ChiKat

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about not having to use Enbrel again. I've mentioned before the Enbrel truly was the wonder drug for me, allowing me to walk without pain. It made me feel like I could be my age, instead of an old crone. For that, I'll always be thankful.

But at the same time, every week, the injections felt like torture. It depressed me to have to inject myself. The needle hurt. The fluid burned. I would get ugly welts at the injection site. The entire experience would send me into a weekly spiral of frustration and rage. I hated the weekly reminder that my body had betrayed me by chaining me to a lifetime of pain.

Learning that diet changes could give me back control over my body was a distant hope. I wanted to do everything possible to stay healthy, but I don't think I really believed that I could be free of medication due to diet changes. Having hope like that seemed to be asking for disappointment.

But I'm so glad I tried the diet changes anyway. Actually, I didn't just try them – I threw my entire being into the diet changes. And I dragged my husband along for the no-dairy, no-sugar ride.

These days, I'm by no means pain-free. My hands and feet still ache in the morning. But within 30 minutes, the pain has gone (for the most part) and I can get on with my life.

I don't know if I can stay like this forever. Being without sugar is HARD. Being without dairy is harder. I love food, so going vegan means there are so many things that I miss (cheese enchiladas being at the top of the list…sob…followed by cheese ravioli…I can't go on…the list is too painful to contemplate). But skipping out on all those fabulous foods means that I don't have to inject myself each week AND I avoid joint damage. The best of both worlds. So for now, I'm sticking with the freak diet.