my hands on some kind of quick list without having to buy a book. Thanks guys so much!!

Pam
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Avatar universal
I think sugar may feed the bugz, and it surely stoked my systemic yeast infection.  Now that that is past, I am eating fruit again, and that gives me enough sugar to stay happy.

Here's my secret trick:  unsweetened chocolate powder (meant for baking) sprinkled over sliced apple, banana, kiwi, whatever fruit strikes your fancy.  Ghirardelli makes a good brand, but there are others too.  Enjoy!  :)

(Chocolate has lots of B vitamins too!)
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Avatar universal
I found it really helpful to go gluten free. I cheated two times and the next morning, my fatigue and brain fox were noticeably worse.  Now, i look at the cupcake (which i previously could not pass up) and say, "It's not worth it.". I am having lots of chocolate cravings, which could be related to my magnesium deficiency (choc has mag). I am mostly dairy free, and havent had a problem with small amounts.

Can anyone say what the side effects of sugar are.  I think I am still a bit hooked on sweet things, mostly a few bites of chocolate a day.
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Avatar universal
Hi Ness,, I have two apps on my ipad, the one that speaks has only a 4 alarm reminder its called MedCenter and the other is called Dosecast where I can list all of my medications and a default sound activates when its time to take. It's great!! I can finally take my pills without saying to myself, "did I take my medication yet?"
They are free too!! :)

Thanks and I hope you have a great day!!

Pam

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1554647 tn?1316827220
Hi Pam,
What app is it?

....the rollercoaster is tricky...I have been having stretches of feeling well.  It is great, I just have to remind myself that it's not over and that not to feel too bad if I have a big herx. Feeling good is awesome, but sometimes it can make the bad feel worse.
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Avatar universal
Thanks hon,,, and yes, I am definately taking  it easy. I have a new app. on my IPad that reminds me to take my medication.. I love it, it is awesome!!
It went off when I was in my lawyers office going over my SSD paperwork for my hearing, and I couldn't stop it from saying, " good afternoon, it is time for your afternoon medication",, LOL

I have limited my supplements to one a day or if needed. It seems to be working much better.

Have a great day!!
Pam
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Remember that Lyme messes with your whole metabolism, and unless your doc is on board with the stimulants, I would be very very careful.  It's like revving the engine too hard.

The antibiotics can hit you hard, so take it easy on yourself, okay?  Rest, lots of fluids and healthy food like good soups.  Take care!  Keep us posted.
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Avatar universal
Hi Jackie,
I had to slow down on the supplements, but now I am back to fatigue again and today I started my zithromax and doxy combo.

The energy booster supplements are called Opti-factor and they are a pill form, and the other is water drops,, 5 squirts in a drink (no taste), I can't remember the name right now, when I look at it again I will let you know.

I can't beleive how you can go from one extreme to another. I feel like I am on a rollercoaster. I need the supplements to help me have energy, but I have to split it up.

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Avatar universal
yeah, I was wondering about that energy booster.  what's in it?
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Avatar universal
Thanks Jackie,

I think I need to slow down on the energy booster,, yes I have been feeling like my energy is coming back, but this morning, I feel like I am in overdrive. I want to slow down,, phew!! my left hand tremor is kinda out of control, I have had a "moment in the bathroom" that was like "nervous stomach" and then I could feel my heart beat in my stomach...

Here I was thinking, how great things are going to start to improve , but , maybe I am doing this too fast and take it a bit slower. I am going to skip my afternoon energy booster pills and see if that helps without feeling too tired again. I can't believe how messed up things are,, you try one thing to fix one problem then you are faced with something else.

I will go and go,, but today, I have to "chill the heck out" LOL

Pam :)
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Avatar universal
Happy Birthday!!!

Sounds like you had a great time -- as it should be.  One of my best friends for years and years shares your birth date, and he has the same approach to life:  bring it on!  onward and upward!

You go!

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Avatar universal
oh yeah...... and I started on a new supplement for energy booster, and wow, did it make a difference along with my healthy salad for dinner. Today, I did very good on not having any sugar in my coffee or anything else for that matter. hmmm,,, no that I am writing this,... no sugar, heatlhier food and supplements makes me feel better. Ha ha, you guys are so right!

Love ya,
Pam :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Last night I celebrated my 40th birthday!!! Today is my "actual" birthday, but I did have one glass of wine and a sliver of cake,, my friend who is very knowledgeable about Lyme disease brought me a beautiful salad with the perfect dressing along with supplements and energy boosters!!! She told me that she is going to help me (starting right now) to get me to eat healthier..

I can honestly say that I usually pass on cakes and cupcakes,, I hardly ever have candy, the most of the sugars and carbs that I have are in a bowl of cereal, breads,pastas and coffee. I do love my greens, but I eat them loaded with breadcrumbs, cheese hot peppers,and sweet peppers , and prosciutto.

I am a salt-oholic but my blood pressure is always on the low side and my llmd told me I need to eat more salt!!! Lol if they only knew how much salt I take in daily.

Thanks for all of the advice.. I am going this week to stock up at the health food stores. You guys are all such a blessing!!!!

Thanks, Pam 
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Avatar universal
... and one saving grace for me:  Being a lifelong chocaholic, the loss of candy bars in my life was very sad.  

Solution:  *unsweetened* powdered chocolate intended for baking, sprinkled over banana or apple slices, with optional cinnamon sprinkling too.  The brand I've been using is Ghirardelli, but there are different ones.  Just check the label for sugar content ... there should be none if it's truly 'unsweetened.'

