Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Hi I'm Paula from Devon, England!

WELCOME, Paula:

I have had some psoriasis and other skin conditions associated with AS; these are not very uncommon, but are controlled when I keep my AS in remission (11 years, knock wood).

One of our members had severe PsA and it was due to an underlying celiac disease. Your situation is severe enough that it warrants extra testing, but I would--in any event--begin total elimination of starches.

And You did not mention whether You are HLA B27 positive, but if You are not I could recommend testing for celiac (I think there are about three tests maybe including biopsy, that should be done for confirmation and there is some order the specialists do them in, perhaps).

You will find the answers here and somehow overcome Your health problems.

Suggest the book "The New IBS Low-Starch Diet" by Carol Sinclair available there in UK at bookstores. Total elimination of dietary starch will also work for celiacs, but if that is the primary condition there would be no need to be so strict later.

Good luck with the Remicade infusions,

John

Just wanted to welcome you here........you will love this place

Welcome and girl you MAKE SURE you go to that meeting..that could be a lifesaver..to have 20 or 30 Drs hopefully on your side to help, well it dont get much better than that.

I have been diagnosed with AS, RA and some undiff immune disorder until 1 of them comes out full I guess...luckily I have never had the skin issues that has to be hard.

Keep us updated on what happens.

Lisa

Hi Briget, Happy New Year!

Good to hear Remicade helped you + others - you know what its like considering whether to try another 'new' drug. both my Rhumatologist and Dermatologist say that this drug will help my AS & skin conditions, so lets see what happens on Thursday and then the following week with my Rhum. If it breaks this flare up I'll be happy, am so fed up with pain. I know what you mean about being stoned off meds, sometimes its difficult to make clear choices and remember stuff! Ive got 2 kids, my daughter Lola is 6 and my son Luke is 23! Luckily my son doesnt seem to have any symptoms but Lola regualry complains of neck, back & knee aches & pains - nothing too severe but enough to make me start wondering....am not taking her to the doctors about it unless it is impacting on her life then of course I will act but I dont want to introduce the medical profession to her at such a young age. She also recently had a severe skin reaction to the cold weather which set alarm bells ringing. So sad to think that I may have passed on health problems to her. I dont have any help really, yes it is hard, but I somehow manage. My son has flown the nest so it is just me & my daughter really. Sorry to hear about your husbands illness - sounds worrying - has he had a proper diagnosis?

Nice to be in touch with you, take care Paula

PS. You & your family look lovely x

Hi Michelle - nice to meet you! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Hi Molly, thanks for getting in touch I've had such a lovely welcome from everyone - feels like a good place to be!

Hi, nice to see a fellow brit on here - thanks for your good wishes!

Hi Tim

Interesting point - I have always had psoriasis on and off with only 2 or 3 major flare ups over time. My newest and worst flare up happened after being on Humira for 6 months followed by 9 months on Enbrel - I was taken off the Enbrel because they thought the skin condition was an infection. It took them a year to diagnose the PG, during this time I have been reluctant to consider going back on TNF drugs because I felt the PG could have been a side effect of them, but the doctors refuse to even consider this as a possibility.

Thanks for your interest - Paula

Thank you, look forward to making new friends who understand - Paula

Hello from the mainland! Yeah, am a bit daunted by the prospect of seeing so many doctors but the more heads the better I suppose. Lets see how it goes. Happy New Year! Paula