Date: 03.09.2016
From: Sammy O
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Subject: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Ive been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis for past 5 year, and been in pain that has been hard to bear for as long as I can remember. My most recent blood tests resulted in me having an iron infusion but GP and Rheumatologist asked for a Colonoscopy and GI Endoscopy to see if I had internal bleeding from my medication. Before the procedure I was sent laxatives to prepare. I had 24 hours also without eating. SInce the procedure and since my system has been "empty", on a scale of 1-10 the pain has been less than 1. I feel like my old self and cant really believe it. I have had no new meds or anything to bring about this change but for the first time in 5 years have had 3 days without painkillers. COuld this just be a coincidence ? My RHeumatologist mentioned at my last visit that he was thinking about putting me onto antibiotic treatment ... fice years ago my arthritis came on within weeks after a stomach bug. All my joints swelled up and I couldnt walk at all within 6 weeks, I got to the point where I needed help turning over in bed. I was 42 at the time. Ive always felt I had something related to the infection - could antibiotics work or do I keep my fingers crossed that this pain free 3 days is going to last. I have a feeling once I start eating normally it is going to come back. Ive posted a couple of times here before and all the advice has been fantastic.
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Date: 04.09.2016
From: Sean
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Hi Sammy O I've posted and replied many times about diet - and also fasting. I keep my AS at bay with diet choices - in my 25th year now of diet change. You story correlates with others who have posted on here over be years - like a person who arthritis resolved after gastric band. Psoriatic Arthritis like AS is likely to be a disease caused by incorrect presentation of gut bacterial proteins (... And sometimes dietary proteins) in the gut. By fasting you have done two (perhaps three) things - you have 1) Changed the composition of gut bacteria and may have reduced bacteria that you immune system was reacting to 2) Changed the composition of other friendly gut bacteria that are involved in signally presentation to the immune system 3) Perhaps removed dietary components that were causing a cross reactive immune response - or in the case of gluten being removed you would reduce gut permeability to gut proteins So short answer is your experience shows that #Dietworks - antibiotics can be an option if you find a Dr. to do them. There is lots of info on using antibiotics for Arthritis on - thousands of followers! Www.Roadback.org Antibiotics used in AB therapy are very low doses - and will have a similar effect to diet change in the way hey impact gut bacteria / behaviour and might help to correct imbalances for a short period. Like with Terry Wahls and her treatment of Multiple Sclerosis where she went from wheelchair to well again - AB therapy followed by diet change. Regards
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: Colin W
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Sammy , where are you from ? , most of us on here are from the UK & the doctors here wont put arthritis sufferers on anti-biotics because the Chief medical officer ... Doctors' guidelines have advised against giving antibiotics and the risk of superbugs regardsless of what people says like those on Roadback , anti-biotics work as immune suppressants and some like the strong drugs like used to treat Cellulitis work very well iin treating RA if it works for you , thats good , as for food it varies ,, some people have problems with fruit & veg & others with milk produces
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: SammyO
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Hi Colin Im from the UK, Newcastle ... it was at my last apointment with the Rhematologist that he mentioned antibiotics. He made me another appointment to go back ... next month, to discuss it more. I had never heard of Roadback, but for some reason the past week has been the best week I can remember. Pain is minimal and I have energy for the first time in 4/5 years. Im also sleeping like a log which is unusual for me as I normally fidget around because my joint are so painful. I will see what the Rheumatologist comes up with, thanks for the info though, I learn more here than I do anywhere else !!
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: SammyO
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Hello Sean Thanks for all that info and for taking the time to send it ... I have been on Predisolone for the past 5 years along with a load of drugs, I have put on a great deal of weight .. partly the drugs and partly inactivity due to pain and I need to look after myself better. I know that my body reacts to certain foods .. i.e. anything with pepper, chilli or onions in makes me ill - my face tingles, lips swell, crippling stomach cramp and IBS Symptoms, but I hadnt thought of it making arthritis pain any worse. Ive got to admit, Im wary at the minute of what Im eating and Im watchful of how I feel after Ive eaten. Im definitely going to look at my diet and do some reading and see how things go. At least Ive got a good place to start from .. i.e. little pain !!! Thanks again for taking the time to write though, everytime something changes with my health/pain/medication this site is the one place I come back to as this is where over the years Ive had the most help. :)
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: Colin W
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
Sammy , how much Predisolone you on , 7.5 - 10mg is a maintainance dose and you should be fine on that but I have been on high dose 40mg since feb 2014 & causing alot of problems like glaucoma & diabetes 2 & because I need a total knee replacement I cant have Methotrexate & my Biologic drug rituximab which is a B cell treatment I thing , just be careful what you read online & even in the press :ie Mail & Express
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: Clare
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
I went into remission on Minocycline and have stayed that way since. Newcastle hospital is one of the the few NHS hospitals in the UK that is an advocate of this treatment. One of the rheumies there, used to work as a private consultant at Breakspear in Herts. He believes in the bacterial connection in RA.
There are other paths to take .
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Date: 05.09.2016
From: Sean
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Subject: Re: Colonoscopy and GastroIntestinal Endoscopy
I see it as the other way around. Some of the immunosuppressants have a known degree of antibacterial effect - it is discussed in many papers that sulphasalazine disrupts gut bacteria and that sulphasalazines therapeutic mechanism is not understood. Methotrexate too - when taken orally would disrupt bacteria in the gut. Roadback has been going a long time and exists as a sort of charity with no real profit agenda - in the face of hostile opposition from drugs companies. The genetics of how specific genes (identified for RA and AS) cause susceptibility to cross reaction to specific bacteria is very clear in medical papers. I'm not anti-drugs - just need the whole picture to be represented.
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