WELCOME, Jeff:
The NSD did not work so rapidly on my AS, albeit then it was really my strict version of LSD, but I was somewhat disappointed.
I *knew* there was a food connection because fasting eliminated my symptoms, and FRIED FOODS often caused flares, so I believed enough in Ebringer's work to push it to the limit and take antibiotics along with the starch-restrictive regimen.
BOY HOWDY! Within four days, I knew I absolutely hit the treatment jackpot--it was GREAT. Problem is that antibiotics have too many side effects and should not be taken on a continuous basis, so I did cycles of stronger ones and different cycles of weaker ones, and, eventually, the NSD (eliminating dairy also) alone--without antibiotics--could sustain me in a symptom-free state.
Other people have taken many months to 'learn' and then more months to notice they felt better; others give up too early out of frustration. This is a very difficult and inconvenient diet to follow, without obtaining tangible benefits. A non-subjective test--like ESR or CRP--can at least let us know we might be headed in the right direction, however over 40% of AS patients do not have these elevated inflammation markers.
And one of our members actually had to find out he had excessive amounts of mercury in his system and get chelated before the NSD was of benefit to him and this took more than a year of searching for the answers. The answers are there.
Many years ago, I had already had my amalgam removed and much later I had chelation to get over a massive flare; not knowing there could ever be any connection, so this could have been an advantage. Also, in full disclosure, I had for many years controlled my AS symptoms through fasting and I believe that this actually decreased my overall fungal load, so I do not think I ever got candidiasis from either the antibiotics or the steroids given after operations and as pain management.
NSD does not work and there is always a reason, albeit we might not have the best scientific explanation for it. I am convinced that in long-standing cases of AS, the disease activity can become so massive it is independent of the
character of our content (diet) and can only really be modulated properly by antibiotics.
The Road Back Foundation has a listing of local physicians willing to help treat arthritic conditions with antibiotics, and You are more than welcome to begin with my own
AP for AS.
HEALTH,
John
