| Hi Jill,
I am an Ob/Gyn physician
diagnosed June 1999 with SLE. Not long after my diagnosis, my
health spiraled downward. I developed lupus cerebritis and
couldn't walk or talk. Went through all the usual poisons,
including 10 months of IV cytoxan. I refused to do the 2 years
as recommended. I would have rather died at that point.
After
a long course of the other usual treatments, I was still not
in remission, and have suffered the effects of the treatment
probably worse than the disease. I was better, but not great. I have not been able to
resume my practice.
This summer my kidneys became affected. After the usual talk
of renal biopsies, steroids and oral cytoxan, I decided to try
your diet. I asked my rheumatologist to allow me to try things
my way. I had done other research and knew what I needed to
do, but it was your website and reading of the testimonials
that got me started in the right direction. Funny, how your
newsletter this month was geared toward support groups.
Well, within a month after starting your diet, I was feeling
WONDERFUL!!! In fact, I am off all meds except placquinil,
which my doctor has dropped to a lower dosage.
I cheated recently on a trip to Italy last week. Yes, I am
paying for it now with muscle and joint pain. But I have
resumed the diet and I am confident I will be back to my high
energy and pain free living again. I feel better just after my
carrot, apple, ginger juice this morning!
Thank you for all you are doing for those of us who also know
the frustration of Lupus.
Just another testimonial,
Linda Linger, D.O.
Ob/Gyn
West Virginia |
| Dear Jill,
I am a biomedical scientist and I have a doctorate degree in
immunology.
Thank you so much for the great book. I found the book, 'Lupus
Recovery Diet'
online a couple of months ago. I was searching for help for my Mom,
who has lupus.
I have food allergies and eczema. I have been telling my mom how
great I feel when I am eating this healthy diet. Even though I don't have lupus
I figured that this diet can help me with my allergies and
eczema.
I have been eating mainly fruits and vegetables for the last
couple of weeks
and my eczema has almost completely disappeared, I have lots of
energy and I feel great. I have stopped using
the steroid creams and use only moisturizers.
I know that there are many diseases out there
that the conventional medicine has no answer to
and I strongly believe in the right diet and the
right life style as the best medicine for your
body and mind.
I'll keep encouraging my Mom to try this way of
eating. The interesting thing is that I helped
myself by trying to help her. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Dr. Agnieszka, PhD
Baltimore, MD
|
|
Dear Jill,
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune
illness 18 years ago, when I was 37 years old. After being sick off
and on for several weeks with what my GP first thought was the flu
and then an infection, I woke up one morning with a high fever and
was so weak I could not get out of bed. Every joint, muscle & cell
in my body hurt and it felt like my body was on fire.
My doctor arranged for me to see a rheumatologist the next day.
After many tests, I was told that I either had Lupus or Rheumatoid
Arthritis. I was later diagnosed with Lupus. In spite of the
medications he put me on, I was constantly exhausted and in pain,
stiff, sore, breaking out in rashes, losing my hair, and sensitive
to heat and cold. Nothing helped.
After about 2 years, the pain began to
ease up some and I was not as exhausted as before. However, I had to
be very careful to stay out of the sun (even riding in a car for
more than a couple of hours during the day could set off a flare),
get plenty of rest and pace myself. But no matter what I did, I
still had several flares a month, migraine headaches, and the pain
and tiredness never went away. For someone as active as I was, it
was hard to accept the fact that I would never be the same again.
I began to read all I could about
lupus. I occasionally read that avoiding certain foods had helped
some people. Also vitamins and supplements were advertised as being
a "miracle cure", but nothing worked for me. I also read all the
books called "Coping with Lupus", "Living with Lupus", etc. They all
gave advice, but nothing I did gave any relief.
Then three years ago I ran across your book "The Lupus Recovery
Diet". What I read made sense and I was more encouraged by it than
anything I had run across before. Because of the testimonials and
because your web site was not selling supplements, I decided to give
it a try. I had nothing to lose.
