Can nutrition and food help us to heal?

@Tigger.co.uk Good wishes Tig, you certainly have had your trials over the years! You've done so well to hang on in there but I  think you were so unfortunate not to be diagnosed sooner with Coeliac disease. You are only 2 years older than me but I was diagnosed at only 2years. I have Osteopenia but could have Osteoporosis were it not for prompt diagnosis and calcium supplements. I do however have Epilepsy, diagnosed along with Coeliac but had surgery 9 years ago which has controlled my seizures completely. We share quite a history with health issues but I wish you a happy and healthy future, despite Covid! x

Thank you Mrs E Larkin ,when I was little I had so many different illnesses, tonsillitis, ear infections, sprained wrists ,was always feeling sick, but was treated for anaemia, had no immunity at all it wasnt till I got 49 and was really poorly nearly to dying ,was anorexic ,foliate level was 2.5 ,had breathing problems in pain in my legs arms etc was very depressed my teeth were crumbling had no calcium it was a simple country doctor took one look at me and sent me for a biopsy by an endoscopy that's when he told me I was a coeliac and had been like it from birth, he said I was to go on a gluten and wheat free diet for the rest of my life ,I had to have all my teeth extracted by operation, had to have an operation on my ear as I had infections really bad and I had a Mastoidectomy, and that's when he said I was deaf in both ears my left ear was really bad as I still get infections in it and my right ear was perforated, so now I have to wear 2 heading aids ,then I had to have an MRI scan and that's when they diagnosed me having osteoporosis arthritis, also I have glaucoma ,hypertension angina which I have a low blood flow to my heart, I have migraines ,breast cancer ,lymphoedema from having radiotherapy plus I had to have a mastectomy, now I have emphysema copd ,and PTSD low moods depression and anxiety but that's because of being in 3 bad marriages, being bullied as a child from 6 yrs till I left school because of my dad being in a mental hospital from me being 3 mnths old till I had to go identify his body when I was 26  ,then having to look after my mother for 6 months with her lung cancer ,and she died 2 days  before my sons wedding where I had to put a brave face on so it didnt upset his wedding day ,but in the back of my mind I was worrying about my mum ,when she died I lost my home to my ex and ended up on the streets there I was stalked by a man who was going to pour boiling hot fat on me so I was put in a womens refuge there until it was safe for me to go into my new home but there I wasnt safe as he found me a was going to make my life hell but thanks to my husband that is now I have a better life and I am safe but the man who stalked me has gone I think he might be in prison as we found out that be killed his next door neighbour but at least I have a good husband and a fantastic family and a beautiful home  I only wish I didnt have all these illnesses then my life would be perfect but I suppose you cant have everything, Tigger xxx 

So pleased to hear that you have a husband and family, as I do, as that means so much whatever your health situation! The love and support of ones family is the antidote to any illness. 

Good wishes for the future Dawn, perhaps at last, your time has come to get the most from this world as you certainly deserve it!😊

When I read about the illnesses so many of you have i stand in awe of your tenacity and spirit.

I do have a lot of issues with my health, but I had a doctor in Spain who put me on enzyme therapy which helped my COPD and arthritis. I continue to take it now I am back in the UK but I have to buy it here. I also heard of a diet by Dr Amy Myers and read her book  titled The Autoimmune Solution. That has certainly helped, particularly with the fibromyalgia .

I keep searching for anything that might help, most doctors just reach for the prescription pad. You take the medicine, get side effects. Go back, get tablets for the side effects. Then more tablets for the side effects caused by the second lot of tablets. Then someone spots that you should not be taking tablet C with tablet E and you have developed more problems. I am sure so many of you have been there.

Try to stay positive, always think tomorrow will be a good day.

I run an online asthma support group under my name of Janet Collins. My subject for next week is eating the right diet and how to do it cheaply. Superfoods have become a buzz word but a lot of them are expensive. However there are 8 so called Superfoods that are high in vitamins, antioxidants, fibre and essential fatty acids which are readily available and could be grown at home. These are Tomatoes, blueberries, broccolli, kale, chilli peppers, beetroot, carrots and slightly more expensive Jerusalem Artichokes.

I control my diabetes, arthritis and diviculitus largely by diet. The problem is that a lot of what I should eat for a good health for one condition I either can't eat for various reasons or is bad for another condition. My son helps me manage my diet and it has made a big difference. 

See food diet for me, that's why I assume I'm a diabetic!

I'm very allergic prone, and allergic to dairy, certain types of fruit, protein, seafood, spices, and wheat. Any fruit with pips, i.e. oranges, apples, grapes, nartjies, pomegranate, etc. presents a problem. I take an anti-histamine tablet daily. 

My mother always made my brothers and I eat our vegetables when we were younger, which I must admit I don't enjoy now due to being forced several years ago.  I tend to 'play' with my vegetables, and will only eat certain ones. Cauliflower and broccoli give me constant stomach pain/cramps so I avoid them both, and I practically live on Buscopan due to the constant allergic reactions I have. 

Due to my epilepsy, I've been on many medications over the 47 years with the condition, so hate to imagine what these have done to my system, never mind high blood pressure/osteoporosis/hypothyroid/stomach acid medications, and several more!  In 2018 I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, and in November 2020, I was experiencing terrible stomach pain/heartburn so had an endoscopy. This diagnosed a hiatus hernia and even though I'm on Lansoprazole for stomach acid, I still have a major problem and pain. What I don't understand sometimes is that often in the past I was put on medications that reacted with one another. My doctors then didn't think of how the reaction might affect my system until complaining and trying another.

I've been on a medication for my epilepsy now for 7 months (Topiramate), and in December 2020, I complained to the Neurologist about heartburn and other side effects, which are listed on the leaflet. Surely he must realize that when I've already got a hiatus hernia, the medication would cause more pain and suffering, but he tells me to reduce the dosage and wait for the results of an EEG which I had done in March, then he will consider changing my medication. Due to all the side effects, I've taken myself off the medication but kept myself on another one I trust that doesn't cause problems.  Once I get my EEG results and he decides on a new medication, I will be requesting a further investigation of other side effects and heartburn through my doctor. Eating causes pain as the food's trying to go down whilst also eating slowly. I drink herbal tea to ease the pain as I find the liquid and heat process eases it. One day is good, another is bad when I struggle with bloating, water retention, and stomach pain. 

One type of food helps with one condition, another doesn't help with another condition, so it's a matter of 'pick and choose'. I also have a failing for chocolate, biscuits, and the odd slice of cake, but again this is pastries and presents a problem. 

One can't win! 

Hi Glojo so sorry to hear about your mum and all the trouble you have been going through I can really understand what you have had to deal with I do hope things improve for you as it is really hard when you lose a loved one especially when it is your mum ,I do understand your pain in that but I am also sorry for all you have had to deal with your own health it must have been a real up hill struggle ,I do hope you will find peace in your heart as time is a good healer but it must have been hard to cope with all the hospital ,I do hope you are feeling ma bit better sending you,my love thoughts and prayers and hope everything gets better for you stay safe take care your friend Tigger 

Diet has been essential to me to control all my various illnesses. I have a list on my fridge of foods to either avoid or limit. Basically I am a gluten free low carb, sugar and dairy diet which can be a pain but means I can actually have a reasonable life.