Tummy troubles?

I've been having tummy trouble too. It's more recent. Previously I've been great! I had thought I'd picked up a bug or something but it seems to show up too often for that to be the issue. One thing that helps is probiotics. Maybe my system is just over loaded with chemicals ( meds ). Especially stages where I'm on and off different meds trying to see what works.

Wow, this thread rings a lot of bells with me. I did not have bowel or inflammatory arthrits symptoms to a great extent until I had a ruptured appendix which was undiagnosed for 6 days! (emergency surgery followed). I was found to have malabsorption (vit d, b12, b1, ferritin/low iron) osteoporosis, inflammatory polyarthritis and now IBS-D. I have a family history of psoriasis. I’ve been checked for celiac disease, had colonoscopies, endoscopies, upper GI studies. I have some evidence of past gastritis (no H-pylori). There has been no reason found for my malabsorption or GI symptoms. I am HLA B27 negative. I’m sure you all know that enteropathic related arthritis is in the family of spondyloarthropathies, but I still have an undifferentiated diagnosis. So what to do? Enbrel and Methotrexate have have helped with inflammation. I was taking Celebrex, but had to stop due to stomach pain. I am now following a carbohydrate restricted diet (Atkins). Some of you know that a low starch/no starch diet is also recommended for ankylosing spondylitis. Eliminating sugar and starch helps with many (not all) of my GI symptoms.
I am trying to eat a ketogenic diet- both for weight loss and to help alleviate IBS.
Has anyone else had this type of carbohydrate restriction recommended to them?

I am so glad to hear this. I just changed from Enbrel to Humira. I was diagnosed recently with IBD, and have yet to see a IBD specialist, he was supposed to be good at immune related IBD. Seriously the tummy trouble is as bad as any other part.

Could you give me a quick run down on the diet that has eased your symptoms. I know everyone is different.

Dot, I am following the diet as described in the book “A New Atkins for a New You”.
You eat a moderate amount of protein, low carbs and high fat. You eat “salad vegetables” and other low carb vegetables in the amount of 20 net carbs per day to start. If you want to lose weight you may continue at this level or add a few more carbs gradually. This will adapt your body to burning fat instead of carbs for fuel. If you don’t need to lose weight you can gradually add more carbs back in a certain order called the “carb ladder”. Atkins has a website with lots of info. Please check with your doctor before starting any diet!
I have eliminated all grains, all legumes and have only full fat cream and hard cheese for dairy. My fruits are limited to berries and melon. This diet is not calorie restricted! It eliminated all carb cravings for me after the first few days and is very satiating.

Thanks,

I think I keep hearing the same story, guess I'm just going to need to make the change and stay the course!

That does sound a lot like the Dr. Oz 14 day weight loss diet, not exactly, and I think I felt pretty good on it. It had a handy list of lo carb vegetables.

Sadly, like most, I like the foods that aren't best for me. I need a bit more self-discipline.

Dot

I have had issues with my belly too. Mine started shortly after the PsA Dx., so for me they go hand-in-hand. Bloating, gas, constipation alternating with diarrhea were the Sx.. I went through all of the fun GI testing...labs (stool and blood), ultrasound, and endoscopy/ colonoscopy. All of these were normal. The GI doc said that she thought is was IBS and changed my diet pretty radically. That, combined with my pain medications seem to have evened things out a bit. The bloating and diarrhea are completely gone. Now, I have some bouts with constipation, but I can usually manage them with certain foods.What a prize, huh?

GrumpyCat, could you tell us what diet changes helped you?

So last night my feet were burning, and this morning they were more than usually stiff and achy. “What’s with that?” I thought. And then I had to make a dash for the bathroom … a bad case of the runs. Ugh.
And then my phone pinged. A reminder that it’s Enbrel day.
This has happened to me before. Has anyone else noticed a change in their (shall we say) “condition” just before injection day?

Hope your feeling better by now

Seenie said:

So last night my feet were burning, and this morning they were more than usually stiff and achy. "What's with that?" I thought. And then I had to make a dash for the bathroom ... a bad case of the runs. Ugh.
And then my phone pinged. A reminder that it's Enbrel day.
This has happened to me before. Has anyone else noticed a change in their (shall we say) "condition" just before injection day?

FODMAPS. Its not a fun one. In fact, I like to joke that the list of things that I can eat is shorter than the list of things I can't! I ended up going to a Registered Dietician to get some help with meals and such, but once I got used to it, it was golden.

lrcjvl said:

GrumpyCat, could you tell us what diet changes helped you?

I have had stomach issues every since this dx. I also had been dx with fibromyalgia now as well and there was a lot of talk about irritable bowels in my education session on fibro. I had allergy testing done and have found several foods I am sensitive too. Cut them out and my tummy and bowels are happier. I still when I am flaring or if I eat sometihing I shouldn’t pay for it. I get gas (lower and upper), pain in my lower abdomen, bloating, loose stools that can be explosive and urgency needs to go. I would love not to have to deal with it at all but…
I also find that it seems to go either upset bowels then upset joints or vica versa.
Not sure why but would love for it to go away.

Oh yes. I started the Humira last Spring and when I have had to delay or skip a dose due to infection or some such event, I notice that my stomach just rebels and hurts and I am realizing that the Humira not only helps my rash and arthritis but also my intestines too.

I try not to but sometimes I fall off the dairy or wheat wagon and ick! Why? Why did I eat or drink that? sigh