"Eat to live, don't live to eat."
-UknownYes, this question is definitely relevant. And I will say at the start that I am very, very bad about my food restrictions. It's the area in which I rebel the most. I know I shouldn't; I know it's foolish.

But. I do.



First, I don't have much of an appetite...well. Ever. My stomach has shrunk as a result. So I never eat much at one time. I've tried, and every now and then I manage to eat what other people view as the correct amount of food for a meal. But mostly I graze lightly throughout the day.

That said...on to the restrictions (and the things I should eat, but kinda have a problem with.)

No Gluten: The problem with this one relates directly to the Lyme spirochetes (aka think of bacteria as a synonym for spirochetes). Once gluten is consumed, it forms a sort of shield, which hardens very quickly, around the spirochetes. This means the medicine I'm taking to kill the Lyme spirochetes...can't easily get to them.

Problem: I like bread.

I have a bread machine now, though--though it's at my apartment--and that should help somewhat. I do love millet bread, but it's hard to find, and it--like many of the better-tasting gluten-free breads--is ridiculously expensive. The nice thing about the bread machine is it also makes pizza dough, so hey, that rocks!

It's still incredibly frustrating.

No Sugar: Yeah, I am horrible at avoiding this one. I mean, I don't consume a lot, but when I see something I want, I have it. See, again, small appetite, rarely desire food of any kind, etc.

The problem with the sugar is that the Lyme gobbles it up. It's like pouring fertilizer onto the spirochetes. So I'm much better about avoiding sugar than I am at avoiding gluten...but I'm not perfect.

If you had to balance as much as I do, you'd be imperfect at some things, too.

Eat Up That Animal Flesh!: Protein. Protein is good for you! And I eat eggs. And some fish. And milk-products. And nuts, I'm great with walnuts and cashews!

But you really are supposed to have a great deal of protein in your system if you have Lyme. For example, if you're a vegetarian with Lyme? Expect your doc to try and convert you to some form of meat-eating again.

For me, the problem is this: I hate how most animal flesh tastes. Can't stand beef or pork at all. I'm not thrilled with fowl, but I manage it sometimes. Seafood, eggs, I can eat those.

But most animal flesh--sometimes even fowl--tastes rotten when I taste it. It's not! I know the meat is perfectly good.

But it doesn't taste that way. Apparently, it may have something to do with a nerve being damaged, but they're not sure. So, basically, I woke up one day and took a bite of a ham sandwich and almost threw up.

That was not a fun surprise.

Conclusion: There is literally no area of my life that is unaffected by my having these diseases. Having said that before, I don't think most people reading this are surprised to see that yes, the area of what I can/should/shouldn't eat is affected by Lyme et al, too.

But, y'know. In case you haven't been about, or not reading: When I say it affects every area, yeah. I mean every one. Literally.

And yeah, it does, in fact, suck, but. You've got to get through it.

(I've got to get through it.)

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