Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group real bad flare

Oak,

Like you, I was having a HORRIBLE flare about 4 weeks ago. Couldn't move without feeling a lot of a pain. The worst was just lying in bed in the morning, feeling tired but too painful to get sleep.

After searching the site I came across the No Starch Diet. DragonSlayer (John) can fill you in more, but I've gone on it and it has been worth it. If you are used to eating anything and everything it'll take some getting used to, but you'll likely feel better. Here are the basics:

- Avoid starch of any kind (bread, pasta, cakes, anything with flour in it). Also potato is heavy starch.

- Avoid refined sugar (most sweets and sodas)

- You CAN have lots of: meats, including fish, fowl, and beef (I'm sure venison is OK); cheeses; vegitables of almost any type (except potato); almost all fruits (I like red grapes); juices, tea, coffee. Drinking a good amount of water helps.

Here's a sample day's menu:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, sausage, and melon.

Lunch: salami or turkey slices, celery and dip, & grapes.

Dinner: Steak, green beens, salad.

If you snack, eat cheese wedges and fruit, or drink grape or apple juice.

If you like pizza, order one and scrape off the toppings. This gives you that pizza flavor without the starchy crust.

When I had my bad flare, DragonSlayer suggested that before I go on the no starch diet that I eat nothing but apples for three days. At the end of three days I took 4 oz. of extra virgin olive oil. This "cleans out" your system, and believe it or not my pain was reduced by at least 50%. Then I started the no starch diet, as well as take multivitamins, 1 anitinflammatory pill (Lodine), MSM (a supplement with sulfer), and just started taking Glucosamine/Condrotin (Sp?).

Anyway, this regimen got me out of a hole and I've felt better than I have for a long time. Maybe it can help you. As always, let your doc know what you're doing.

Good luck.

Mike



One can never get any but a loose and ignorant notion of such things except by experience.

~ Mark Twain on the subject of pain

Oak, sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I get really grouchy when I am hurting. Kind of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Are you on any DMARDS? Hang in there. I think my husband avoids me when I am hurting because he knows how crabby I get. My left shoulder has been killing me, especially at night when my steroids wear off. You might consider calling your doctor. You shouldn't have to live in pain.

lortabs

the only meds I am currently taking are zoloft for depression and darvocet for pain nothing else the only problem is darvocet is addicting so I don't take them all the time....oak

I am older then I look and I feel older than I am

This is a bad time of year - I frequently get flares right around thanksgiving.

Anything "special" happen you think might have triggered it?

I don't know whether it is stress aggravating a quieter chronic condition, or a discrete event in its own right.

Was it the mashed potatoes? The cocoa I drank? Leaf mold? Washing the collie and straining tendons involved in the disease process? Also, I'm just getting over a protracted upper respiratory condition -
but I didn't flare till I stopped coughing.

Whatever it is, my whole left side has gone nuts. I have iritis, and the middle back and hips and heels are acting up. Twinges have turned into TWANGS.

I started with the Celebrex again; it helps some, but it makes my tummy hurt.

Found out on Turkey day my SIL has been diagnosed with RA, and it has been so hard to control she is starting with Remicade.

The point of mentioning that is, the Remicade would probably help us too, but we can't get it yet till trials on AS' ers are completed. And that sucks.

Edited by Sarah on 12/01/02 01:33 PM (server time).

Well, you should have meds to control your inflammation, not just your pain.

I know there is controversy over the NSAIDS, but they do provide me with some relief, and I am NOT giving up pretzels and potatoes unless I absolutely have to.

Where is it I read, that the HLA-b27 marker occurs with more frequency among people of Scandinavian descent/heritage? I heard it theorized that the diet of the ancient Scandinavians can help suppress symptoms. True or not, a diet high in cold water fish (esp Salmon) would also be high in certain fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties.

And you don't have to twist my arm to make me eat more salmon...

I love fish period......I have been on nsaids for almost 11 yrs now I just told the doc that it was candy it had no effect on it what so ever so I said no to the nsaids...maybe this LSD diet will work I aint sure....oak

I am older then I look and I feel older than I am

Oak - have you tried any of the DMARDS? One of mine (sulfasalazine) is considered both an nsaid (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drug) + dmard (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug). They theoretically prevent some of the inflamation before it starts. It can take a while to find the right combo of meds - but keep looking. If you don't feel you can do nsd/lsd... then a pain reliever is not going to cut it. Drugs or diet may actually prevent possible future structural damage. You might want to re-think this again okay?! Flares can lead to damage,... so getting out of flare is damage prevention - not just pain management.

mig

Sorry to hear that you're in so much pain, Oak. When I get into one of those the only thing that helps me is my heating pad (We get to know each other very well) and a nice HOT bath. Except, of course, I can't stay in the bath forever. But it is such relief while I'm in there. Don't know if it would work for you, but it may be worth a try.

Glenn

Hey there Oak...are you pregnant???!!! You sound like you're my twin right about now!!!! But in all seriousness, the only thing I can suggest (other than the work for a few hours Darvocet) is a hand held massager. I got one from my mother-in -law one Christmas and it has been a big help!!! Especially now since I'm only on the Darvocet. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...and of course with all of us KA brothers and sisters thinking and praying for you, you should feel better soon .

Take care of yourself til next time, JP