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Fibromyalgia and diet

debbiedo49
debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
Would like to know if there are good and bad foods for people with fybromyalgia please?  I am allergic to citrus. I am lactose intolerant. I have acid reflux and have IBS so cant really take much fruit/ veg. 
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Comments

  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
  • evadesign
    evadesign Community member Posts: 9 Connected
    Hi - I also have fibro, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) and IBS.

    I found if I stick to the soluble fibres and minimise the insoluble ones that definitely helps with the IBS. See pic:



    For the acid reflux I find the IBS diet helps, and also I avoid all citrus, yoghurt, tomatoes, garlic and anything fatty or creamy for at least six hours before I lie down for bed.

    I don't know about diet for fibro, but this definitely helps for the IBS and GERD. x




  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Community member Posts: 36 Courageous
    Hi @evadesign and @debbiedo49
    I also have Fibro., and suffer from esophagus problems like swallowing and digesting my food, also problems with  acid re-flux and IBS, and liver disease as well, I have had to be referred to a dietitian by my gastric specialist to help me sort out what they think I can and cannot eat.  Thanks for the colorful explanation about the fruit and veg. If you need any further help or advice ask your GP for a referral or see a nurse at your GP practice, it may help.
    Best wishes
    Ritzy 
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    edited April 2018
    Hi @debbiedo49
    Have you seen a dietician? With a few intersecting issues like you have, it might help to get some expert advice?

    You can find a registered dietitian:

    The title "dietitian" is protected by law. This means you are not allowed to call yourself a dietitian unless you are properly qualified and registered with the HCPC.

    Registered dietitians are regulated by the professional association for dietitians, the British Dietetic Association.

    Scope
    Senior online community officer
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    I have never seen a dietician. Its interesting that others have similar interlinking conditions like me. I have trouble swallowing at times and choke a bit on the smallest crumb. Its so annoying and frustrating. I feel that my gp treats each of my conditions seperately and with medication rather than me as the whole person. Its same when I go to the nurse its one condition per department. I have little faith that an nhs dietician will be any different. Thats why I am looking myself. Thanks everyone. 
  • evadesign
    evadesign Community member Posts: 9 Connected
    Thanks for the info on dietitian. My gp tried to refer me to a dietitian on the nhs but they refused to see me as I wasn’t obese enough! They will only see people with a bmi over a certain amount. Which is of course ridiculous as it’s not only obese people who need a dietitian! I also choke quite often when I swallow. I was also prediabetic hence the referral, as the diabetic diet and the ibs diet are polar opposites. Maybe I should try a private one. 
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Community member Posts: 36 Courageous
    Hi @evadesign and @debbiedo49 
    Thank for your replies.  I also have trouble swallowing at times that's why I was referred to the gastro., department and I was diagnosed with a esophagus problem, they told me there was no cure for, not what I was expecting but at least I got a diagnosis. Try asking your G. P. for a saliva spray, if you find that your throat is going dry spray it in your mouth or throat it may help. I think the swallowing problem is a part of the fibro., but I would have to double check.  The dietician I saw before when she saw me she said I was okay and she couldn't see how she could help me, it felt like a waste of my time but she said I could come back any time if I needed to speak with her, but would have to be referred by the GP.  Hopefully when I go back it will be a different person and they will be able to advice me a bit better with what to eat to help me.  I will let you know.  
    Hope this helps, let me know
    Ritzy
  • evadesign
    evadesign Community member Posts: 9 Connected
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    I have a saliva spray as my dentist said my mouth and gums are too dry possibly due to medication. Years of saying to my g p I have swallowing issues and sore throat issues and they don’t take me seriously. I have rhinitis and ear issues and allergies as well. Probably all connected to fibro. I’ve had ibs since my teens and lactose intolerance. Also gastric reflux. Such fun!
  • KirstenNutritionAdvisor
    KirstenNutritionAdvisor Community member Posts: 53 Courageous
    A healthy diet consisted of but shouldn't be limited to a wide range of foods.

    there is a lot of debate around the best diet for those suffering with fibromyalgia, and what affects one persons maybe find for another.