The fruit provides the sweetness, and the chocolate taste is goooood.  My final defense:  chocolate has lots of B vitamins.  :)
Helpful - 0
1554647 tn?1316827220
Great idea on the quinoa! I will check out the paleo diet...though I am afraid to learn of anymore limits.

I never thought I would be able to be in the same room as a cupcake and not eat it....I can be in the same room as a cupcake now and leave it. It's a bit of a miracle.  I am happy to have better eating habits and to hopefully pass them on to my young children.  

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Avatar universal
The switch over to a different diet was hard for about 2-3 weeks, but after that, no problem at all.  def. worth feeling this much better!

I really believe from my pers. experience that the body accumulates a lot of issues/baggage/bugs over time, and at a certain point:  wham.  Unpacking the baggage has really helped me, for what inspiration that might be!  I don't even miss the junk food ... and I really really thought I would.  Okay, I cheat:  I take gummy bear vitamins everyday. :)
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Avatar universal
Thank you all soo soo much!!!  I def. need to get a handle on all of this. I never had to diet, so changing my food habits is worse than giving blood. LOL

I am taking notes and will get my food supplies. I am so determined to get my health and life back. "Time to s u c k it up buttercup!" lol

xoxo Pam :)
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Avatar universal
i just realize i wrote fish "with lots of allergies."  

i meant VEGGIES.

lawd help me and my poor brain.
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Avatar universal
p.s.

he also said sugar feeds the bugs and to avoid it as much as possible--even limiting high sugar fruits such as bananas and mango to one or two a week.  for me, this has been very challenging as i am a sugar junkie.

it has also been revealed that i carry a genotype showing multi-sensitivity to toxins so he stressed the importance of eating organic and being *very* careful with my fish selection.  

take good care.
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Avatar universal
hi there,

here are $.02 from the peanut gallery:

when i asked the new LLND i'm working with about the best dietary approach i should take, he said the paleo diet is the best way to go, with brown rice and quinoa being the only grains i should be eating.  basically very low fat/lean meat & fish with lots of allergies.  i have a sensitivity to eggs according to the food allergy panel he ran, so i'm avoiding them which is very difficult.

blessings to you.

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Avatar universal
Well said, Ness.  Your diet sounds a lot like what I eat too.

Have you tried quinoa (KEEN-wah)?  It's a seed that is grain-like -- zero wheat!  I like it esp. bec. it has all the seven essential amino acids the body can't make, and my hair and skin are much improved when I eat quinoa a couple times a week.

Whole Foods has quinoa, and other stores too -- I often shop at Safeway, which has a lot of good stuff for better prices than Whole Foods.  Safeway's vegetables seem to be several days older than veggies elsewhere, so I usually go to a local grocery a couple times a week to stock up on fresh veg and fruit.  The price isn't much different, but the quality is.

Right now, I'm dribbling dinner on my keyboard:  red rice, olive oil, sea salt, garbanzo beans (=chick peas) and frozen peas.  It provides a complete protein bec. of the combo of rice and beans.    

I also eat an egg just about every day, and fish (either canned or fresh) a couple times a week usually too.  I eat all I want, and I have lost all the extra weight I gained when I was so sick ... now I'm back to what I used to weigh.
Helpful - 0
1554647 tn?1316827220
Also, I am learning to alter recipes.  Honey makes a great sweetener...
You have to watch out for hidden sugars in bbq sauce ketchup...

It is tough, but I feel better about myself in general.  I was a foodie...ok I loved to pig out. ... I feel better about myself because I am disciplined for the first time. Trust me..if I can do it, you can do it.
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1554647 tn?1316827220
I had my diet so cut down that I was losing too much weight. I dropped 30 pounds in three months and didn't look well.

It is also because I was having such intense nausea and digestive issues...likely from the doxy.

My doctor mandates a yeast free and sugar free diet.  My naturopath said no wheat and dairy...I really try to limit it the best I can. Sometimes when I am starvin Marvin, I have a wrap sandwich or something with wheat.  

I now see how addicted to sugar that I was.  It was a risk -benefit thing for me.  I want my health back so badly that I am willing to give stuff up...it wasn't so bad once I made the commitment.  

For bread you can get Ezekiel bread...you buy it frozen, it is wheat free and just a tiny bit of yeast.  

When my stomach is good, I drink black coffee.  

I love coffee. :)

So her is a list of the things I eat...

eggs
sugar free oatmeal with honey
ezekiel bread
almond butter
rice crackers
rice chips
rice wraps
fruits veggie...organic if I can afford it
liverwurst
protein/meat
lots of nuts
salad with lemon and oil

No vinager stuff..pickles, olives
No soy sauce

It was tricky at first, but I am getting better at it. I find I buy more expensive health food.store food...but less of it.  

There are lots of healthy alternatives...there is pop sweetened with stevia (totally natural) tastes great, xylitol gum

Little steps at a time work...a health food store has awesome alternatives to things you love.  I know it is expensive, you just have to buy less of it.

Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Pam,

Try just googling --

lyme diet

-- there are lots of links to websites, tho of course you have to wear your skeptical hat when reading them.

One of the hits I got from that search was Dr Ken Singleton's website, so there are some docs out there who address the issue.  

I think some people w Lyme have more digestive system symptoms than others, and I got lucky that way, I don't have particular issues ... but I did get a really bad systemic yeast infection a while back and so stripped down my diet to get rid of most prepared foods, and I find that by eating a very clean diet (mostly fresh foods), I feel much much better than before, but hard to draw absolute cause and effect.  I skip dairy and wheat, but that is just me.  Fruit, but no refined sugar at all.  Everybody's different, tho.
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