Yoga update

Generally speaking I have been improving through my Bikram sessions.  The small if not minuscule improvements are definitely having their cumulative effect.  So last week thought here was an opportunity to get the best out Bikram and so I did six Bikram sessions on the run.  Well, not exactly running, but you understand!

I had hoped that as the week rolled by I would feel better, after all the effort I was putting in!  However the third session seemed to be my high, and a mixture of issues seemed to hold me back towards the end of the week.  On one hand I seemed to have developed a bit of intermittent lower back strain, sadly otherwise I seemed to have more arthritic pain, stiffness and fatigue hitting me.  And so with some trepidation on Friday I made my last visit, asking myself was I overdoing it.

Are we betrayed?

Though I have no financial interest, I am pleased to circulate the following press release by Dr Tom O'Bryan:

"Dr. Tom O'Bryan and I invite you to his FREE #docuseries on #Autoimmunity, #BetrayalSeries ... Register as my guest: http://bit.ly/BetrayalSeries ... The world's leading minds say autoimmune disease is behind ALL disease, even cardiovascular disease, MS, brain disorders, CANCER, depression, suicide... Autoimmune disease CAN be reversed and put into remission. THIS is the info desperately needed."

My reasons for doing this is because so much of what he says in his series Betrayal follows my own path of recovery from a totally debilitating auto-immune disease, in my case Rheumatoid Arthritis.  If I had followed the recommendation of my doctor and rheumatologist I might be taking a considerable portfolio of drugs by now.  Consequentially I might be looking to a future of drugs and more drugs, each one removing the goodness from my body.  If I was lucky, my body would stabilise, but as with so many people with RA, struggle to find a blend of drugs that keep my RA under control. I have already had approval and indeed recommended to have both knee joints replaced.

Instead I took responsibility for my own health.  I researched solutions that worked for me and thus gradually changed my diet to a whole-food plant-based diet which is also oil-free, gluten-free and nightshade plant free.  This was the diet recommended by Clint Paddison, and he and other people on this diet have helped me with considerable advice and support during some very difficult periods, and continue to help me to this day.

After seven months my body has become healthy enough for me to start Bikram Yoga.  And now just over a month later I can walk normally and live an increasingly normal life.  I am not yet totally without drugs - that day will come after my next visit to my Rheumatologist.

Do I feel betrayed by the UK's medical system?  I'll let you, dear reader, decide that.  All I will say is that this morning I looked at my knees in the mirror and I thought, "wow! Not pretty perhaps, but when you have had knees like I have, the only word is WOW!  These are my knees, and slowly but surely they are regaining full health."

Is Bikram my future?

Okay, I have been waiting to blog about this but wanted to wait until I had evidence.  Well I have now had my tenth session of Bikram Yoga.  Most people know what Yoga is, even if they have not experienced it.  Bikram Yoga is Yoga in a form that is ideally suited to people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Each yoga session lasts for 90 minutes and takes place in a hot room.  Each session has exactly the same twenty-six postures.

Bikram Yoga is not a replacement for dietary changes.  Without having adopted a whole-food plant based diet I would never have been able to get my health to a sufficient standard to be able to attend a single session.  However RA will cause significant damage to the body for most people who suffer it.  Sometimes that damage is in the form of distorted limbs.  In my case, due to arthritis I have not been able to kneel properly for forty years.  Also I have not been able to straighten my right elbow.  The last year's RA has also meant that using my right elbow can cause a searing pain.

So about three weeks ago I felt my health was good enough to get me out of the house.  I thus left and went to my first Bikram session.  Sadly due to traffic problems I was five minutes late and so advised to come back tomorrow!  The next day I went to my first session and I have not looked back.

This is not to say I am having some kind of miraculous recovery, rather that I am perceiving minute but persistent improvements.  When I say "minute" I really mean that - they are tiny.  But improvements are being felt on several fronts.

