Gluten and dairy free helps sinus issues

[jakekell]

My doc had me get off dairy and gluten and I am wondering if others are off of them also. This seems to have lessened my sinus issues a lot. He also had me buy a nasal rise call Alkalol, which is all natural. I have done well rinsing with it this can be found at some pharmacies, however I get mine at Viitacost website.

I am new to the site and looking back on some of the sinus issues that sounded like mine before making these changes so thought this might be helpful.

Mary (user name Jakekell to many Mary's to use it)

[annekat]

Hi, Mary. I have a sister by that name. I've always thought it was a nice name.

Funny you should mention Alkalol. I just picked some up the other day. It was on sale at Walgreen's for $5.99, where it is usually $9.99 for a 16oz. bottle. I had tried it in the past, before I ever knew I had Wegs, when I had lots of sinus infections, or so they thought. A relative had recommended it to me, not my doc. At that time you had to order it at a pharmacy, where I live, but now they carry it on the shelves. Anyway, when I first tried Alkalol, I tried it full strength and found it to be so strong it was painful. So I started diluting it a lot and eventually just started adding it to my nasal saline rinse. As it now says in the directions, one should start out with a mild dilution and then work up to what is comfortable. I was adding 1/2 teaspoon to the 8oz. bottle of saline but think I can move up to 1 teaspoon. It gives a soothing, cooling sensation and is supposed to thin the mucus as well as clean the nasal passages. I have not tried using it in the dispensing "cup" provided, but that is an option, and also allows for dilution. Here is the link to the company:
Alkalol Company: A natural, soothing nasal wash, mucus solvent, and cleaner. (http://www.alkalolcompany.com)

[annekat]

I might add that there has been talk on here about gluten and dairy free. I notice I feel better when I eat less gluten. I don't eat a lot of dairy but do eat yogurt and a little cheese here and there, and half and half in my coffee. I don't drink milk. I know there are some on here who adhere to these dietary restrictions, and you can find some of their posts and threads by doing a search, using the search window at top right of page.

It seems your doc is pretty progressive and open minded by paying attention to these diet issues and by having you use a medication that is different from the standard, yet seems to be working. My doc would summarily dismiss any mention I made of any of these things, I think.

[jakekell]

Hi Anne,

Thanks for the info about Walgreen's as I couldn't find it years ago in the store so will try that instead of ordering. I am able to use it a little stronger than you are, but either way it sure helps to keep me out of trouble. I use it just barely warm if I am really stuffy. I also use Ayr nasal saline gel really helps keep the nasal tissue softened. I will say being in FL for the winter has helped a lot not being in the cold weather.

I am wondering if others are on oxygen at night? This new doc (about 3 years ago) said he felt I didn't get enough oxygen at night so had me metered for it. I just use it at night to get enough oxygen to my body as he feels Wegs air passages may need it. Medicare approved it for life at this point, which helps with the energy level in the day time.

Mary

[annekat]

You're welcome. Years ago, I couldn't get it at Rite-Aid either, unless I ordered it, but I saw it in there recently, too. So I guess it is getting more mainstream. I might try using it a little stronger, but then, I'll use it up faster, of course!

No one has mentioned oxygen for me at night. I seem to do OK on that, and have been sleeping well lately. But I also don't think anyone has even thought about it, so I wouldn't know if I need it.

[Lilly]

Hi my Weggie friends, ive missed talking and reading and keeping up with everyone....But I have a computer now (YAY!!!!!) and I want to share something that after reading what yall are sharing about gulten free, and other ways to eat, and how it helps some of us. I have been trying to drop 30 lbs that just will not go away. I have gotten into eating fast food because it is cheap and I am too tired to cook. I was so depressed a couple weeks ago because I could not fit into ANY of my clothes and so I went to my local Goodwill Store where I buy lots of my clothes (very inexpensive! ) and so funny.....it was 99cent Sunday, and when I first walked in, I went straight to the books. I picked up a book about the "South Beach" diet. It is based on keeping your sugar level even, so you do not spike, from eating sugar, and then sugar level drops and you get depressed, tired, and crave sweets. Well I put the book in my cart, and then went and bought the "fat clothes" I came for. I have been on the diet for a week now. And yall.......I realized on the 3rd day that my knee from my knee replacement does not hurt AT ALL!!!! And my hips do not ache! And I have a bit more energy (of course I still have my Wegener "crash and burn" when I go go go) Obviously it is not a cure, but it IS a cure for inflammation! I cannot believe how my moods are smooth, and im not crying for no reason. I feel SOOOO good! Yall should look into it. It does take some discipline, which I just do not have, but once I started it, I had the discipline to stay on it because without the pain, I just plain feel better!!!! I know yall think im crazy over a diet, but it is not a FAD diet...It is a HEALTHY diet. The more you learn about it, the more foods you can make that keep you on the diet but its not the same thing all the time! Get Ready......When I start losing weight, you think im excited now! I may never stop typing!!!!! LOL , Well, I am so happy that I have a way to get back in touch and stay in touch with everyone, and meet new people, and I can do it all from my own computer! (I still gotta lot to learn about this thing!) I will be talking to yall soon and everyone take care! Ill be reading up on yall and pray everyone is doing well. :^)

[mishb]

Yay Lilly, you have a computer :hug3:


Mary, It has been a lot of years since I have had dairy except for ice cream, and probably about 6 months or so since ice cream also went south. I still have not seen any difference in my sinus situation.
In saying this, then it is most likely the gluten that keeps it blocked, because I do have a lot of wheat based products.
I am very limited in the foods that I can eat, even some breads cause me troubles whilst others don't, so cutting out things that I know I can eat, including gluten products, would limit my food intake too much I think.
One day I will give it a go.

