Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group How to deal with AS - Newly Diagnosed

Your three diseases might be linked. There's a big link between thyroid diseases and gluten intolerance or celiac disease and I think between many arthritis's and celiac disease too. Same with IBS.

When I was first diagnosed, I was previously diagnosed with gluten intolerance (I didn't pursue a celiac diagnosis) and I gave up eating gluten (found in several sorts of grain) and eventually gave up dairy as well. I also had thyroid disease (many years earlier) and IBS and then finally AS. Most of my arthritis symptoms also cleared up, some stayed around for awhile. What was left is easily controlled by sulfasalazine. The IBS is gone. I'm pretty sure it was the food intolerance that also caused my thyroiditis many years before.

Anyway, you sounded so much like me I wanted to share what has worked so well for me. Right now I follow a Paleo diet, take sulfasalazine and 2400 mg of folic acid (to combat the side effects of the sulfasalazine) and I'm feeling pretty good! The symptoms of AS are virtually gone, the IBS is gone and the thyroid disease... well that was treated long ago.

But IMHO gluten is evil stuff for me and it sounds like it might be for you too. Dairy also gives me problems, and I try to minimize how often I eat that too.

Thanks for the support and the information on the Paleo diet. It don't look that hard, so I will try it.

Ciao Zaida! I am American , but living in Panama for the past 4 years Just when I thought I had all of my friends, colleagues, employees, acquaintances etc. in the U.S. educated and aware of my A.S.., Panama is a whole different story. Blank stares---"you have what?" I know how you feel. Si quieres hablar por pm, podemos. Warmest Welcome, Teresa