Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Allergies and Symptoms

Hi! I was just diagnosed last week and haven't read everything here yet, so if this is old news. . .sorry. As my eye has gotten better, I have read more and more. I am a scientist in biochemistry and molecular biology etc, and would like to make some sense of this dis-ease.

My understanding of the current hypothesis is that the KP bugs on our gut produce a protein (pullulanase) to break down starches (pullulan), and our antibodies recognise a region in this protein similar to collagen. So if we avoid starch, the bugs don't produce the protein and our auto-immune reaction is decreased. I'm trying the NSD to see if it helps me (day 5).

My question is. . .has any one noticed a correlation to foods they are allergic to and increased symptoms? Is it ANY allergic response that stimulates the symptoms? Has anyone been tested for allergies to foods that they notice cause symptoms? Is a more "allergic" person more likely to get AS? I know the protein of wheat, gluten, is a common antigen.

Personally, I have multiple food allergies. Peanuts can kill me and all beans/legumes make me very sick. Until I had good insurance and was tested by a specialist at age 25, I blamed my abdominal pain, itching and nausea with almost every meal on "hidden soy." With the testing, I was surprised to see how many specific foods my body is allergic to!! Since 25, I have been able to be food-allergy-symptom free by avoiding certain foods! No chicken, no tomato, no oranges. . . Gluten was one of my "good" proteins.

Like I said, I was just diagnosed with AS last week. I never even heard of it before. I ruptured my first discs at the age of ten, but kept riding horses by using my hands to support my body weight! Kids are crazy! When I was younger, my friends thought of me as "the strong one," but the tendency to tear soft tissue continued, and has brought me to today at 38 when the doctors put a name to my symptoms. I am selfishly thankful that I am female and am not worse, now that I know what is happening. I'm forcing myself to do my exercises and am on the NSD. I hope I can contribute something toward our understanding of AS. If I get my vision back in my left eye, I will be very happy, and the doc says I will.

Since I already had a limited diet and am now on the NSD, I am wondering if substituting foods I am slightly allergic to is better than eating starch. Is there any correlation of food allergy to AS symptoms?

Cheer, Ann

Welcome Ann. I haven't been tested for the allergies, but I feel there must be something going on with not only certain foods, but also the functioning of my body at different times. If one is allergic to something, they should be allergic all of the time, not just like one was in a cycle. This is what I've been going through, and my new rhumatologist thinks thats all in my head. However, I do detect some kind of cycle, just not sure what all is involved. Watch the new drugs, some seem to increase blood pressure very quickly.
Nice to meet you.
Richard

Ann,

I suggest you also ask this question on the starch free forum. There are some contributors there who are also interested in this problem but do not visit this forum.

I think generally allergies are only a complicating factor for a minority of us. If the digestion is impaired by allergic reactions then clearly more undigested food will pass to feed the bacterial flora; the klebs can feed on more than starch if they get the chance.



But I am old and you are young
And I speak a barbarous tongue

Hello Ann, and welcome!

I agree with you that certain foods highlight our condition. My insurance will not pay for food allergy testing, and I am considering doing it on my own. Regarding allergies, I ALWAYS see a flare up when my environmental allergies act up...interesting, eh?

Welcome aboard!

Regards,

Ellyn

Hi, Ann:

It is great to have you here, and it seems as though you have taken good advantage of the technical papers available on the site.

One thing about food allergies is that they may be either caused by-or exacerbated by-the condition of the alimentary lining.

I have had an interesting experience with the NSD and antibiotics: Briefly, for many years I suffered with asthma that could be seasonally triggered by pollens, but also by macadamia or Brazil nuts. I tested myself many times. After taking antibiotics against K. pneumoniae and doing the NSD for about a year, I was fishing about for new foods and re-tested macadamias. Then MORE macadamias: No asthma response.

Later, doing some research on Kp, I found out that cells adjacent to colonies which are otherwise 'tolerated,' produce excess histamine. I supposed that this just sets us closer to the asthma/allergy cliff and the seeming non-linear responses.

I know that it is probably not this simple, but a start perhaps in relating some role attributed to the Kp or LGS.

Good luck on the NSD and please keep us posted in that forum on your progress.

Again, WELCOME,
John