Hi Everyone,
I am wondering something about the NSD. I have been riding the WAGON for about 2 1/2 weeks. I fell off a couple days and got back on. I have officially been starch free for about a week. I noticed a difference almost from the first day. I have had no spine spasms, just achiness since starting full force last week. I am still on Vioxx 25 mg a day, and I plan on stopping that as soon as I can get over the Iritis.
My question is:
Do you think that the NSD starts working sooner with people who have had symptoms of AS for a shorter time? I have had symptoms on and off for years, and achiness for a LONG time, but the full blown AS attacks just started 3 months ago with my initial Iritis flare up. I have not spent years struggling with this yet, and therefore have only taken the occasional Ibuprofen for headaches, aches, etc. I have not spent years building up the Klebs, meds, ect.
This is just a theory and I would like to see what you all think. I know we are ALL DIFFERENT and everyone reacts differently. I just see so much about people taking different amounts of time to react to the NSD positively. I would appreciate any of your experiences with how long it took you to see results and why you think you took as long or as short a time as you did.
Thanks,
Janet

Hi Janet,

Since the whole idea of limiting starch is to rid ourselves of as many of theose nasty little Klebsiella bugs as possible and, since Klebsiella is naturally present in your GI tract, I would say it's not how long you have had AS but how messed up your intestines are. Since you have not had the symptoms as long as some, you would probably wouldn't have the same amount of damage caused by longtime NSAID usage, therefore fewer of them get into your system. That is why it's so important to limit NSAID usage as much as possible...the more intact your intestines are, the better the diet will work. The sooner we stop using drugs that burn holes in our guts and start controlling AS with our diet, the sooner we can close Kickas.org. I believe that.

Year three into the diet and out again...still no flares!

Pete

OOPs,

I forgot to answer the second half of your post.

I started the diet around the first of July, 1999...I can't remember how long it took exactly but it seems like it was overnight. I do remember doing some things that summer that I thought I would never do again. Golf was one. From then on, all I remember is getting better and better.

When I was a kid, I had to go through the most horrible experience imaginable and it was to become the best lesson I ever learned. My father had AS and NSAIDs were about the only drug available to the AS sufferer. As a result, our family was forced to sit by in frustration as my father was slowly being eaten alive by the very drugs that were meant to help him. Needlessly to say, when I was diagnosed with AS I promised myself I would never use NSAIDs and I kept that promise. Because of that, I had no damage and the diet worked it's magic overnight it seemed. Within a month, no doubt!

Pete

Hi Pete,
Thanks for your post and answering my questions! I am using the Vioxx as a crutch I guess! I can't wait to stop taking it! I am wondering if you maintain the NSD or the LSD. I can do either if I have to it; but, it would just be nice to know that someday before I die I can have an occasional slice of bread! I guess I am not as strong as some of you out there!
I am just wanting some input on what the future holds. I have looked back at many posts, but I guess I am wanting some new ideas on what everyone has experienced.
Thanks again,
Janet

We will be able to have an occasional slice of bread again, Janet. We will find a way. we have to. I'm not too strong either - life isn't too much fun without sambos and pasta. I know there's lots of other things but I do miss my food. Let's hang in there on the NSD for the moment though. Good luck
ali

Thanks a bunch Ali,
I am having a bad day I guess! I told my husband yesterday, "I can live the rest of my life without starch if I always feel this good!" And today I am dying for a burger and fries! Even just a bite! I know I wouldn't stop though! Here's to Kickin those Klebs!
Janet

Oh I know that feeling. Generally I try and avoid the McD's of our world but the other day I think I was having a slight hangover from a few beers the night before and I just had to ask my boyfriend to pull into Burger King as we drove back from Ireland to the UK. I ordered a double cheeseburger with bacon and ate it without the bun. Just wasn't the same though. Then I nicked a few of his fries and that is probably why I have been suffering ever since. So don't do it!! Make yourself something nice and salty instead - like bacon and eggs. We still can have some nice things!!
ali

Hello Dakotadan,
I too have been on a NSD and suffering no flares.
I was wondering basically what is your diet for the day.
You must have narrowed it down to a basic routine.
Can you share that with us, it would be interesting.
Thanks
Anon XII

Hi AnonVII...?

Unless it's part of a holiday celebration, I don't like to eat...it's a waste time and I only do it so I won't die. Been that way all my life so restricting my diet was not so much an attack on my food cravings as it was a challenge to my creativity. I stopped eating the normal 3 squares and started to snack just as soon as I got hungry. I never allowed myself to get hungry enough to eat a full meal...that way a little snack would do and I wouldn't get tired of the same meals. A half an apple, a glass of cranberry juice, an orange, some cheese...anything quick and handy. I also get rid of everything that contained starch and bought nothing with starch in it, so anything in my kitchen was fair game. After a year or so of being strict and feelin' good, I started to cheat every once in awhile, then a little more until I'm where I am today...eating anything I want and not paying a price for it. I'm in remission or cured...don't know which...don't care:)

Good luck...I hope you enjoy the same success that I did. If you want more from me, I'll be happy to get deeper into it but it's really basic...don't eat anything that contains starch...test it if you're unsure, and use supplements every day!

Pete

Hi Pete,

your results sound to me as confirmation of the following get-rid-of-AS-strategy:

Combine starvation (strict NSD)
with immune system boosting (the supplements)


Do you agree with this ?
Did you follow a very specific supplement-program? Or did you take just all of the stuff you can find on the NET ..
Has the snacking been important? or was it just your way to keep it NSD

Arjan

Hello Dakotadan,
I'm formally AnonVII or AnonXII.
Thought I might as well join and help some people.

In another discusion they were debating garlic. Point:Garlic has starch, Counterpoint:It has antibiotic properties that kill the Kleb.
Have you seen anthing on this, do you eat Garlic? I think Garlic affected me one time, but I'm not sure.
How about cucumbers? Iodine turns the center part black. Do you eat them?
Tomatoes raw?
Tomatoes cooked?

Thought I would ask someone like your self. If you have no flares ups you must be doing it right.

Surly Man