Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Fasting to come off NSAIDS? Help/Advice?

Hi, Tristan!

I was able to wean off the meds gradually. First I stopped taking Humira (1 1/2 months ago - it wasn't working anyway), then the diet made it finally possible to stop taking prednisone, sulfasalazine, and NSAIDs. Until I went extremely strict, I could not skip even a dose of prednisone without my stomach turning to acid and spondy pain immediately after.

I learned about LDN from a friend with MS. His neurologist dropped him because he wanted to stick to LDN and avoid the heavy meds. My rheumy actually told me, "I don't want to be known as the 'LDN Doctor', but let's give it a try." Apparently he was interested after another girl my age was showing improvement and stabilization.

I think the main thing is to keep trying different things until you can get control of the inflammation. Right now, I'm a little discouraged because my weight is grossly low and I'm feeling really tired/weak (and missing being able to eat out...or eat anything!). Going to keep at it though. I just have to concentrate on the fact that I do really feel better!

Hang in there!

How long is a good length of time to fast for? I'm on day 3 now and finding the food side of things fine. Not much energy, but the worst thing is being in too much pain to do any exercise. Already have a ton of wastage in my shoulders and all I can manage is very short gentle walks. Feel like I am siezing up! How long does it take people to end up with fusions once you have swelling in a joint? Are you talking weeks, months, years? Sorry if this is well known known info but still new to all this.

Thanks for the help
Tristan

Lindy,
Thanks for sharing your experience.

I'm gonna make some inquiries about LDN with my doctor. See if its a possibility.

It sounds to me like you are doing pretty well, and if your pain levels have dropped then that must be a real motivator. Stick at it and I hope you start putting on more weight soon. It's so hard to get motivated to do stuff when having low energy levels but I normally feel better for just pushing through and getting out.

Thanks again for the help.
Tristan

It's best to taper off the meds slowly. Use your pain as a guide and don't hold yourself to some random expectation that you must get off the meds by "x" date. Just let your body tell you when it's time.

I tapered off the nsaids over the first few weeks on the NSD. I still take them occasionally when I overdo it, but not on a regular basis and nowhere near the quantity that I used to.

Be patient and listen to your body. It's good to ask questions here but your body is smarter than any of us. Listen to it.

Hi, Tristan:



Four days.

Well, I have come to believe that dietary KETOSIS (not dangerous diabetic ketosis) is a state that is highly anti-inflammatory. This is usually achieved at Day Four of the fast and sometimes takes a little while to clear up most of the inflammation, but by Day Six my inflammation levels were always greatly diminished.

I gave up NSAIDs, and suffered a few days and found that fasting was the best way to treat AS flares, so had gone on enough fasts to know that the inflammation would eventually settle down. It takes some planning and discipline, but worth the pain and worth the efforts to get this monster under control and stop damaging ourselves with NSAIDs.

Good Luck and Good renewed HEALTH,
John

You might find my posts in both of these places helpful... they are things I did to control the pain while I was waiting for the diet to kick-in.


https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/ubbthre...true#Post355748

https://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/ubbthre...true#Post412103

Don't take NSAIDs while you are fasting, on an empty stomach ......

Well I am now at the end of day 4 of fasting and no NSAIDS. The first two days were pretty hellish and everything swelled up, stiffened and caused ALOT of pain. The past two days certainly haven't been a miracle turn around but there has been a noticed reduction in stiffness in my neck and knee.(Progress!) Still not back to the same levels as when taking the NSAIDS but a sign of improvement!

Thankyou for the advice given by everyone so far. I did consider tapering off the drugs but am in a place at the moment where I am not tied to any commitments and can solely focus on getting myself well and wanted a good kick start to the situation.

Thanks for the pain relief techniques 'light', I have already been taking Epsom salt baths (I dont find they relieve pain in the short term, but the body absorbs magnesium better through the skin than the stomach so good for the guts). And I have just ordered a TENS machine as I remember a chiro I was seeing used to use one and I found it great. Cheers for the heads up.

Im not sure at present how long to continue with a fast before reintroducing a NSD. Losing weight fast so may eat again tomorrow... i'll let you know what I decide. Thanks for the info on your experience of fasting John... it helps.

When coming off a fast what foods have people used as their first meals, i'm wanting something that is nice and easy to digest but still steering clear of fruits for the mo. Peoples opinions greatly valued.

Thanks again
Tristan

Hey, Tristan:

You are very welcome for any help and I can send to You Dr. Garten's chapter on fasting for some general encouragement, too, but otherwise: CONGRATULATIONS! Getting over the Day Two hump is fantastic and shows dedication. You will not regret doing this.



Scrambled eggs. Tofu. No fruit juices and NOTHING SWEET for at least four hours after resumption of consumption. Nothing raw or physically hard for first day. Salmon, chicken or turkey hot dogs (well, I don't eat pork and very careful about binders and additives), Stonyfield Farms or Brown Cow yoghurt in small quantities, broth or consomme but these cubes often have starch, so if made as a clear broth from scratch it would be best.

HEALTH,
John

John

That would be great if you could send that through.

Thanks again for the advice.

Tristan