    As I'm sure you know fibromyalgia is a health condition characterised by long term pain. Other symptoms can include heighten pain response to physical pressure, abnormal pain or function in the bowel or bladder, excessive tiredness, stiff joints, poor sleep and even neurological problems to do with memory and anxiety. 

    Foods that help digestion like probiotic and prebiotic foods such
    probiotics are the friendly bacteria that live in your gut and good sources are things like live natural yogurt, kefir, cultured vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi. Prebiotics can be thought of a the Food for the probiotics so these help keep your gut healthy, things like apples, onions, garlic bananas are all sources if prebiotics, these foods because of this can be problematic for people with sensetive gut issues. 

    Omega three 
    foods containing omega three are things like wild salmon, eggs, seeds and other oily fish, these have so many health benefits beause omega three is an natural anti inflammatory agent.

    I know you said you have IBS so limit vegetables and fruit. Fruit and vegetables are so very important to eat so I'd reccomend you try and follow a fodmap diet  with the help of a qualified professional and see what fruit and vegetables trigger you and what is ok. 

    A low FODMAP diet, or FODMAP elimination diet, refers to a temporary eating pattern that has a very low amount of food compounds called FODMAPs.
    • Fermentable – meaning they are broken down (fermented) by bacteria in the large bowel
    • Oligosaccharides – “oligo” means “few” and “saccharide” means sugar. These molecules are made up of individual sugars joined together in a chain
    • Disaccharides – “di” means two. This is a double sugar molecule
    • Monosaccharides – “mono” means single. This is a single sugar molecule
    • And Polyols – these are sugar alcohols (however, they don’t lead to intoxication!) 


    Food that may cause symptoms for some people include, but are not limited to:
    • Gluten in some cases 
    • Red meat from non organic or grass feed animals.
    • Fruits and vegetables in the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, white potatoes, green peppers, and goji berries. 
    • Dairy products.
    • Eggs.
    • Caffeine.
    Always by the best quality ingredients you can afford, go organic where possible source you meat from local farmer who have grass fed or pasture raised animals. It just makes sense, try to limit added sugar and be conscious of all the foods you eat that come from packed. Wherever and when possible make all your own food, and limit processed and fast foods. 
    Drink enough water, move little and often. 

    When you eat stop what you see doing sit sit down and consciously enjoy your food, don't eat on the go your body won't be fully digesting if you are focusing on other things.

    let me know if you need any more help and please let me know how you get on. 
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    Fantastic! Maybe I should see a dietician thanks 
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    Ive still not got around to it.
  • Topkitten
    Topkitten Community member Posts: 1,285 Pioneering
    Diet is such a personal thing in today's society due to many people having issues with so many things now. I do believe that, to some extent, people have brought this on themselves by overeating too many things rather than spreading a "wide net" so to speak and eating a better and more varied diet. I do know that, since 1954, people have been eating too much food in general and too much of anything will cause problems. It came about ofc at the end of wartime rationing and, with more money to spend, people started enjoying things they could not previously have had in larger quantities than before too. Now though it is simply a habit. Eat too much for long enough and the stomach expands then, if you try to reduce, you have to deal with a stomach telling you it needs more constantly until the body finally realises what is going on and the stomach shrinks. The stomach will expand far more easily than it will shrink unfortunately.

    People around us encourage eating and drinking, sometimes deliberately and sometimes without realising it. Adverts everywhere, especially on TV, bombard us with more food and more drink and thus more buying which is, of course, why they do it. My personal belief is that if people reduce things that affect them badly for long enough then gradually the body will recover and be a little more tolerant of them but that is only an opinion and a long term process at best.

    I do think that, in most cases, the condition and diet are separate and there isn't a conflict except that some things are better than others due to how we are affected. There are ofc some conditions that are highly intolerant of some things and there is no choice except to not have them. I personally am not aware of anything specific that affects Fibro and haven't come across it in the few people I have met who suffered it, but I am obviously not an expert.

