Hi Costas,
just a couple of stories of what I've experienced with rheumatologists in the past 10 years:
About 10 years ago, I had a really bad flare. At that time I lived in England. It was the first time I needed a rheumatologist there, so I had to wait for 2 months to get to see one. In the meantime, I found out about the diet, started on it because I was in so much pain and I was lucky, as I responded to it really well. When I finally had the appointment, I was doing really well, flare was gone. I told the doctor about the diet and she said, "keep doing whatever you are doing as it is working for you". I walked out of the office feeling really good aobut myself and the diet.
A few years later I moved back to Vienna Austria, where I'm from. As it is easy to see doctors here, I made an appointment to see a rheumatologist, just to have someone at hand in case I had a problem. I was still on the diet at that time and still doing well (apart from recurring Iritis). That doctor was actually shocked that I was not taking any what she called "maintenance" drugs. I could only get her off my back as I was planning to start trying for a baby.
That plan worked out and the pregnancy (I guess the change of hormones) put me in a remission for 3 years. December last year the AS and the Iritis started again, I went back to the doctor and back to the diet. She wanted to put me on biologics immediately. Again I held her off because of a possilbe baby nr.2.
The diet kicked in and the AS (but not so much the iritis) was under control again. As I was seen in a special clinic for the iritis, I was also sent to the rheumatology department there. I was checked out top to toe (inlcuding x-ray, extensive blood test and MRI) and the outcome: I'm doing way too well as far as the AS is concerned as that they could even think of prescribing me biologics, or anything else.
Which leaves me to say, we have to become experts in regards to our condition. Learn as much as you can and trust your instincts. You don't even need to tell the doctor that you don't take the drugs. Keep doing the diet, go back for blood tests and see, if the diet made any difference to your results.
It is YOUR body and YOUR health, you decide what you do with it. And if you feel you want to take the drugs and give them a try, do it. I'm keeping my mind open. If the iritis attacks keep coming back, I might just as well go down the medical route as I want to save my eyelight. It is our decision, we have to do what is best for ourselves.
All the best!
