Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group refusing to adjust your diet - ur soft in the head

doesnt your bum get sore sitting on that horse all day

Darryn,

As others have pointed out, your belief that the no-starch route is a cure for AS is misguided. It is not. Therefore, a blanket statement where you call everyone who is not following the diet "soft in the head" is neither fair nor particularly useful. Folks here have enough going wrong in their life--I don't think that coming here to be insulted because they choose not to follow a particular diet is something we need to throw on top of them. As mig said, there are perhaps better ways to address this topic in the future--for example, the old saying, "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" comes to mind.

Brad

Sooooo, all the NSD people who complain about being in a flare, are they soft in the head too for lying to themselves about the "positive" effects of the NSD? How about the "soft-headedness" of NSD people depriving themselves of foods they love while still suffering from the aches and pains of AS?

Look, I'm all for living and letting live, and I'm so glad for those who find some level of relief from the diet, but this ridiculous evangelical crusade to force the NSD on those who simply don't agree with the science or the anecdotal evidence is quickly making this a site I don't want to visit, which is sad, as I enjoy most of the people here.

As for the original poster, I had to quietly roll my eyes as others pleaded with you to come back; frankly, I have little patience with those who do anything for attention. Yes, you got the attention you wanted, and as a thank-you, you stir the pot yet again. I'm not offended, but I am mad that you've managed to ruin one of the minor highlights of my otherwise tiring day. If you've any manner of how to be polite, you'll dial it back a bit, try to play nicely with others, and treat the site with a bit of respect.

Hey, Darryn:

Glad to see You have not left us, and especially that the NSD works so well for You!

We have tried hard to alienate this bunch before, but they keep hangin' on! This approach doesn't work when our fellow ASKickers are so tough they can endure AS and words just off like water from a duck's back. But thanks for tryin'; everyone here is certainly worth the effort.

Some think the hour glass has run out, others want to find a drug/some have mild enough symptoms to treat with drugs and decided not to do too much starch restriction--it is all a personal choice. I try and hit the newbies once and if they show interest direct them to the NSD Forum but otherwise there is plenty of other stuff to share here.

We used to have "starch-wars" that I was at the center of mostly but as people began trying the NSD they found their voices--so much so that I was once compelled to ask Professor Ebringer why going starch-free changes our personalities so much! I would say that KickAS has actually banned very few people, but it is usually done only after great angst of the moderators and egregious errors on the part of those banned, but oddly I would suspect the overall majority of those banned were NSDers!

We have some frustration, doing NSD, since it is so inconvenient and so much of our food is adulterated with starches. And there are few products that are starch-free but satisfying the way starchy things are; is is overall a tough-as-nails regimen. It turns a (capital "L") "Liberal" into a conservative: The lessons of personal responsibility and observation about the world (it just ain't fair!) make us appreciate the truth ("TRVTH;" written in stone) instead of empty campaign promises.

And while I am certain that the cause of AS is the same for everyone, I do know several people who have diligently followed NSD and not had results. One had to get chelated before the NSD began working. I have had chelation and years ago the amalgam removed from my teeth but I never thought these things had any influence on why NSD worked for me. And I can understand why (as an EX-vegetarian) people would want the NSD to not work for them. But in a Liberal world, everyone needs an "out," so we know that NSD does not work for everyone (5%), and 25% of the people want to be in this group; just the way things are. Some turn their backs on it to the extent of not even doing LSD in combination with other conventional therapies, which is what Ebringer suggests in the first place.

It is our goal that everyone with AS become informed about the NSD and make their own choices, day-by-day. We don't want to shame or bully anyone or even make them feel unwelcome here--because no matter what they do about their own treatment they are always welcome and can always contribute something and we appreciate every person here, whether actively posting or just learning if lurking.

I'm glad that You have chosen to remain a part of the group, but would appreciate some less provocative tone; we've been through it all before and I don't want to have to constantly be on the lookout for threads to move into other forums!

HEALTH,
John

Pete,

I think I know exactly how you feel regarding this latest tempest in a teapot that Darryn's post has touched off, as you are right in mentioning that it's something we've been through before here at KA. All I can say to hopefully make you feel a bit better about things--and to keep Darryn's post from ruining your day even a little--is that you've been here long enough to know that, thank goodness, the occasional squabbles regarding diet vs. other treatments have largely died down and are not nearly as common--nor as long and loud--as they used to be. The longer KA is around, the greater the spirit of understanding and cooperation among members becomes, and I firmly believe that will continue to be true as we move forward. I think that you can safely treat this thread as an aberration, unlike back in the day when this discussion might have been a monthly occurrence.

Hope that helps at least a little.

Brad

Good lord, John--I know it wasn't your intention, but you just made it 100 percent certain that I'll never try the NSD!!!! That is one side-effect that I could never, ever live with.


Brad

Darryn, this is a support group. We should be encouraging and helping members to cope with AS...not tearing them down for their treatment options. Treating AS is a personal decision...and one size does not fit all.

Some people take the drug route and do very very well...esp on the biologics. Others try that route and it doesn't work out so well for them and they struggle with ongoing problems. The same applies with the NSD. Some try and do well, others give it a short half-hearted try and give up and still others give it a genuine try for a decent amount of time and still find it doesn't work for them.

I appreciate your enthusiasm for the diet and am so glad it is working for you as it is for my husband. For us it's been amazing. And I can certainly understand your desire to share your positive experience with others in the hope that they might try it and also find relief.

However, telling people to "harden the F*&^% up" is completely inappropriate and not constructive. The sad fact is that despite your good intentions you are more likely to turn people away from looking into the diet by making statments like that, rather than actually helping them.

ok, im sorry about the inappropriate comment - it was a very bad inconstructive comment. I am feeling very frustrated that people are denying themselves better health. eating the right foods can even remit some cancers so i dont see why people cant accept the right foods can remit AS...i guess their the ones missing out the pain reduced life style. i know i shouldnt even care, but i do and im acting out of total frustration at the lack of self love of some people. sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind and i have no problem being the person everyone loves to hate. it had to be said and i said it - no regrets besides the HTFU comment.

lol...I am with you on that one Brad..lol

im not seeking any attention - what pot am i stiring? get mad at my posts...must have touched a nerve, you need to get in control of your emotions if reading someones post on the internet is triggering your anger, after all the anger is yours, you own it so you need to deal with it.
NSD soft? well i can say not as soft as pizza eaters