The Nightshade Experiment

My time of eating nightshade plants to see if they make me hurt had numerous confounding variables; I’ll rate it a weak no. Week one, I had great pain about 4 or 5 days into the experiment (actually, I’ll rate it a weak yes, a maybe). That weekend, I learned that jalapenos seem to aggravate my acid reflux. I haven’t really tested that again. I’ve had spicy things, but nothing jalapeño heavy. I backed off for a few days in hopes of the pain subsiding (it did) and started again. Then the game became known as “The Game of Confoundment” instead of any kind of experiment. I told my mom I’d eat whatever she cooked on Easter despite my diet so we could have it together. Once I turned that allowance function on, I didn’t know how to turn it back off. I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted for a week (managing to avoid aspartame or nitrates during that period); then I started again, that time doing a poor job of controlling myself and eating many things I knew I wasn’t allowed to have. Wednesday, crazy things happened at work. Thursday, I could barely walk. Friday, I decided to let go of what had occurred so that my pain could cease. Yes, I know that stress aggravates the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Today probably marks 2 weeks of daily ibuprofen to control pain. It could be that nightshade plants do me just fine and that the yeast or gluten or sugar or ___ I’ve consumed in the past few weeks is what’s making me ache. Or it could be the nightshade plants. My experience of the pain hasn’t been as strong as what I’ll call a mean stretch of fibro, but it has been present. Again, I will avoid consuming nightshade plants (and everything else) and see if the pain decreases. During the next experimental phase, I’ll eat sugar or yeast and gluten; time will tell.

Last week, I struck a deal with myself. Once every 2 weeks, I can eat whatever I want, 1 meal or snack. That small quantity shouldn’t really throw off the results, based on what I’ve experienced thus far, but I only get that planned treat if I behave myself in the mean time. You’d think the improved health that results from this diet would be enough to have me keep going but no. Also, I have an allergy free cookbook that I’m slowly reading in hopes of finding new dishes to prepare. I have to eat something and sometimes, I want it to be something other than corn. Lately, I’ve developed the bad habit of eating out a lot. That seems odd when considering that basically I can eat salad, tacos, nachos, and bunless hamburgers, but nonetheless it’s true. I need to gain more control of my lunchtime habits to allow for me to eat without spending additional money on it. There aren’t many frozen meals I can consume (say 1.5) so I need to cook at home more and take left overs for lunch. We’ll see. I’ve identified a problem; some would say I’ve also identified a solution (nevermind how much I like to NOT cook).

As is common for someone with fibromyalgia, I am falling asleep as I write this. I am not sure how well these words come together to form a thought and am clueless on how insightful or interesting those words happen to be. In this moment, I give in to my nature and agree to go to sleep. Namaste.