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 Health 

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 Emotional Health Support 

There is no question that our physical health and our mental health are inextricably linked. Therefore, it follows that anyone with an Inflammatory Neuropathy is probably going through emotional challenges as well - and these can affect work, relationships, our sense of who we are and our wellbeing. 

 

In conjunction with Rareminds, we offer a free emotional support service which is available to anyone who is over 18 and has been impacted by an Inflammatory Neuropathy. The service provides a safe and confidential space to talk through issues such as anxiety, low mood, isolation, unpredictable symptoms, or adjusting to life with a chronic condition.

 

Up to 12 confidential sessions may be taken up, by video or phone, with both daytime and evening appointments available.

 

The service is led by Dr. Stephanie Yin, a psychotherapist and psychologist with professional and lived experience of rare conditions, and Poppy Brett, an integrative counsellor with lived experience of rare genetic conditions. Both are experienced therapists who have undertaken additional training on Counselling for Rare Diseases. 

 

To arrange an initial consultation, email stephanie@rareminds.org, using the subject line “The Inflammatory Neuropathies UK Counselling Service.”  

 

We know talking about mental health can be difficult and, for some, acknowledging that you could do with a chat can be a big step. But, as this is a confidential service, we do not have access to your details. Your time and conversations with Stephanie or Poppy are entirely private. 

 

If you feel you, or someone you know, could use counselling around living with an Inflammatory Neuropathy, get in touch with Stephanie.​

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 Physio 

After announcing our Emotional Support service to support mental health, Inflammatory Neuropathies UK's next goal is to support physical health. Please check back for more information on our future physio services.
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 Diet 

A great place to start learning about what to eat is through the NHS Eatwell Guide. It shows how much of what we eat should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. Importantly, it applies to most of us regardless of dietary preferences, weights, ages, and ethnic origins.

 

Please note, if you’re someone with special dietary requirements or medical needs, you may wish to chat with a registered dietitian to ensure the guide fits your needs.

 

Two things to keep in mind though.

 

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

 

We know recovering from GBS or living with a chronic condition can bring mental challenges along with physical symptoms. While we encourage you to cut down on sugar and eat your five fruits and vegetables a day, remember to allow a treat here and there. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get the nutritional balance right with every meal, just try and balance it out through the week.

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Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.

 

The cost of living has impacted all of us, and for those living with conditions that can impact their ability to work, this can cause significant strain. Citizens Advice have produced some helpful pages that cover accessing foodbanks, along with crisis grants and benefits, and more. Click the link closest to your region to learn more. 

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 England  
 Scotland  
 Wales  
 Northern Ireland 

 

The EatWell Guide

 

 The guide 
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  • Try to eat your 5 fruits and vegetables a day but remember fruit juice should be limited to 150ml (about 5.07 oz) a day to avoid too much sugar.  

  • Sugar is not needed in our diet, so should be eaten less often and in smaller amounts. A sweet treat is still allowed though! 

  • Remember to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day. Water, low-fat milks, low-sugar/sugar free drinks, along with tea and coffee all count. 

  • Starchy, fibrous food should make up over a third of what we eat – think high fibre or wholegrain varieties of pasta and bread.

  • Add protein to your diet through fish (aim at least two portions of fish a week, one of which being an oily fish such as salmon, sardines or mackerel – you’ll get a lot of Omega 3 from these which helps reduce inflammation) or lean cuts of meat and mince while cutting down on red and processed meat. Don’t eat meat? No problem, think pules such as beans, peas, and lentils. They’re low in fat and help your fibre goals. 

  • Another great source of protein is dairy, or dairy alternatives such as soya. Milk, cheese, yogurt and fromage frais provide protein and are a strong source of calcium.

  • Cook with vegetable, rapeseed, olive, and sunflower oils, these are unsaturated fats and therefore healthier. Though they should still be eaten in small amounts as they are high in energy (calories).

  • Speaking of calories, women should have around 2,000 calories a day, and men should have around 2,500. However, this varies from person to person and can depend on how active you are. Apps like MyFitnessPal can help you track calories through the day and can serve as a food diary. When you’re not feeling great, you may find yourself more sensitive to certain foods. Being able to identify what does not agree with you through a diary may be beneficial for you.

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