True Stories: Sharla
Update Dec 2008
Well it's over 8 years later... I have messed about with my diet a great deal - testing and retesting things over the years. Sometimes this has been by choice and at other times simply because I felt like eating something that I shouldn't! To summarise:
Salicylate Sensitivity
This hasn't changed over the years. I will still experience an unpleasant reaction if I allow my levels to go to high but I have become quite adept at knowing what I can get away with and what I can't. The majority of the time I eat only from the safe and low foods lists but occasionally allow myself a treat like a mild curry without any ill effects.
I have given myself so really nasty reactions complete with horrendous behavioural changes when testing herbs such as red clover - one of the problems with a Salicylate sensitivity is the build up effect. Because there is usually no immediate reaction it is easy to think the food (herb, medicine) is fine and then a few days down the line all sorts of strange things start to happen and you don't know why. When testing always use a food diary - it really does help.
The problem with Salicylate in non food products (perfumes, shampoos, fabric conditioners etc...) continues to be a challenge especially when away from home. I never leave the house without my personal air purifier (a little gadget you wear round your neck) because it makes things like shopping a lot easier to deal with. Whilst I still have problems, I very rarely now experience severe reactions.
Amines and MSG
I still avoid added MSG but I don't avoid amines. The problem with amines simply went away when I began to apply the principles of food combining to some of my meals which makes me doubt how real it ever was.
Wheat and Milk
I have really experimented with these over the years but now totally avoid them. I find that wheat eaten on a regular basis gives me excruciating joint pain and seriously impairs my mobility. After keeping it in my diet for over 6 months I had difficulty walking up and down stairs - the pain in my knees and ankles could be severe enough to reduce to me tears. Thankfully I am now back to being able to run up and down stairs and have no joint discomfort or pain.
Milk is a less of a problem but if I keep it in my diet for any length of time my weight shoots up. I also have found that menopausal symptoms (I am now 50) are reduced when milk is avoided.
Other Foods
I avoid most additives - not really a problem as I cook virtually all meals from scratch. For some reason I have been unable to work out, the only form of rice I can eat without getting terrible stomach pains is white basmati rice. I also avoid tapioca, xantham and other gums, and palm oil.