7 posts shown.
Honestly, Nicole Nelson5, I have to wonder—which firm are you actually representing here?
Are the clients happy with your services?
Of course, you’re obligated to give me the pitch... business is business, after all.
To be blunt, most immunologists seem to be completely out of their depth when it comes to the actual science.
It’s clear you’ve never had to deal with a truly debilitating illness yourself.
Of course, we shouldn't just toss alternative options out the window without a second thought...
Speaking from what I've seen firsthand with people close to me—and believe me, I've witnessed enough to know—skipping out on your prescribed treatment isn't just a minor oversight. It can lead to some pretty severe joint damage, potentially even landing someone with a permanent disability. It’s one of those things you really shouldn't gamble with.
When you start venturing down the rabbit hole of alternative medicine, it’s honestly hard to know what to believe. Everyone seems to have an opinion—one person swears by this supplement, another insists you need that specific remedy, and half the crowd is just trying to figure out how to get your money. It becomes this endless cycle of "try this" and "pay for that." Meanwhile, while you're busy chasing these unproven fixes, the underlying inflammation isn't going anywhere. You're essentially watching the fire burn while looking for a bucket, and all too often, people end up facing serious consequences that could have been avoided entirely if they had just stuck to their prescribed medication.
Hey, Nicole Nelson55—listen, I’m coming to you because I need some insight. If someone is sitting there with a sedimentation rate around 60 and their CRP is also through the roof, what kind of supplements or treatments actually make a dent? I'd really appreciate any advice you can give; I'd owe you one.
Without those medications, his sedimentation rate would be sitting somewhere around 150—which, frankly, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Hello everyone,
My boyfriend has been dealing with ankylosing spondylitis for about seven years now.
It all kicked off with pain in his heel—he's tested positive for HLA B27.
He initially tried sulfasalazine (I think that’s the spelling), but he didn't tolerate it very well. His doctor, Dr. Bosnic, eventually switched him over to methotrexate; he's been on it for five years now, currently at about 15 mg per week.
He also used Aleve back before they were pulled from the market, and honestly, that was probably when he felt the best.
Nowadays, instead of the Aleve, he's alternating between Voltaren and Indomethacin—taking one or the other every single day.
On top of that, he’s taking 10 mg of Cortisone daily.
While methotrexate was incredibly effective when he first started the regimen, it seems like his body has developed a resistance to it lately. He's been recommended for biologic therapy, but we're just sitting around waiting for the insurance board to approve it. His immunologist mentioned a young guy she treated who also had AS, but he neglected to mention he wasn't taking his methotrexate—which ended up leaving him completely stiff and feeling absolutely miserable.
So, my take is that no matter how tempting any "alternative" might sound, when you're dealing with something this serious, you really shouldn't play games.
I was reading on www.kickas.org about something called the NON STARCH DIET. The idea is that cutting out starches—which are supposedly responsible for triggering immune responses—can help. It's become quite a cult phenomenon, but results are hit-or-miss, and frankly, it sounds like a massive challenge to actually stick to.
Despite all the medication, his ESR is still hovering around 60 and his CRP is near 40 (though they don't bother testing the CRP much lately since it's expensive and the results are always predictably high).
He generally tolerates the methotrexate well without major side effects, though he is a bit anemic, looks somewhat pale, and his immune system is definitely compromised—he's constantly sniffing and dealing with colds. Then again, the whole point of the drug is to suppress the immune system because, in an autoimmune disease, the body is essentially attacking itself.
We feel like biologics are going to be his best bet, but since those are typically only approved once the standard treatments fail, we're basically just waiting for the clock to run out. Hopefully, it's just a matter of time.
What exactly is your son suffering from? Has he been officially diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew)? And does he deal with eye issues, specifically uveitis?
Look, we aren't talking about some superficial weight loss goal here—this is about managing an actual health condition.
Does anyone here have some insight on this...?
I’d truly appreciate any experiences you can share...
I'm looking for information regarding ankylosing spondylitis.