Well I went and had the Doc work me over last week. I was a little apprehensive as I have introduced a little rice once a week into my diet. I have also been eating garden ripe tomato's for the last month and a half.
About three months ago I broke down and ate most of a large combination pizza and some beadsticks. Felt that the next day big mistake. Stiffened up right away. I did not have the old bloated stomach trouble of old though, maybe the gut has healed somewhat.
I know that blood work does not always correlate to this disease but I had him pull all the stops out and check it all. sed rate and crp almost unmeasurable. psa good, cholesterol good both hdl and ldl. Blood pressure running 128/78. A1c normal. First time I had this done crp and sed rate were high, blood pressure was high, alc borderline diabetes, cholesteral bad both hdl and ldl. Pretty much a reversal of my last two sets of blood work.
The fact that my sinus problems have gone a way is something I thank god for. Having had six sinus surgeries I gladly embrace the idea of no more.
I also went through a bunch of flexibility tests etc. I passed all of them above average, considering I could not bend over or hardly walk when I found out what this disease was and what it was doing to me I was elated.
I can't remember everthing he had to say, but he was my biggest skeptic when I started this diet. He gave me four different prescriptions and said I was making a mistake. He is now one of my biggest supporters.
He has a patient that is on a form of low dose oral chemo for bad arthritis, he is going to have her try cutting back on starch and see if it helps.
I have pretty much stuck to my routine which consists of the following.
Platinum plus amino acids three capsules every morning 20 minutes before breakfast
Three fish or flax borage oil capsules every morning.
Natren Healthy trinity every other month 30 days at a time.
I can't help but think that during my childhood and life as a young adult during which I had horrible stomach trouble and one sinus infection after another if I would have known about the effect diet would have on my life I would have done it years ago and maybe avoided the damage I deal with today. As it is I am in charge of our RATT (rapid apprehension tactical team) lots of hiking in the Desert and mountains, be it looking for fugitives or lost hikers, bikers etc. Most of my team members are in their thirty's, I am the old man which they let me know on a regular basis. I have not failed the team yet but can feel old age in me on the long days.
I hope that everyone can find the combination that works for them.
ETTE.
Darrel.
PS. I do know one good thing that has come from having this disease is I have met some of the best people on earth her at KA.

Hey there Darrel - Great to see you checking in!

I was just thinking recently that I haven't seen you about the place for quite a while and I have been wondering what adventures you and your mule have got up to....

I too have even better 'numbers' now that I have been NSD for 3+ years. My husband is still waiting for me to 'come to my senses' and stop 'being difficult' with the dinner menu but every single time I have strayed too far from the NSD path I am bitten hard and reminded why I continue to 'be difficult' with the dietary requirements!

I too have started eating a little rice - most of the time it's OK but every so often it leads me down the path of excess! Currently I sm testing Zark's writings that suggest that glutinous rice (which has amylopectin, not amylose) is digested higher up the GI tract and is therefore a safer option.

After 30 years of NOT KNOWING about the NSD, I have a bit of long term fallout to deal with, so not too much canyoning in *my* future but I am so much better overall, compared to prior to discovering the NSD. Lucky for me my rheumatologist also fully supports the NSD and is happy to throw in a bit of SSZ, Celebrex and prednisolone as the need arises.

I agree that one of the side benefits of having AS is some of the great folks I have met here!

Excellent! keep up the good work!

And i've found a low starch / low carb diet to be excellent for the blood sugar and blood lipids too......

maybe once i get the insulin resistance / insulin sensitivity more under control, maybe the arthritis will get better too......

so glad you are feeling so much better.

Thanks so much for sharing your story, which is inspiring to me and so many people!!!

I hope your doctor also shares your story with his collegues more of his paitents!! It was my chiropractor who tuned me into the low starch diet, and after all the progress he saw me make, he told some other AS paitents he had about it. I have been doing so well, I haven't seen the chiropractor in months, should probably send a note to thank him again and report my continuing progress.....

I am new here to the forums, but I saw you had commented in older topics about visiting the Montana Mines. Have you been back since your first trip? How much of a lasting effect did a week in the mines make for you?

Thanks again!
-Andrea

I have just started on the NSD journey last week. Trying to still find out whats good and whats not? Haven't noticed any significant difference yet, but looking at the feedback you guys give, makes me feel a lot more positive, that i will find the right combination for myself soon.

I felt great after going to the free enterprise mine in Montana. I have been so busy with my new job I have not been able to get away and go back. Just used up my vacation moving my son and his little family to Brookings South Dakota. He is attending SDSU for his masters degree. I feel the mine gave me a jump start which gave me the confidence to make a big career change. I am going to make it to Montana again in the near future.
ETTE.
Darrel.

Ajit if you look back at my early posts you can see that it was tough. I felt weak tired and discouraged. I felt I was going to lose my job I did not know where to turn. Since then I ahve started a new career and try not to look back and what if things. John Kiwi, Jeanne etc helped me stay the line and find what works for me. Dig in, hold on and use your spurs I know you will find the way.
ETTE.
Darrel.

Hi Darrel
Still trying to find out the right combo. A tough task i agree. Thanks for the encouraging words .. will fight it out.