to KICKAS.
I hope you find the information you need here on KICKAS, and there are plenty of helpful people to guide you to more information.
The great thing about this site is that people share experiences.
The rest of my post is my normal welcome information and is well worth a read.
You will find this site and the people on it very supportive, knowlegeable and experienced. One of the great aspects of the site is that people share experiences.
Have you been through the normal battering of tests, XRays, MRI, Catscan. Have you had a blood test done, HLA-B27 positive or negative, Rhuemtoid Factor, ESR and CRP readings.
Look around the site, there is a lot of useful information, the following are things you should look closely at.
The NSD No Starch Diet is well worth trying, many people here have had great success with the diet, some have managed to come off all medications on the diet. If the diet works for you, then that is got to be better than taking medications. Remember though that the diet does not work for all of us. If you are serious about trying the NSD, try starting with the 3 day Apple diet first, I think it is a system cleanesing/detox diet. As to the NSD, there are differing levels of the diet from strict NSD to LSD to Gluten Free. My suggestion is to try the strict NSD first and migrate down to the lower levels experimenting with various foods and there effects.
Here are some links. (just click on them)
AS Dietary PrimerAS FoodsNo Starch Forum
No StarchAs far as medications, have a look at postings related to Enbrel/Remicade/Avara these are relatively new medications to treat AS, the downside is that these drugs are extremely expensive and you will need to check if you are covered. Many people have posted great success on these medications.
Check out the AS Pharmacy Forum
MedicationsMyself, I think the answer lies in finding the right combination of Diet/Medication/Exercise that suits you, everyone is different.
There is a saying here "Use it or Fuse it", exercise is really important. Some suggestions are Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi.
Hydrotherapy is also well worth trying.
One other thing, learn as much as you can, you may find your Doctors knowing very little about AS, and I suggest that you become proactive in your appointments, ie suggesting and discussing things that you find on this site with your Doctors.
Look around the site, there is a lot of useful information here.
If you have any questions, post them up and you will be surprised at the amount of responses.
Another thing to watch out for is Uveitis (a form of Iritis), which is common with AS.
UVEitisIf you get this see an eye specialist immediately, as permenant eye can occur if not treated.
The following link's are some light reading on AS.
AS Information 1AS Information 2This link also descibes the link between IBD (GI) and AS.
AS Information 3AS Information 4Also if you go back to the main page
KICKAS Main Page you will find the following sections with great reading information.
Medical Center
Diet Center
These sections are well worth reading.
Also if you need a good laugh there is the Jokes Forum
HumorSorry for all the reading material.
Take Care
Wayne
..Tricia...there's plenty of info on thiis site and caring people too !....take care
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." 