I did the elimination diet and after just 3 WEEKS I was off all
my medications I was TOTALLY pain-free.
During the elimination diet, I found that in addition to meat, fish
& dairy, I could not eat citrus. It was not easy at first, in spite
of the wonderful results, but I knew I would either have to be
serious about this way of eating for the rest of my life or go back
to the medications and pain again.
I have been free of all my Lupus symptoms for three years now. I can
do anything I want to do. I camp, hike, garden, play in a band and
do volunteer work. I had given up being able to knit, crochet, sew,
do crafts and play my flute because of the pain and stiffness and am
now enjoying all these activities again.
Eating a whole foods diet is now a way of life for me. My husband
eats the way I do most of the time, even though he still likes to
occasionally eat meat when we go out.
God bless you,
Susanne Hayes
Texas
|
|
Hello Jill, Just had to write you a note. I’m
just back
from a visit to my Naturopath clinic...he just about fell
off his chair when he saw me. He said I looked like a
different person.
After reading your book, I decided to start an
'elimination
diet'. I thought it was going to be hard, because I'm not
really a salad person - but I felt so bad that I had to do
something.
So, for a couple of weeks, I ate really simple
foods – like
fruits, vegetables and salads.
Well, now my sharp joint pain has improved to
just
occasional dull aches. I feel awake and energetic during the
day, not exhausted like before.
My daughters are even more excited than me.
They see me
walking like I used to - not like a slow snail. I've lost
some extra weight and have been told that even my eyes
sparkle.
I'm starting to add different foods now, and
love trying new
recipes. I like the ones in your book, and have ordered some
of the other cookbooks you suggested. My husband has asthma- and this new way of eating is beginning to help him too.
Please send 3 more books for my grown
daughters. After
seeing what it did for me, they want to lose a little weight
and get rid of some aches and pains. Enough for now, off for
my walk...
Gwen Usher
Australia
|
Hi Jill,
I have found your book very informative and of great help.
I followed your diet strictly for two weeks. The results
were impressive. My joint pain is noticeably improved. My
resting heart rate has lowered from 70 to 55, cholesterol
from 210 to 150, blood pressure from 140/80 to 110/75 and
I have lost about ten pounds.
It's now been six weeks, and I have added a few foods back
in. This is the 'easiest' diet I have ever been on. The rich,
nutrition less foods that make up the SAD (standard American
diet) don't have much attraction to me anymore.
I generally eat what I want and what I find myself wanting
is the whole, raw, natural foods. Not the overcooked, greasy,
processed junk.
I love coffee and am addicted in some ways, but I have proven
to myself time and time again that it flares my joint pain.
I suggest that you address coffee in your book.
I feel much better, but am not yet 100% pain free, but I've
seen enough to let me know I am on the right track. I'll keep
you informed. I know it took years to get to get to this
condition and I am willing to work to get better.
Another thing I like about your book is that you aren't
hawking supplements or trying to grow an empire. Makes what
you say very believable.
Regards,
Randall Shaull
Indiana |
Dear Jill,
I was diagnosed with Lupus in August 2004. Of course, I heard
and read nothing but bad things about my future with lupus. I
started plaquenil, but it didn't do much. In November a friend
found your book on the Internet and after reading it I felt
like it was exactly what I was supposed to do.
I have been eating a whole plants diet since the end of
November 2004, and guess what! Within six months, my lupus
test came back NEGATIVE! I still have low white blood count,
but the ANA is normal. Most importantly, I feel great. I love
eating this way.
It has also had a positive effect on others who watched me as I
went through this major challenge.
Thank you Jill for sharing your experience in a book, and I
hope I can help someone by sharing my story.
Dina Schroeder
Louisiana |
|
Dear Jill,
I was diagnosed with lupus a year ago, and began reading your
book six weeks ago. I cannot tell you how much this has changed my life.
I love it!
I went through major detox initially and actually felt worse
beforeI felt better. Then better came and now I have energy that I
haven't had in years.
