ksko:

First of all, let me apologize for not returning your message earlier. The truth is I didnt have an answer for you, and ran out of time to look it up. I cant even remember what your question was specifically right now, but I do remember thinking that what you were inquiring about would be difficult in all but the most involved research laboratories. If you remind me about this, I'll try to look into it after my exam as well.

Wow. For someone who doesnt have a biological background you do have a really good grasp of the concepts (hoping that doesnt sound as pompous as I think it does ... I'm really quite jealous). You're absolutely right about the variable joints, the unpredictable remission patterns, and the periodic nature of iritis. I guess sometimes that's where my own bias come - I've not yet experienced a full remission, so sometimes I forget that its in the realm of the possible.

The only question of yours that I can answer with any pretense of certainty is about the sulfasalazine. You're right, sulfasalazine is NOT like MTX - it is not an all-out immunosupressant, and it does act at the level of the gut, somehow combating the infamous 'leaky-gut syndrome' that I'm yet to understand as well.

How good of you to point out to me that we cant know everything about the body. Hard to keep that in perspective sometimes (especaily for a student like me - it sure feels like we have to know everything

I too believe that diet impacts us more than we know. I've been reluctant to go no starch, I have a dietician friend who strongly suggests that I dont do it. Instead I have opted (with some other members here) to go gluten free. I have been know for about 3 months. It wasnt that hard for me to make the switch, I wasnt a very *doughy* (cakes, cookies, bread) type person to begin with. I'd be in big trouble if I couldnt find rice pasta though . The hardest thing has been finding hidden gluten sources (soya sauce for god's sakes!) and the convienence of eating out (thank god just about every place has a salad on the menu!). I'm reluctant to comment on how my joints are (hard to tease out dietary effects from my pamidronate therapy), but I dont experience nearly as much abdominal discomfort as I once did .

Anyhow, I'm babbling. Thanks for you post. Speak with you soon.
Jeanna


'I would have cried and laughed less while watching
TV and more while watching life - EB'