Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Alcohol

The last time I posted here was around a year ago. At that time my AS was basically under control and all I was using was a few voltaren a week and LDN. Then I went on holiday to Rarotonga and caught a stomach bug which was quickly followed by my first proper flare which has resulted in the AS shifting primarily into my neck. That was around July/August last year. Since that time I have been on 150mg of voltaren every day, which has not been particularly effective as I have still had quite a lot of pain at night/early morning. As an adjunct, I have also been trying the no starch diet and have given up caffeine and cholocate (both seem to lead to inflammation for me), none of which seemed to help the flare very much.

Getting to the point of the post. I love alcohol. I grew up on a vineyard. I drink every day (glass of wine or beer at lunch and then one or two at dinner). My wife has been bullying me to give up alcohol as she is of the view it makes my AS worse. I have never really taken much notice of her views on this, but decided to temporarily give up all alcohol on Christmas Eve of last year, as I have noticed the inflammation is often worse after heavy drinking.

Despite not really wanting to find a relationship between my AS and alcohol, I have found that having given it up my inflammation has dropped dramatically (it took around 3 weeks) to the point where I am not taking any voltaren (although I still take a LDN at night) and essentially only have the slightest amount of pain at night, but nothing compared to what it was, and not enough to go back to the voltaren.

This all leads me to the conclusion that alcohol may have been playing a major part in my inflammation, and it may be something that people should consider dropping from their diet for a month or two just to see whether it is making their AS worse.

I can't comment on the alcohol part with any weight, as I hardly ever drink much anymore.

However, and I do find this bit interesting, for me what happened to make me go really bad was a stomach bug as well. I went to Egypt and had a really bad one, and afterwards it just exploded.

Now I've read about Klebsiella and stomach infections and the theory that AS is linked to it. As I understand most of the NSD diet is based on the concept?

From what I've read they often say it starts with an infection like that. But for me, and I can say this with certainty....everything I struggle with now, has been there since long before the stomach infection. So I would actually propose the following: What if the stomach infections do not start it, but acts as a catalyst? -I think it is probably already there in most of us, and then the stomach infection just makes it explode out of control! -It's just a theory but I think its a good one.

Wish you continued improvement and hey; How cool you have found a factor that allows you to impact the disease! -Even though giving up something is never something we want to do, I think for pain relief it's worth it to most!

I also have suffered during and after a holiday stomach infection, great holiday though and finally it lead to a diagnosis after 12 years of feeling like a hypochondriac and a lot of negative suggestions that it was all in my head.... Since my diagnosis and finding this fantastic web site I have basically started the NSD and given up drinking - I feel much better and hope that this will only keep getting better, I wish I had known what impact diet would play in reducing my pain (added bonus is losing weight) and I've been able to cut down the anti - inflammatory Happy Days

From what I have read, almost any kind of bug can lead to a flare. If you had any AS symptoms before the stomach infection, you are just having a flare. If you are taking Voltarian, it won't work as well if you just take it as needed. You have to take it every day to keep a therapeutic amount in your bloodstream. Otherwise, the inflammation can continue causing permanent damage to your spine and joints.

For the record all my symptoms with joint pain, erythema nodosum the works started after a really bad stomach infection and a few weeks later bladder infection....14 years ago....i have always in my head made a connection between them but the docs always disregarded it saying it was a coincidence!!

Hi Tom

I can only speak to my own experience with alcohol.
I definitely think it worsens or exacerbates my spondylarthropathy.
I only very occasionally reward myself with a beer.
Like any food restriction its hard to stop at one!
Probably easier to remove it from you day to day routine and only give yourself the occasional treat.

Cheers David

Hello Tom,

My personal opinion, do not believe necessarily direct link. But may be indirect link if you believe in leaky gut theory as I do. Naturopaths tend to believe in leaky gut, mainstream doctors not as much or not very aware.

I liked to drink in the younger days as well, gave it up 10 years ago. Now maybe 3-4 times a year have a glass of wine or beer.

Tim