Hi everyone,

First off, just want to say thanks. I was diagnosed with AS late last year and, even though I haven't posted yet, have found this community an invaluable resource in learning to manage the disease.

I've been doing the NSD diet since the beginning of the year with mixed results. I've been successful in reducing the number of flare-ups (just one so far this year), but I still have that persistent daily pain/stiffness that just won't go away.

I was thinking about doing a food intolerance test to help hone in on what works for me and what doesn't, however, I've read a lot of reports that question the accuracy of such tests. For instance, this one:

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/igg-food-intolerance-tests-what-does-the-science-say/

If I understand it right, these tests measure for exposure to certain foods, not intolerance.

Have these tests worked for others? If so, who did you use and/or who would you recommend?

Thanks!

It is actually a combination of exposure and sensitivity to foods, and they are often very helpful.

If you never eat a food, take the test and it shows no reaction, then it doesn't mean much. If your gut is in poor condition (which is almost certain, since you're here...) you could start developing antibodies to the food once you started eating it. You would need a new test to measure the sensitivity. Sometimes foods that you don't eat do show up as reactive, due to similarities with other foods you do eat; there are even some weirder cross-allergies, for instance someone recently mentioned the relationship between latex and avocado allergies!

On the other hand, measurement of reactions to foods you normally eat should be pretty accurate. For instance a test can tell you whether you are one of the many people sensitive to cow milk, and whether you are likely to get away with switching to less allergenic goat/sheep milk products or if you should try giving up dairy altogether for a while.

4 people in my family have taken a food intolerance test, and it was helpful for at least 3 of us. My dad didn't have any strong intolerances, but then again he doesn't have AS or obvious digestive issues either.

Thanks for the input SJLC. Sounds like it's worth taking the test at least to use as another data point. Did you use Alcat or another online test, or did you coordinate it through your doctor?

I used one through my doctor, but I would actually recommend the one my other half used because it covered goat milk which can be a useful replacement for cow dairy (sheep and goat milk are chemically similar, and there are a lot of great sheep and goat cheeses out there)

http://www.vrp.com/test-kits/food-allergy-general

This one can be done on your own, if you or someone near you is skilled with a lancet.

i too had food intolerance testing done. through my naturpath.

very helpful.

when it showed i was very sensitive to casein (in diary), things started to click. finally understood the real reason for dairy causing or flaring my gastritis. the link to the arthritis was not as immediate, thus not as obvious.

but steering clear of the dairy may be part of the reason i'm better between flares. though dong a lot of other things as well, so hard to know what's doing what.

all those years of trying to eat my yogurt; thinking it was healthy for me.

now i take probiotic capsules instead.

and calcium supplements as my main source of calcium. citracal (calcium citrate)

can't hurt to get the tests done.

then up to you to test the results and see if you concur.