And so at last I wanted to blog about my reasons for continuing with Bikram Yoga as I feel at this stage.  So here they are:

1. The heat really helps. Just being in the heat is nice, but also it helps improve flexibility through the class. It also brings out that sweat.
2. The sweat really helps. If Rheumatoid Arthritis is about anything it is about impurities in the blood inside your body. Sweating many of those out gives my body a spring clean. After a session it really feels like a cleanse that means less pain in the hours ahead.
3. The relaxation really helps. Right now I neither get up or down to the floor without assistance, but once down, and despite pain in my right elbow I could lie down for a long time...
4. The breathing feels great. Not just the initial pranayama session and the ending "doggy" pant (as I call it) but the continual need to breath steadily helps my chest enormously.  Apparently good breathing also reduces acidosis in the body: and that means less pain!
5. "It helps the digestion." Words from several Bikram teachers affirmed, not least by my improved bowel movements, all mean less pain!
6. The same 26 postures wherever and whenever. It is really good to know what you are letting yourself get into. In my first session I cried inside with a mixture of embarrassment and fear. I stuck through and now calmly read my body, listen to instructions about the posture goals and feel progress. I have tried two venues (Warwick and Oxford, UK) and it is a great relief to know the experience is exactly the same.
7. Taking time to concentrate on me. Every beginners Bikram session is 90 minutes long. I try to get to class early to benefit from the heat as much as possible and I don't hurry away. Mind you with my stiffness I could not hurry if I tried!
8. It's working. I cannot put my finger on exactly what is happening to me, but after 10 sessions I feel something very positive is happening inside my body. But let me try one...
9. I feel warmer. I have felt cold over the last months. However now my circulation must be improving because I feel warmer in myself.
10. A Daily Dose Does Best. I will be doing 4 days at least most weeks. My body needs that, no joke. Missing some days already has felt bad. Bikram is good if you travel because there are centres in or near most major towns and cities. And they all give you exactly the same experience.
11. Drink the water. With Bikram you simply must drink water, before, during and after. Water is so purifying that anything that encourages that regime must be a good thing.
12. What about other yogas? The heat makes me a Bikram person. Bikram teachers are very skilled and know exactly the pain I am going through.  They make sure I don't do too much or the wrong thing.  They also give great personal advice on alternative stretches I can achieve.
13. Everyone at class is so kind and helpful. Each person concentrates on their own frailties and strengths and do not worry about my issues. They just express full-some support for what I am trying to achieve. At my last Warwick session I was told, "I was an inspiration." Not bad for someone who cannot do a single posture!

What the future holds for me

Right now I am in some kind of control of my diet and my lifestyle.  I cook my own food, buy my own produce and so forth.  But the future could be frightening.  Imagine I have to go into a residential or care home, whether that be 10, 20 or more years ahead.  Will they provide me with a raw salad or will they force met to have mashed potatoes and over-cooked veg?  Now if I had limitless funds then surely I could get the care I choose and need.  But will care homes of the future bother caring for my dietary needs.

Also at that time will they take control of my medication and usurp my wishes without my knowledge?  Perhaps they might argue, with support from doctors, to relatives, "of course he needs sleeping pills", or whatever.

In essence will they treat the symptoms - or the cause?

There is no doubt that with sufficient funds anyone could choose the exact care they need.  But will I be in that position?  That, I doubt.

Fortunately I am becoming aware of Blue Zones.  These are places in the world like Okinawa where most people live beyond 100 years of age in great health, perhaps riding motorbikes, exercising regularly and probably more exercise than I do now!  Fortunately my diet is already on its way to fulfilling the Blue Zone goal.

However Blue Zones are more than just diet.  It is a social goal.  Eynsham, beware!  If I am to have a future then encouraging a Blue Zone community around me is a must.

Knockdown and no clipper to be seen!

My apologies to readers.  I don't do well posting when things get bad, and the last few weeks have not been easy.  Just before that I was getting healthy to the point of thinking I was a fraud, in that pain and inflammation was diminishing and I was really coming together as a quasi-normal human being.  I was re-entering society and was beginning to look back on the previous year as a very bad dream.  Had it happened?  Had I exaggerated my own illness and struggles?  Had I at last overcome some major hurdles?  At this point I perhaps became complacent, possibly arrogant.  Perhaps I could begin to venture outside my safe food zone and experiment more with "normal foods."

And then my knock-back happened.  I quickly pressed dietary reset button (cucumber and celery juicing etc etc) and hoped that the fault was only temporary.  However it has been longer and deeper.  With significant pain, latterly and especially in my ankles.  Initially my left wrist blew up and looked like an exceedingly undesirable but well-risen cake, with pain to match.

Any hope of quick recovery seemed to disappear as days and then weeks seemed to have rolled by with very little venturing out of doors.  Are we at the point of recovery?  Only time will tell.  One thing I have learnt is predicting how well I will feel is not worth very much.  I can be lying in bed feeling comfortable at say 4am, and then by 7am I am struggling with pain to even get myself sat up on the edge of bed.

