Interesting bit of info! Thoughts?

[tamnwill]

Before being diagnosed with RA I was diagnosed with IBS 15 years prior. RA started after I had flu and a hideous bout of gastric enteritis (hospitalised) when I was 3 months pregnant with my son. For about 3 years before my sons birth I ate lots of tuna fish a week (mercury!). My stomach has a ways been a sore point with me and don't get me started on my bowels lol.....now I'm wondering about this leaky gut thing and wondering if anyone else has thoughts on it?

[tamnwill]

DUHHHH, for got to attach the info experiencelife.com/article/...

[Braecoon]

I am looking into this at the moment. My stomach has been problematic for the last seven years since I have been perimenopausal. Also severe chronic sinus problems and lots of antibiotics. I researched information re the sinus and acid reflux connection and now treat both aggressively when either one flares. Now that I am transitioning into the menopause, my sinuses have actually settled down, thank goodness.

Since starting RA Meds last summer, have had major problems with my digestive system, acid reflux and abdominal discomfort. When Meds were stopped for a 2 week washout in April, i really focussed on eating healthy and vegetable/fruit juicing and intensively adding probiotics. I actually returned to my pre RA energy levels - my friends and family noticed the change. I am now 5 weeks into MTX injections and starting to feel the fatigue building and my sleep has become disturbed again!

I am convinced that I have leaky gut syndrome, due to years of antibiotics, acid reflux problems and latterly RA drugs disabling the immune system. My haemoglobin levels actually improved when the RA drugs were stopped. On reading about correcting leaky gut, it recommends that you should do an intense cleanse due to the years of damage inflicted on the intestines (makes complete sense). This might explain why I had the initial success with healthy juicing but it has not been sustained. I am going to pursue this and hope to report how I get on.

[oldtimer]

Nothing wrong with my gut at all. But I've still had RD for years.

It's possible that auto-immunity can affect other parts of your body - mine affects my bone marrow as well as the joints.

[Hidden]

Hi Tamnwill

I read about leaky gut on the forum last year and decided to try the autoimmune approach, a lifestyle to heal leaky gut and AI conditions. I started on Jan 1st and dos initially really well but found the diet part hard to stick to sometimes. I've had gut probs for years and that all settled also I gained lots of energy and started to sleep really well. ( stopped amitriptyline). The idea with autoimmune approach is you cut out certain foods for at least 30 days then introduce back in very gradually one at a time. I'm back on track now and determined not to slip now. Just had bacon, mushrooms and fried spring greens for breakfast.

Check it out:

Www.thepaleomom.com

[Stephpzagain]

I'm trying auto immune diet while waiting for dx. It does help. Currently having a break from being as strict and feeling crap as a result. V bloated. Joints sore. Freezing cold feet. Going to take it seriously again after been away as need to be home to do it well. Good learning though. Good luck

[tamnwill]

Thank you all for replying with your individual experiences or thoughts. And I'll check out that addi Kikideelili. May I also ask if any of you do/did smoke/vape at all?

[earthwitch]

Did you know that there is a form of spondyloarthritis that definitely starts with gut stuff (reactive arthritis). Enteropathic arthritis is fairly well recognised as being part of the spondy group too, and coeliac arthritis exists as well (and with coeliac definitely being malabsorption/leaky gut problems). Plus there are theories on molecular mimicry in ankylosing spondylitis whereby klebsiella infection in the gut is thought to trigger the autoimmune response that becomes AS (which is why a low or no starch diet can relieve problems for some folk with AS). Also inflammatory bowel diseases (crohns and colitis) frequently go hand in hand with inflammatory arthritis, though more usually spondy than RA.

Not the entire answer, but definitely the gut is being more and more implicated in autoimmune disorders. I really do think more GPs and rheumatologists should be looking out for and screening for inflammatory bowel diseases and coeliac in anyone with gut problems and autoimmune disorders - its in the guidelines for investigating IBS, but I suspect from what I have seen, too many folk get an IBS diagnosis without having had IBD or Coeliac ruled out.