The cravings were difficult at first, but I could tell I was
healing. Now, I want to eat this way. I've introduced wheat and corn a few
times and
became so ill. I eat very simply and a lot raw.
After a short time I had my 9 year old daughter eating this way
with me.
She has Diabetes Insipidus (very rare and not related to sugar
diabetes).
It's thought that this form of Diabetes is autoimmune related.
Her
dose of medication used to last her 5 to 6 hours, and now one
dose lasts
9 or 10 DAYS. We were shocked. Eating this way is healing her
little body too.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is evident that you
really care.
Staci Ogden
Utah
|
This book should be required reading for every lupus patient. After
following this program for six months, I am no longer taking
Prednisone, Plaquenil or Advil; my joint pain is gone, my skin looks
great and I feel good.
The book explains what works and outlines
strategies for changing your lifestyle. I know it sounds too good to
be true, but it's very true. The information in this book changed my
life.
Erica
Harzewski
California
|
I found your book on the Internet. I downloaded it that day, started
on the program that day, and within weeks could tell that symptoms
that had never disappeared were now disappearing.
After just 3 weeks,
I was lupus symptom free with a sed rate of 1 and a CRP-neg. WOW - I
feel great!
Tami Finley, R.N.
Texas |
I made changes to my diet a little over a week ago, and have
started feeling results already. I have lost most of my muscle and
joint pain. I used to feel it all day, now I only feel a little stiff
and achy in the morning.
Once I am on my morning walk, the stiffness
is gone for the rest of the day. Also, the butterfly rash on my face
has faded.
Jeanette Karr
Michigan
|
I have lupus and am a twenty-six year old mother of three beautiful
kids. I have not been able to open their baby food jars or even take
them for walks. Everyone suffering from this debilitating disease
knows what I am talking about, and I empathize with all of you.
Just eleven days after starting the diet I can open jars of baby food,
and I have so much energy! I am soooo happy!!
I played with my
children today and I am crying tears of joy right now. This diet
worked for me after six months of Cytoxan several different
medications and three years of Prednisone with side effects.
I am so
thrilled to be able to type an email without frequent breaks. Love to
all.
Jennie Stansel
Alaska
|
I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate your book and all
your great information. Everything we read before your book was so
depressing, and your book gave us so much hope!!!
We changed our
daughter's diet less than a month ago and she has not had joint pain
since!! Her fatigue is so much better. She looks good. She plays an
awesome game of soccer. The rash on her face is gone.
To look at her
you would never know she has lupus.
Donna Turgeon, R.N.
Colorado |
I am reading your book. I am
so happy right now that I have tears in my eyes.
My sixteen-year old daughter had been hospitalized in August
with toxic shock...and then in September for mononucleosis
...and now here we are in October and the doctors are finally
finding that she most likely has lupus.
It looked like doom and gloom...until I Googled onto your
website. This book is a Godsend.
Jodi and Alexandra Bjornstad
Massachusetts
|
|
My name is Susan. I’ve had lupus for almost ten years. I’m
fortunate that I was diagnosed early and have only had mild
joint pain, a butterfly rash and the occasional kidney or
lung infection - and of course a constant spastic colon.
I have a demanding and stressful job as a radio news editor,
but thanks to your book, I cope perfectly.
I read your book last October, and followed "The Lupus
Recovery Diet" to a ‘T’, eating only fruits and vegetables,
and the results were very food. My skin cleared from deep
purple to rose pink and my pains improved within a month.
But I found that I lost too much weight. I am tall and only
weighed 128 pounds to begin with. I started eating bread and
pasta again, and picked up weight quickly, but soon found
out that anything with gluten made me flare.
In January, I cut out gluten foods again, and recovered
quickly. From March onward, I started eating more, and
also ate foods with more calories. My weight has stabilized
and is not a problem anymore. I feel great!
I’ve finally found confirmation of what I had suspected for a long time - that food plays a major role in lupus, and that I
can control this disease through what I eat.
Susan C.
Florida
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| More will be posted soon! |
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