But recovery does happen.  The skills I have learnt about listening to my body, a very careful attention to its dietary needs and most of all patience.

As the days roll by I can feel the inflammatory blood serum travelling from one part of the body to another.  The soles of my feet, the ankles, the wrists, the hip joints, knee joints, elbows, and for one horrible day even my back.  Unlike, say 6-9 months ago, now I only tend to have pain etc in one place.  That's not nice, but at least most of the time I find my mind is clear.  I have very little brain fog - touch wood.

But I have to learn the lesson of the last weeks.  As yet I do not know what I have learnt except that I am far from clear of RA yet, and possibly if ever.

If I had a guess at the lesson it would be that when RA kicks in badly it is because of multiple trigger events.  So not just one meal, but a range of things.  Perhaps too much (or contaminated) oil or fat on one day.  Perhaps an inadvertent nightshade vegetable on another.   Perhaps some egg in a falafel on another.  Each of these takes its toll and then like a pack of cards I collapse.

This is not proven science, just my best guess.

What is true is I need more protection around myself.  To this end I have prepared a dietary card to show when I go to a restaurant.

Another milestone of recovery

I walked over ten miles yesterday.  It was supposed to be less than seven but a wrong turning out two...  Nevertheless with aching feet I ended my walk very very pleased with myself. This feels like I really have beaten my rheumatoid arthritis into submission.

Now I have energy and flexibility the future is a life of more milestones because the moment I stop is the moment RA is likely to come back, and I won't let that happen.

Not sure I dare post this

I am feeling very good.

Not perfect but my three good days earlier in the month at Cropredy are now being followed by a further four days, and counting...  To me a good day is when I feel I can just walk like a normal human being, no aches, no pains.  I may walk at a slow speed, but if these improvements continue then with more walking and swimming now doubt the speed issue should resolve itself.

Also I ate something on my dangerous list last night, and magically no side effects.  Does this indicate my gut is healing to the point where the gut has decided that an arthritic reaction is not the default?

This is not to say I am in the all-clear, not by a long way.  I have to come off methotrexate and that will be a slow process that may take me into next year.  I have a poorly right elbow which has not come out of the last year or so of Rheumatoid Arthritis smiling. Finally my wrists have just the smallest amount of inflammation and pain.

But altogether, anyone who says a wise change of diet cannot improve arthritis is talking hogwash.  I see stories of people who have had much more complex medications than mine, and for them the road to recovery is infinitely more challenging.  For those who have started down the road to recovery, I salute you!   I hope that my blog here gives some hope that recovery is possible.

A significant step forward

Looking back, I had hoped and indeed expected to see good physical progress for this month of August, but that didn't happen.  My first two August weeks definitely did not go to plan, instead I was hamstrung with some pain and inflammation. I am not talking anything of the pain levels of the early months of this year, but just sufficient to stop me getting out and about.

That changed dramatically three days ago.  I'd booked myself into Cropredy 2016, Fairport Convention's annual folk music festival.  When I booked the ticket I had a real hesitance. I asked myself many questions

• could I actually get there?
• no chance of camping, 
• would I need a mobility scooter?
• what if it rains badly which could be very bad news for walking, 
• how on earth would I get up if I slipped?
• would a slip have consequential health issues, like a broken joint?
• what would I be able to eat?
• how would I get plenty of water?
• how would I get in/out of camping chairs?

Serious colonoscopy questions

Background: In an earlier post I reported that my blood tests show that I had/have anemia (also spelt anaemia).  My doctor's initial reaction is to advise iron tablets, which I have to a large measure been taking.  He then also requested my local hospital book me in for an endoscopy, which involves sedation followed by a tube being passed down through the mouth into the stomach.  The goal being to do a physical examination of my insides.  This revealed, at worse, a hiatus hernia, which means that my stomach is pressing upwards into my oesophagus.

The hospital report on this was reassuring, that possibly 75% of older adults had hiatus hernia and that mine was nothing special.  I thus thought, well that was worth doing to find out not much wrong, and no particular harm done.

Where have I been?

I don't do bad times well and last week was much more difficult than I expected which is a shame, not only for my own health aspirations, but also I have much to blog about. I had had in mind a blog post entitled, "It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault."  This was a twist on the lines spoken by Robin Williams in the great film Good Will Hunting.

You see I have had bad gums nearly all my life.  Every visit to the dentist has been plagued with plaque no matter how much effort I put into regular cleaning.  What do I find out now?  It's the arthritis, stupid!  My dental challenges have always been made worse by having arthritis.  I have to ask myself, why did no-one tell me!   It's just like my dietary changes, why did no-one tell me?

