Posted by bigyin (212.211.96.2) on August 31, 2001 at 19:52:03:
Just want to tell my story in case it helps someone.
Moved fro m Glasgow Scotland to NJ.USA in Sept 97.
2 weeks later started to feel the beast.
Within a few weeks it had taken over,and I went through the familiar diagnosis of sinus infection,migraine etc.
Got lucky with a neuro who knew the score,and diagnosed
Gave me prednisone(without explaining the risks)and it stunned them.But they came back and I spent weeks/months spending the early hours writhing in the basement often thinking the UNTHINKABLE.
Eventually got verapimil which made life bearable.
The message board at the time was alive with the Candida/yeast infection theory,so I tried it.It didn't work for me,but I rightly or wrongly identified sugar as a major factor.Having religously followed the diet for 3 months without great success I noticed that sugar was a guaranteed problem.
I haven't touched it in a concentrated form since,and have been free of the worst.
Still take verapimil daily,having tried to stop on countless occassions,only for the serious shadows and symptoms to return after a week or so.
I know that sugar is present in virtually all processed foods,bread,unrefined in fruit etc,etc.
But having avoided sweets chocolate cakes soda and the rest for over 3 years I have been free and fortuitously able to drink alcohol to excess without reproach,I thought it worth posting.
It may be that the next episode is lurking round the corner,and that my avoidance of sugar is a bit like a placebo,but I thought it worth a mention.
Please don't respond with abuse,or theoretical analysis of the flaws such as the sugar(albeit in a different form)in alcohol.
Freedom.
Bigyin