Hi Robin,

This time last year I was in a world of gut pain. I was waking at 4am with lower stomach aches which would recur throughout the day. It persisted for a couple of months.

I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy - both came back clear of the major nasties, although my intestinal villi were flattened (often associated with celiac disease but my tests came back clear). No ulcers, no Helicobacter, no bleeding. The Gastro shrugged his shoulders and said something like "meh, who knows" and I was cast adrift.

I started on Alflorex, a probiotic produced here in Ireland: my GP recommended it. I thought, "what's another €30." It cleared up my 4am pains.

Immediately.

For a month or so.

Then they started again.

I switched to another probiotic with different strains of bacteria - success again, for a month or so.

In January, I stopped taking anti-inflammatories (meloxicam) as we are trying to conceive. My AS came back at me with all the inflammation it could muster. It was excruciating.

Then, slowly things changed. My pain reduced to the same level as when I was on anti-inflammatories. I could manage it effectively, but not totally, with paracetamol and exercise.

And my stomach started to mend itself. It's been six weeks since I woke at 4am with stomach pains. I can eat normal, healthy foods again (read: whatever I want). I don't get constipation anymore. No more unexplained cramps. No more chronic reflux.

Life and health are complicated. I underwent radon treatment in February. I'm still taking varied probiotics. I don't know if my sustained gastrointestinal recovery is due to one or all of these factors but I do know that I feel significantly better 9 weeks after I stopped taking anti-inflammatories.

I know it's scary to throw out the old faithfuls but after the initial flare, I've had nothing but improved gut health and a sense of freedom from those little pills. It may not help everyone. I'm sure your doctor won't agree. But for me, it was the right thing to do. For now, at least.

I hope that the future brings more specific research directed at anti-inflammatories and their influence on gut health, in the meantime, we have some science to draw on a whole lot of anecdotal evidence. We can only share our stories - and that one is mine!

Cheers, Ag

HLA B27 +ve. Localised pain in SI joints, lumbar and thoracic spine. No swelling. Eyes OK, peripheral joints OK. NSAID usage from 2005 to 2018, meloxicam.

Least favourite saying: No Pain No Gain.

2005 - Diagnosed after two years of debilitating SI pain, early 20's
2017 - Waitlist for rheumatologist in Ireland=14-months
2018 - Seeking alternatives