It is not that my actions might have changed.  I might have brushed my teeth more frequently, with more diligence perhaps.  But at least I would have know that it was not my fault, in that for my life I have always felt, somehow I am not brushing or flossing properly.

Now I know it's the arthritis.  Here is one comprehensive set of pages on dental health for anyone else with arthritis.

I almost forgot the good news.  As I clear up my arthritis I hope and expect my teeth and gums to slowly heal.

Strengthening is a natural process

I have said to myself that I am now in a strengthening phase.  What does this mean?  Well yes it means i will concentrate on the wim hof method to help get in touch with my inner self.  Hopefully it also means I will start regular yoga sessions as well as my regular swims and walks. And this also includes booking a date for a return to long distance walking.

But they are, together or individually nothing without making full value of my body's natural ability to heal itself.  That's why I went to see a chiropractor.  That's why I am not testing any food and drink  unless I am very confident it will not cause me arthritic problems.

After I had my knees scanned under the MRI the pictures of my knees were very clear and detailed.  I was told I could have knee operations whenever it suited me, "I can arrange an appointment with the surgeon now if you wish, Mr Swarbrick." well thanks, but no thanks.

I have since found out that much of my decrepit body might just heal itself.  With a supportive regime there is just a chance that the cartilage in my knees might improve, as indeed may my gums and teeth.

So that's what I am really working on. Founded in a whole food plant based diet my true goal is to get this body super-healthy.  It is no longer good enough to simply overcome my arthritis but rather prepare my body for the next however many years for a happy and healthy life.

Walking the walk

It was just a walk. It was just a walk. It was just a walk.

It was just a walk around the gardens of Coughton Court near Alcester.  But I did it at normal walking pace.  Another first.  The first time in many months that I was able to walk with no pain, no ache at a decent speed.

That's not to say I walked fast.  But I felt I could have kept going and I did not tire.

It feels like nothing short of a miracle.

Many of my thanks go to my chiropractor, Elaine, whose business card says "Enabling the joy of movement."

Another day today.  I think I'll go for a walk - cheery-bye.

Eliminating capsicum peppers

I have suspected bell pepper to cause inflammation, since it is one of the nightshades.  However tests (until now) have seemed mixed.  For instance I had a soup and did not seem to suffer.  The jury now has placed its verdict clearly in the "never again" tray.

We had lunch at the home of some good friends and they tried their damnedest to ensure everything was to me diet.  So much so that I missed seeing some yellow pepper head inexorably towards my mouth.  Totally delicious.

However today my wrists are badly inflamed and painful.  I can even feel the blood pumping in my left wrist under the pressure of inflammation.  This is going to be with me for most of the day, I predict, as a problem and the take another couple of days to disappear altogether.

Hey-ho, I cannot bear anything touching my left wrist for now.  But it is worth this experience to know I have now eliminated such peppers from diet.

Another of the nightshade family bites the dust!

Strength in GF beer

My third gluten-free beer, yummy!  We're at the Weighbridge canalside pub in Alvechurch.  They are definitely good for vegan and gluten-free with a range of options.  I went for Sunday roast - actually no roast)

I am definitely into my building "strength" phase. I swam for 20 minutes this morning and walking much better.  Also I have a feeling for the first time in several months of looking outward rather than that depressed inward feeling.

Pain and inflammation - gone

I slept well last night - and no meds.  The night before I found I had to relax my legs into a posture of repose very carefully, whereas last night they settled under the quilt at whatever speed they wanted.

Every day I notice microscopic improvements, for instance today I notice that I can get up from a chair so easily, whereas before it might take me five minutes of rocking myself forward to be able to get to a point where my legs would take the strain.  Bear in mind  I am not talking about a sofa chair, rather a dining chair which should be easy-peasy because it it higher.  This means the ligaments in my legs are working better, that I am more flexible and that I am getting my life back.

The significance of sleeping well is that I now know any pain from my chiropractic manipulating my spine has gone and replaced with health.  Not just that, but improving health.  That is my body is now more able to heal itself.

For the last few weeks I have had persistent inflammation and pain around my wrists which would begin to appear early in the morning before I might arise.  Now that has largely gone.  This means I can now use my wrists to help me get out of chairs.

Does this mean my journey is over?  Not by a long way.

So looking forward to my next Chiropractic session.  In the meantime I think I will get some sunshine & some Vitamin D.