(Updated) Food Sensitivity and the Elimination Diet - How it helped me

Close to the beginning of my arthritis diagnosis I was in so much pain that I could barely walk, even with a cane.  I couldn't put on my own socks or trim my own nails, because my hands had turned into painful claws.  I needed help in an out of the tub, even for a shower.  Pain, intense non-stop pain, had become my life.  Even being allowed to self medicate with Tylenol 3's (T3), regular Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Prednisone  I had little to no relief.  I had trouble getting a good nights sleep, because there were no comfortable positions.  My husband's sleep was also affected because he was afraid to accidentally bump me, and because occasionally I would moan.  I couldn't help the moaning, it just came out.  I was given 3 weeks off work for the medications to start working.  I started keeping a very detailed food and medication journal at this point.

I am fortunate to have a very understanding, caring and supportive husband.  He would help me get dressed, help me in and out of bed, anything that I needed while he was home and until the pain pills kicked in.  He would do anything for me, even though he was working full time.

Eventually, after blood tests confirmed that it was indeed arthritis inflammation, Plaquenil was added into the mix, with advise to stop taking the Ibuprofen.