Oh bother!
 

I've been getting steadily worse with my gastro ailments since... hmmm.... February or March? Yesterday I was jogging to the bathroom every few hours and my stomach was roiling. I figured it was something I was eating.

Then I reviewed the side-effects on the medicine I was taking for my AS, sulfasalazine. It was really helping with my pain and stiffness... but unfortunately intestinal problems and stomach pain were some of the side effects. It just came on so gradually I didn't think it was due to that med.

So today is day 2 without the med and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it was that.

Already I'm waking up in the night though, in pain from the arthritis in my hips and shoulder and neck. Oh brother.

I'm sorry, Nancy!! That's really the pits! I hope you can find something else that helps your joints without affecting other things.

Rachel

The unfortunate thing is the drug I was taking was one of the ones with the least number of horrifying side-effects. The other ones, like Ebrel and Remicade and Methotrexate suppress your immune system so that a minor infection can become life threatening! NSAIDs, which work pretty well, are linked to heart disease and bleeding ulcers and microscopic colitis. Argh!

But on the other hand. I'll go without any drugs for as long as I can and see if things like Turmeric and Krill Oil help. Before I couldn't tell, because I was taking the drug. And I thought the Turmeric was the thing upsetting my tum.

Is your medicaiton the enteric coated one? It mentions using that if there are GI problems.

Have you eliminated nightshades? What is your vitamin D level?

I hope you find relief for both the GI and the AS problems.
Anne

No, I don't think it is. I'll give my doctor a call. I know this stuff is supposed to work in the GI tract though.

I'm taking 2,000 IU of D3 every day because I'm not supposed to go into the sun. My skin is photosensitive from the drugs.

Nightshades... mostly. I still indulge in peppers. I will get strict about Paleo though if I'm going to be off my meds. :( I will miss my Thai curries.

I've been without for a couple days now and my stomach is feeling better, but my intestines are still a problem.