Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Do i do 3-day apple fast with or without NSAID?

I am new to the forum.

I am a 31 year old AS patient. First diagnosed that i am HLA-B27 +ve when i was 16 years old because of a very bad pain in the hip (sacroiliac joint). It lasted for 6-12 months off and on (probably bcos no one knew what it was). Then i had uveitis after 5-6 years. About 4 years after that i had a pain in my ankle (which im not sure was related) that was treated for 2 months and subsided.

Now after 5 years again i have a flare-up -- started as negligible stress in lower back, the rheumatologist did a blood test for inflammatory markers, there wasn't anything but she asked me to use an NSAID (indomethacin) anyway for 2 months. A month later i noticed pain in the knees (but nothing in the lower back). She asked me to switch the NSAID to aleve bcos of side effects with indomethacin.

I've been reading a lot about no/low startch diet and 3-day apple fast to get out of a flare up.

I have been on the No starch diet for a week now. I decided to try the 3-day apple only fast. My question is should i do the apple fast with the NSAID or without it?

I am afraid of doing the fast with it as it might be taxing on my stomach (with or without the antacid). So i stopped the NSAID for the fast. Today is the first day of my apple fast and by afternoon i am noticing an increase in my knee pain.

I am confused as to whether i should go back to taking the NSAID or not to prevent the damage.

I would really appreciate if any one can help me with this.

That is really up to you... if you have really active inflammation I would continue it. If you do not, one of the objectives of a fast is to clean/repair the body... which taking a NSAID would be contrary to.

So my short answer is.. depends how much inflammation you have going on (that is my opinion).

Tim

Hi
If taking the small amount of NSAID allows you to apple fast....I would do it. As you know, drink plenty of water. I was relieved 15 years ago when John told me that it was quite normal to have more pain, even when we first make good changes.

Keep us posted!

Thanks a lot for the reply guys ...

Ive reached the end of the first day of the apple fast ...

The pain isn't intolerable ... nothing like i had it the first time when i was 16 years old.

So i am thinking, i'll wait until tomorrow afternoon and if it gets worse ill take the drug ...

Hey, cooldood83:

When I found the primary issue with AS is LGS and NSAIDs actually exacerbate this, I gave them up. Cold turkey; haven't got NEAR one in 15 years (including aspirin).

It is important to heal the gut to get better and less starch-reactive. We all have intestinal lesions that cannot heal properly while taking NSAID agents. Some people need these while transitioning through stages of NSD, but I believe it just prolongs this period.

We say when fasting--"how hungry can we get?" And giving up NSAIDs--"how much pain can we be in (really, what is our "natural" level of pain and can we cope)?" Many people do not want to experience this pain again--understandably--but the drugs will also disconnect us from recognizing cause-and-effect; many people with AS never make the food connection as a result. If and when we can do something about it, pain is good; it has a purpose--our best indicator of disease activity.

Hang in there and be patient--You will overcome this disease by force of will, and we will be here for You.

HEALTH,
John

Thanks a lot for the reply john was a bit motivating.

The only worry is the following:

along with the knee pain (slightly swollen right knee that my physio measured and left knee is just beginning to hurt a bit) ... i am also starting to feel sore at the center of the spine if i press it there. And i am really really worried about the spine soreness with all the horror stories. My x-ray a month ago said there is no fusion whatsoever in the spine but now i am worried.

So the question is: Do NSAIDs actually stop joint fusion? or Do they just suppress the pain and make us a blond spectator to the damage?

If they do something to stop joint fusion then i feel i should break the fast and control the damage with it.

Apart from that, so far i have no weakness from the fast. Whenever my stomach has a burning sensation i am either drinking water, apple juice or eating a real apple.

Hi, cooldood83:



Personally, I believe NSAIDs can accelerate AS under the wrong circumstances (my case), but if they have any hope of reducing damage, it would be in conjunction with the NSD or LSD, so I am not totally against their use, when appropriate. They are just not for me, because of the damage I experienced.

Good Luck, whatever You decide,

HEALTH,
John

John:

I am at the end of my second day of my 3-day apple only fast. I have been carefully listening to my body and haven't noticed any improvement. I think the knee swelling has increased a bit and the other knee is starting to hurt a but more. The point in my spine which was a bit sore is now more sore. I'll hang in there until tomorrow and take the NSAID tomorrow evening when i break the fast.

You brought up an interesting point.

I was wondering if NSAID can actually cause a flare up i.e. activate the dormant AS? Is there a study?

Because one month ago i had very negligible lower back pain (i wudnt even call it pain just stress). Could even be bcos of my long hours of sedentary study at the university the couple months before that happened. Anyway, i wanted to be over-cautious as its been 5-years since my last flare up (i see a 5-year pattern in my history). So i went to the rheumatologist and they did their usual diagnosis tests (x-ray, blood test) and said there is nothing but she asked me to take the NSAID (indomethacin) anyway for 2 months. A month later, when i stopped NSAID for a day to see wats going in, i noticed pain in my knees and now it seems like a real flare up.