    My personal opinion goes like this...... "If you eat less for long enough the stomach will shrink and the hunger will go away and gradually the weight will go too and then eat less still and the process will repeat". This is what happened to me despite having an absolutely horrendous choice of food in my "diet" which consists mostly of curry, chilli, pizza, sugar and sugary drinks, cornflakes with lots of sugar on top, lots of sugar in hot drinks, white bread and butter, chocolate, biscuits and cakes..... I think you can see the pattern, lol! Despite all this sort of stuff I have shed 10 stone (140 pounds or 62.2 kgs) over 7 years or so and why I still lose a little at times. Unfortunately my lack of food is caused by being unable to support myself properly but at least I hardly ever feel hungry, lol!

    Btw, I do NOT recommend anyone trying to exist on my diet but just try doing what I have done (eat less until the hunger goes away) and ALWAYS sticking to it PERMANENTLY. Takes a bit of will power but a life change is much better than any diet.

    TK
    "I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell" - from Wrong side of heaven by Five Finger Death Punch.
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    I cant believe the similar issues we have. 
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    @KirstenNutritionAdvisor
    Just to clarify regarding probiotics and prebiotic should I be taking them ? I’m lactose intolerant . Thanks 
  • neenaw
    neenaw Community member Posts: 1 Listener
    I have to avoid lactose but find I can digest yogurt and kefir.  I buy lactose free alternatives and goat products too.
    I keep meaning to try the FODMAP diet but as my husband prepares all my food,  it's not as easy.  It's an elimination diet to find out what you can and can't eat, whilst trying to gain the best nutrition possible. 
    I hope this is of some help :smile:


  • DavidJohn1984
    DavidJohn1984 Community member Posts: 99 Courageous
    I have never seen a dietician. Its interesting that others have similar interlinking conditions like me. I have trouble swallowing at times and choke a bit on the smallest crumb. Its so annoying and frustrating. I feel that my gp treats each of my conditions seperately and with medication rather than me as the whole person. Its same when I go to the nurse its one condition per department. I have little faith that an nhs dietician will be any different. Thats why I am looking myself. Thanks everyone. 
    OH gosh this was the same problem I was having!! 

    I recently got got diagnosed with High End Dysphasia.

    I was telling every medical profession I was seeing I was having this problem.

    Then my new Gastro Dr finally diagnosed it.
  • campbellf
    campbellf Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    try contating FMAUK the national charity for fibro. I am sure that theyw ill have some information on diets or be able to signpost you in the right direction.
  • DavidJohn1984
    DavidJohn1984 Community member Posts: 99 Courageous
    I was raw till 4 vegan for years, but last year when everything started spiralling out of control there was so much I couldn’t eat.

    everything was triggering a Flare or CVS attack in one way or another.

    I am now severely malnourished and have lost 6 stone since March last year.

    I know have to drink two Fortijuce a day and I am trying to follow the Paleo diet.

    But having CVS means there is so many days when I literally can’t eat or drink.

    I know Gluten, Wheat and any Dairy products triggered my symptoms off.
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    Oh my goodness that’s awful @DavidJohn1984 hope you get on top of this somehow!? Yes I’m lactose intolerant too not my whole life just past 19 years since having my son and I just made that connection lol. I couldn’t drink regular milk during pregnancy only uht of I vomited lol. In the past ten years or so I try to use lactose free producers or dairy alternatives but find some taste weird to me. I can’t eat much wheat at all and blow up on white bread. More recently I find minimal amounts of fruits and veg and fibre just run right through me it’s so frustrating. I like fruit smoothies occasionally when I can buy one made with ice. I’ve never tried a veg smoothie. It’s so frustrating as I find my diet very restricted and I eat the same things. This makes me go for sweet snacks and comfort food through boredom and frustration. Plus I can’t cook on my own as I’m a hazard with my poor grip and twitching hands and clumsiness. It takes all fun out of it lol. So is high end dysphasia an eating condition ?

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