I’ve made a point of not writing anything for a few weeks whilst I’ve started my elimination diet. As I explain in my blog from a couple of months ago, I’ve recently had a food intolerance test which has identified an intolerance to egg white, yeast and sesame seeds, as well as a borderline reaction to some other foods. I’ve therefore embarked on an elimination diet for 12 weeks to see if these foods are actually making the symptoms of my M.E. worse. Today I am four weeks into this diet so thought it was a good time to reflect on how I am feeling and if it’s making any difference to my condition.

Do I feel any better after 4 weeks of cutting these foods from my diet? The short answer is yes. In a matter of days I was far less fatigued, had fewer headaches and migraines and could think so much clearer. All round I just feel better and happier. I’ve found work a lot more manageable because I don’t feel so unwell. I’ve gone to bed at a respectable time rather than 7pm. I’ve enjoyed what I’m doing rather than seeing it as something I just need to get through.  The greatest moment in the last few weeks was when my husband said he could see a change in me and I’d been laughing.

Whilst this is absolutely wonderful and I am so encouraged by this, it’s certainly not a magic pill and I am not cured. I wouldn’t say I feel ‘better’ if we assume ‘better’ means ‘recovered’. I’d say that my symptoms have reduced and my quality of life has seen an improvement. I feel better than I did. In the past I would probably have a day a week where I felt my version of ‘normal’. The rest of the week I’d either have been in bed or up and about but really struggling to get through the day whilst feeling really unwell. Whereas since beginning the elimination diet, I’d say I’ve probably had a day or two each week where I’ve felt unwell (I write this with a two day migraine after not being able to get out of bed yesterday). For me this represents a huge step but I’ve not magically recovered overnight.

Whilst I am seeing an improvement in the number of days I feel OK, I do need to be mindful of pacing. It’s almost harder when you feel well as you forget temporarily about this condition and can take things too far, causing a setback for a few days. Incidentally, I think that’s why I’m feeling unwell at the moment. I’ve also had a lot more joint pain. Probably because I’m moving a lot more. As excited as I am to feel better and be enjoying life much more, I do need to remember that I still have M.E. and need to pace and self-care as much as those days when I can’t get off the sofa.

The diet itself is also extremely hard work. It’s also really expensive! Yeast has posed the biggest problem as it’s in so many foods in different forms- breads, baked goods, stocks, sauces, gravy, processed meat, mushrooms and certain fruits. Because it’s not a typical allergen it isn’t listed on food packaging and I have to check ingredients in each item I buy. The same product in one brand can be OK, and another brand may have different ingredients meaning that I can’t eat it. I’ve pretty much given up eating out. When I’ve tried to discuss recipes and ingredients with restaurant staff there is a lot of confusion around yeast and they don’t seem to know what it is or if their dishes contain it. So it’s just easier not to go out. I’m planning meals in advance, making sure the cupboards are full of the food I can eat and taking food out with me to make sure I don’t get caught out or have to go hungry.

Interestingly, the diet has really opened my eyes to my relationship with food. Before this diet I wouldn’t say I had an unhealthy diet. I home cooked most of our meals. However, this diet has made me realise that I didn’t consider what elements were in my food and I still didn’t really know what I was actually eating. I also ate out a lot. I love food and the social aspect of it. I’d eat food to feel happy, feel full and to enjoy the experience. To be honest, I’m not really enjoying what I’m eating at the moment. The food is quite bland and uninspiring. I don’t hate it but I’ve not had a meal yet that I’d say I’ve really enjoyed.

I’ve realised that this is OK. Food is actually just meant to be fuel. It’s not there for us to stuff our faces until we feel full of what many class as ‘delicious’ foods. We need to feed our bodies with the right fuel to keep us functioning and alive. So I’m viewing this process as learning about what type of fuel my body needs to make me function to the best of its ability. Whilst I still want that pizza it really helps and makes sense to think that what I am putting in my body is going to impact on how it works and feels. This is so simple yet it’s taken me 35 years and feeling terribly unwell to realise it.

I’m proud to say that I’ve not eaten any of my trigger foods in the four weeks since I started the diet. I’ve had evenings when I’ve had a meltdown because I just want a Chinese but ultimately I know it isn’t worth it. I am committed and disciplined to make this diet work, just as I am to anything that may help me feel better.

I’ve got eight weeks left of my elimination diet before I start to reintroduce some of my trigger foods. I will check back in with an update on how I’m feeling. Right now, I’m off to prep my yeast free, egg free dinner.