Lilly, the South Beach diet sounds too good to be true. I will check it out. I hope it continues to improve your inflammation and pain levels

[pberggren1]

I went gluten free and dairy free for about 10 months once and never noticed even a slight difference in my nasal discharges or overall feeling in general.

[jakekell]

Anne,

My traditional specialist didn't meter me for needing oxygen either, but this newer MD spends a lot of time thinking of how we can make our bodies to work better. He ordered the meter and surprised me that I was at a level that at night that needed it.

Mary

[jakekell]

Michelle,

It has helped a quite lot by giving them up. I know what you mean about limited foods already ad I get hives from to many things. I have also have hashimoto's thyroid disease and that it also famous for hive. My diet ends up a quite a bit like South Beach with no dairy or gluten part, which is helping I hope.

[mishb]

I realize I have told an un-truth.......a little white lie :blushing::ohmy:

I said that I don't eat dairy - and this is true :thumbsup:........................................ ........................if chocolate doesn't have dairy in it :razz::sneaky:

Come on ladies - chocolate is a vegetable ......... right :w00t:

[jakekell]

lol and chocolate is a veggie! Walgreen"s Mid Knight chocolate "Nice" brand is dairy free so I can still have my veggies!

[me2]

I believe that reducing dairy and gluten has been helpful to me. Surprisingly the gluten seems to bother me more than the dairy. I 'sample' these items once in a while and I find I can frequently 'sample' a little cream in my coffee whereas a dose of gluten is not ok. (ha, I just realized that my definition of 'frequent' is now 'a couple of times a week'.)
The important part of my process I think was to go completely free for over 21 days. Zero cheating because even a tiny cheat starts you back at square one.

Then , after that, I could really tell for myself when I was eating things that didn't agree with me. Oddly enough I don't miss the things I thought would be hard to give up.
Just a few times, over a course of months, of tasting some formerly favorite goodie, and then having it make me feel bad was aversion therapy enough. I now ENJOY avoiding things that make me feel bad.
I have found new favorites that make me just as happy and not cruddy feeling.

And yes, this includes vegetable chocolate once in a while. The really dark stuff that is supposed to be healthy. I found some recently that has whole hazelnuts in it. I have to avoid that store now.

[annekat]

Kirk, since I live near you, I will have to find out where that store is. Ha, ha. BTW, I have a very large, healthy hazelnut bush, or I'd call it a tree. You may, too; they are not uncommon around here. Trouble is, the squirrels get all the nuts before I get a chance at them.

Michelle, chocolate is good for the soul, and the soul is a very important part of us.

[jakekell]

I was also surprised that I am enjoying not feeling bad from the dairy/gluten also. I do find it a little boring especially when we travel otherwise it is better than feel any worse than a weggie has to.

[Lilly]

Hi Michelle, I never knew how much gluten affected our bodies! My body has completely changed since I went on my diet. Its only been a week, and my usually crusty, dry nose started running! I mean I was wondering what was going on! I think the foods on the diet kind of cleanse your body the first week. Now I am waiting for the weight to start coming off! LOL.....But one thing that is a good thing and a curse for Weggies, It gives my energy. Last Monday, I cooked some of the food from the diet in bulk and froze it, I cleaned my kitchen, then I went outside to feed my worms in my compost, and I started raking leaves in my yard. My back yard is big and has a canopy of old oak trees, so I have a carpet of leaves! Well, I raked a pretty large portion of it! Then I went to work Tuesday (11:30am-4:30pm tues-fri) So just Tues, those 5 hrs, I began getting very tired, and on my way home, I almost ran off the road twice, and I fell asleep at a red light! Very scary! So when I got home, I went to bed at 5:30pm, right after I got home, and I slept till 9:30pm. I got up, ate a snack, and went back to bed at 11pm, and slept till 10am! I learned a lesson from that! I have to control my energy level by realizing even though I feel like I can do all that, I need to limit the physical part of my day when I feel a burst of energy, because obviously I will crash! But on the good side, I have never felt better. I am so thankful. But at the same time, I never know when the Wegeners will rear its ugly head again, so I try to stay positive, think of and pray for all of my friends on this incredible site. And I am going to look into that nose \ sinus Alkalol yall are talking about. And also, My Knee has not hurt at all STILL!!!! Nor have my hips! I am just so happy! Well, gotta get ready for work, Ill talk to yall later! Love U all~

[jakekell]

Lilly,

That is so good to hear it helped you so much. I have to work harder at getting the sweet treats out of my diet even through they are dairy free/gluten free the sugar most likely isn't good......of course weggies need a little fun too!

Mary

[BookNut]

I am gluten free - but would starve to death if I had to be dairy free, as I have been told to keep my carb rates low and my fat rates higher. Eating full fat yogurt is enjoyable. Eating other fatty foods, not so much. Not sure if the diet is doing me good other than weight loss, since I have done several new things recently to help with my sinus issues. The MOST helpful has been adding my asthma inhalation solution (budesonide) to my nasal rinse instead of using my asthma nebulizer. I discovered the idea from Mike G. It has been VERY helpful. Anyway - I will look into the Alkalol as I am always looking for natural remedies. Meanwhile - take a look at Mike G's most recent post if you have not already seen it.

http://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/general-wg-chat/3823-good-report-ent.html

And you have come to THE right place to find answers and awesome people!

[jakekell]

Thanks for the fyi to check Mike's post it is helpful in more than one way. I am getting an appointment with a new ent in Naples so I have one for the winter months, good advice accept on the best. I have not always been demanding enough about that part of the care. I think some times one just gets tired of it! lol

I would love the dairy, but can break down something in it. I start sounding like I have a cold in no more than 30 mins after have a tiny bit, draining, coughing and here comes an infection.

Mary