Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; new to kickas- low starch diet- question

hello, i am a 40 yr old male. i was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis of the s/i joint about 7 years ago. i am hba27 positive from my rheumatologist. i used nsaids for a few years and switched to humira about 2 1/2 years ago. for the last few months, i have been slowly switching to NSD and backing off the humira. i have taken only one shot in humira in about 2 months. i also have switched to almost no starch. my back pain is ok but i am having gastritis like issues. i never had digestive problems in the past. i was wondering if any one had similar problems. i am about 4 weeks into a really strict nsd.

I was on Enbrel 9+ years and didn't have too many digestive issues. Like Humira, Enbrel is an autoimmune suppressor and might be blocking the symptoms but not the cause. Only until I went off it completely did I see digestive and inflammation issues spike. I just finished my 1 year review and some of this info might help you out: https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=482395#Post482395

You'll see by the post that the endoscopy / colonoscopy revealed Crohn's / IBS / Ulcerative Colitis. Have you done a colonoscopy or taken any blood tests yet to see if you may have one of these issues?

My husband is avoiding wheat and lowering starch since Christmas.

He's not on medication for AS.

He is complaining that his guts aren't feeling as happy / not as settled. But he is not affected with gastritis.

I dont know if his body is reacting to the different balance of food and is craving for more starch.

Hello there and welcome to Kickas,

When I switched to NSD, did not your issue specifically... I had issues with regularity.

I included walnuts/raisons and now sauerkraut (all natural/organic with probiotics) to aleviate those issues now.

Review the foods you are eating or post here for others to comment on. I emphasize veggies with my NSD.

Take care,

Tim

thank you for your responses.
my stomach problems have seemed to settle. ihave made an appointment with my doctor to check out the stomach issues. i wondered if the problems may have been masked by the humira. i am following the diet with a little starch with dinner. still having some pain. Im a little concerned because i keep dropping weight. my breakfast is mainly eggs and coconut bread. lunch is usually a big salad with some chiken or eggs. dinner is usually fish with veggies and half a sweet potato. my snacks are mainly apples, pears, grapes. or a trailmix of blanched almonds, macedamia nuts and raisins. i take vitamin d 1000 2 x aday and omega 3 (1200 mg)once a day.
i just ordered the 'breaking the vicious cycle' book.
thank you for your responses. the diet is really tough to follow in the begining. i feel like its getting easier.

Hi Gerry, nice to meetcha. Have you read the book by Carol Sinclair, The IBS No Starch Diet or The Low Starch Diet for IBS; I'm sorry I never get the title right! The author has spondylitis and her worst complaint was IBS. I learned that IBS can make your entire stomach feel awful, not just your belly, and even include heartburn. I hope you get good news from your doctor about your stomach. Let us know, ok? Meantime, let me just suggest: your diet seems super healthy! Would you consider adding a few more snacks that are higher in calories and protein than your trail mix? A milkshake can be very handy and made the night before. At each snack, strive to have protein and carbs and healthy fat. Example: hard boiled egg, some veggie slices (whatever works for you), some berries (see recipe I just added), and some olive oil added to the veggies. Just my ideas, hope it helps. I think the Elaine Gottschall book is awesome, but the Carol Sinclair is specifically for people with AS. Best wishes. I hope you feel better and stop losing weight. If I have even a little starch, like you are doing, at dinner, I feel horribly bloated.

thanks,
the carol sinclair book is next up. i am going to add a healthy fat to the veggies.

Hi Gerry,
Most people have trouble with keeping the weight on when starting the diet. It took me about a year to adjust and stabilize. Now I have to actually watch how much I eat! So I wouldn't too afraid of eating plenty of fat in the beginning. It won't be forever.

Annette

thank you
its very strange eating so much fat. i was always afraid of fat--didnt realize how important healthy fats are to our bodies.