John,

I'm totally with you on this. I read (and quoted here somewhere, I think in the NSD section) on lesions in the gut in AS from the book Secrets of Rheumotology, but I didn't understand this fully till reading your post. Why do they keep them secret anyway? This also associated microscopic colitis with AS in 30-60% of people, often asymptomatic.

I have microscopic colitis (lymphocytic) to contend with as well, no doubt a reaction to the AS pathogen, and this is where the extra mast cells come into play. At the moment, I have to do NSD low fiber, as anything I put in my gut with fiber irritates it and I get pain, like soreness in my left hip and left thumb this morning...which could mean stirring up those lesions.

It's been a learning curve to start NSD and then realizing I have to do low fiber too, and I didn't really get how low I need to go with the fiber until I investigated the amount in the few vegies I can generally eat. Basically, not too much in the way of vegetables for me at present!

Despite all the bumps, I am very happy and incredibly grateful that I have found the way through the forest with NDS, and just need to keep walking the path till I see the light and open meadow.

I'm so grateful to everyone here who and especially John. You have all been so patient and kind.

Thanks!

Faith Berry Food Intolerances: gluten, casein, histamine containing and histamine liberating foods, glutamates, high oxalates, and fructose malabsorption (not starchy foods!) Medications: Xyzall H1 antihistamine, Gastrocrom (mast cell stabilizer) My blog: http://mastcellsandme.blogspot.com