A change in diet has often recommended for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Looking at our page FibromyalgiaTalk it is also used by many people who have fibromyalgia.
“I don’t look sick” – Life with Fibromyalgia – Please like and share Donnee Spencer’s great infographic which explains to others what it is like to have Fibromyalgia
So we thought we would use this opportunity to find out how useful a change in diet has been to our readers with fibro.
Firstly it would be great if you could take our poll below which asks “Has a change in diet helped your fibromyalgia?”
Once you have taken part in the poll we would love it if you might add your thoughts in the comment boxes below. It would be great if you could think about the following questions!
a) How long have you or a loved one been diagnosed with fibro? What are your main symptoms of fibromyalgia?
b) Have you tried diet as a treatment for fibromyalgia? If so which one?
c) How successful was the diet? What do you feel it achieve?
d) Would you recommend it to others?
e) Have you tried other natural treatments for fibromyalgia? If so which ones and how effective were they for you?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
| Multiplicity | I followed a strict no flour, no sugar diet and lost 70 pounds in under a year. Then I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (with MS) and was started on Gabapentin. I have gained almost all the weight back now after only a few months. I am now off the gabapentin and started taking MagSense. I feel good and have dropped a couple of pounds already in only about 1 week. |
| SaraBarnes | I have found cutting out caffeine has helped immensely with pain. It has not taken all the pain away, however I have found I can manage so much better on so much less painkillers having taken out the caffeinexxx |
| GretaLarssonSerra | I’ve had to go all in with; no dairy, no gluten (in fact no grains at all), no processed food and no sugar(except natural fruits/berries and small amounts of honey. It works a bit with the pain, loads on the cognitive side and gives higher energy and better moods. |
| opotikimaori | @Beeyaach have you tried Kyäni? |
| Beeyaach | I will try to remember.. lol |
| patienttalk patienttalk.org |
Beeyaach Wow that does seem very expensive. Canadian $? |
| patienttalk patienttalk.org |
Beeyaach Will you be able to share the Dr’s suggestions after the appointment? |
| Beeyaach | I stopped the diet shortly after I was diagnosed due to cost and the fact that I had already started to put weight on (at an alarming rate!) due to the medication I had started taking WHILE on the diet. At $250-270 per WEEK, it just didn’t make sense. After gaining 30lbs+ I decided to try going back on it, but I couldn’t lose weight, exercise or truthfully stick to the program financially as I’d had to decrease hours at work. |
| Beeyaach | I also forgot to mention that I have tried pretty much EVERY holistic approach out there. Chiropractor, massage therapy, acupuncture, traction, osteopathy, vitamin D supplements, probiotics, to name a few. I had a naturopathic doctor suggest going gluten free, as she figures it’s a gluten “sensitivity”. As being gluten free is so en vogue right now, I just felt like it was yet another dead end and have up there. I am seeing a doctor this week from the Environmental Health Clinic @ Women’s College Hospital in Toronto to discuss other options. |
| patienttalk patienttalk.org |
Beeyaach Why did you decide to stop using it? |
| Beeyaach | It is a diet plan based on prepackaged food. Calorie restrictive based mainly, also substitutions such as soy instead of meat protein, low sodium, sugar substitutions. You eat strictly their menu with the addition of your own fruits/veggies and fat free milk. I was on a 1200 calorie intake. They also have a “bar” that is supposed to contain all your necessary vitamins/minerals that I ate once daily. |
| patienttalk patienttalk.org |
Beeyaach What is the Jenny Craig diet please? |
| Beeyaach | Nothing changes with diet. Pain is the same. Low sodium, low carb, no meat, no dairy, doesn’t seem to matter. No difference in lower or higher weight. (I’ve gained 70lbs since starting on meds and not being able to exercise) I’ve been diagnosed about 3 years now. I was on Jenny Craig for about 2 years before all of this started with my body and I’ve often wondered if something in the prepackaged food contributed to it. |
I followed a strict no flour, no sugar diet and lost 70 pounds in under a year. Then I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (with MS) and was started on Gabapentin. I have gained almost all the weight back now after only a few months. I am now off the gabapentin and started taking MagSense. I feel good and have dropped a couple of pounds already in only about 1 week.
I have found cutting out caffeine has helped immensely with pain. It has not taken all the pain away, however I have found I can manage so much better on so much less painkillers having taken out the caffeinexxx
I’ve had to go all in with; no dairy, no gluten (in fact no grains at all), no processed food and no sugar(except natural fruits/berries and small amounts of honey.
It works a bit with the pain, loads on the cognitive side and gives higher energy and better moods.
@Beeyaach have you tried Kyäni?
I will try to remember.. lol
Beeyaach Wow that does seem very expensive. Canadian $?
Beeyaach Will you be able to share the Dr’s suggestions after the appointment?
I stopped the diet shortly after I was diagnosed due to cost and the fact that I had already started to put weight on (at an alarming rate!) due to the medication I had started taking WHILE on the diet. At $250-270 per WEEK, it just didn’t make sense. After gaining 30lbs+ I decided to try going back on it, but I couldn’t lose weight, exercise or truthfully stick to the program financially as I’d had to decrease hours at work.
I also forgot to mention that I have tried pretty much EVERY holistic approach out there. Chiropractor, massage therapy, acupuncture, traction, osteopathy, vitamin D supplements, probiotics, to name a few. I had a naturopathic doctor suggest going gluten free, as she figures it’s a gluten “sensitivity”. As being gluten free is so en vogue right now, I just felt like it was yet another dead end and have up there. I am seeing a doctor this week from the Environmental Health Clinic @ Women’s College Hospital in Toronto to discuss other options.
Beeyaach Why did you decide to stop using it?
It is a diet plan based on prepackaged food. Calorie restrictive based mainly, also substitutions such as soy instead of meat protein, low sodium, sugar substitutions. You eat strictly their menu with the addition of your own fruits/veggies and fat free milk. I was on a 1200 calorie intake. They also have a “bar” that is supposed to contain all your necessary vitamins/minerals that I ate once daily.
Beeyaach What is the Jenny Craig diet please?
Nothing changes with diet. Pain is the same. Low sodium, low carb, no meat, no dairy, doesn’t seem to matter. No difference in lower or higher weight. (I’ve gained 70lbs since starting on meds and not being able to exercise) I’ve been diagnosed about 3 years now. I was on Jenny Craig for about 2 years before all of this started with my body and I’ve often wondered if something in the prepackaged food contributed to it.