Re: New to this site, my story and some questions!

December 17, 2008

Hi,

if you have the markers for HLA-B27 then you may have Ankylosing Spondylitis.

They are the definite markers for it. Better check with the Rheumatologist to

verify it.

I would think twice about taking the medications they will give you.

I have been on the antibiotics for about eleven months and doing better than a

year ago. If you start right away on antibiotics you may not need to take them

as long as people that have had other meds from the rheumatologist.

If you have a chance read the book " The Road Back' it will give you a lot of

Info.

Regards,

Eva

From: dominicw78 <dominicw78@...>

Subject: rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

rheumatic

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

Hi,

I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

`Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

`perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

it had nothing to do with it.

Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

(Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

antibiotic method which lead me here.

The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

just as problematic as other options.

Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

infections?

Is it something that you usually take forever?

Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

How long does it usually take for results?

What have the results been like for you?

Sorry for the long winded post!

Any info much appreciated

December 17, 2008

Hello Dominic and welcome to the site. I was diagnosed in 2005 with

Scleroderma, R/A. and possibly Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. (MCTD). I also

was offered various steroids, antiinflammatories and chemo. Like you, I didn't

like the sound of it all plus I had a cousin who passed from what they say he

had was Lupus. But, I think he died from all those steroids and toxic meds they

gave him. So, I read " The Road Back " , and two other books written by Henry

Scammell and Dr. Macpherson Brown. I was convinced that since there was

an infectious origin, that Antibiotics was the way to go. At the time, I was

completely bedridden, in constant pain, pebbles coming out of my hard shiny

skin. I also had Raynaud's, TMJ, continuous nausea & vomiting. I was anemic

and my heart and lungs were damaged. I had gone thru several heart surgeries

and all they could say was that I was terminal but they could keep me

comfortable. I got really

angry. I didn't want to be kept comfortable while I waited to die. So, I flew

to Boston and started on the antibiotic protocol immediately. Within 3 months,

the Raynauds was gone, the inflammation had abated, TMJ was gone and I was up on

my feet. I went back to work. Within 18 months I was in remission. I read more

and realized that it was not just one organism that was making me ill, there

were several different species. So, I went on the Marshall Protocol which

combines other antibiotics and they are pulsed, Meaning that you take them on

different days, and different dosages and they start out on low dosage and ramp

up to full dosages. It is all antibiotic protocol. It takes a couple of years,

but my whole life has changed. You will hear about herxes. That means that as

the microbes die off, they emit a toxin that can make you feel worse while you

are getting better. Some of these herxes can be very serious and need to be

dealt

with, Having a doc who understand the concept is very important especially when

you are told you have no options and you discover antibiotics are making you

better. You tend to become okay putting up with some setbacks knowing that you

will kick the disease and be well again. Not everyone does the protocols the

same way. Antibiotic Protocols can be adjusted according to your specific

disease. In the end, it is the antibiotics that will kill off or weaken the

bacteria so that your immune system will be able to kill them off. Steroids on

the other hand shut down the immune system and leave you helpless against

viruses and bacteria. They also weaken the bones and in the end you die.

Antibiotics have given me strength, hope, a life and a future. I definitely

recommend them. I have been on them for three years and have not had any

problems with antibiotic resistant diseases. In fact, my immune system is so

much stronger now that I can

fight anything that comes down the pike. My best to you, Dolores

From: dominicw78 <dominicw78 (DOT) com.au>

Subject: rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

rheumatic@grou ps.com

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

Hi,

I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

`Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

`perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

it had nothing to do with it.

Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

(Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

antibiotic method which lead me here.

The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

just as problematic as other options.

Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

infections?

Is it something that you usually take forever?

Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

How long does it usually take for results?

What have the results been like for you?

Sorry for the long winded post!

Any info much appreciated

December 18, 2008

Hi Dominic,

I started on minocycline for early RA last June, without taking the

methotrexate which was recommended by the rheumatologist. My

inflammation blood markers have now been falling for the last 2

months, and I am starting to feel MUCH better. No side effects except

a bit of dizzyness, and the herxing which shows the protocol is

working. And I'm shaking off all the colds etc which are going round

at this time of the year ! You will find plenty of people with similar

stories to mine, with all sorts of rheumatic diseases, on the

www.roadback.com website bulletin board. The average length of time to

see an improvement is 8 months.

The book you need to read is called The New Arthritis Breakthrough by

Henry Scammell (which incorporates The Road Back), which is available

from Amazon.

You can find lists of AP physicians on this site and on the roadback site.

Good luck ! Kate

>

> From: dominicw78 <dominicw78 (DOT) com.au>

> Subject: rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

> rheumatic@grou ps.com

> Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

>

> Hi,

>

> I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

> mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

> there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

>

> Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

> or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

> some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

> my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

>

> The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

> I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

> much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

> back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

> `Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

> rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

>

> For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

> `perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

> it had nothing to do with it.

>

> Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

> it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

>

> The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

> (Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

> months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

> much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

>

> As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

> specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

> that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

> research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

> antibiotic method which lead me here.

>

> The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

> much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

> just as problematic as other options.

>

> Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

> will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

> infections?

>

> Is it something that you usually take forever?

>

> Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

>

> How long does it usually take for results?

>

> What have the results been like for you?

>

> Sorry for the long winded post!

>

> Any info much appreciated

>

December 18, 2008

I had ReA (Reactive Arthritis) / Reiters Syndrome starting in 98. ReA

is NOT similar to RA (rheumatoid arthritis) it is much much more

aggressive, and I don not believe low dose abx will cure ReA. I cured

ReA with HIGH dose antibiotics in about 2001. I have since not had

any problems with arthritis but with damage done to the colon

(stricture) by bacteria the which was untreated. So I cured ReA with

Cipro 1.5G per day in 6 week cycles (the 6 week cycle is very

important, a former 3 week course of cipro helped but did not work).

Biaxin 3 month cycles in low doses of 500mg / 250mg per day. All in

all I took abx for about 2 years but I suspect if i went in hard and

fast to start it would have been a quick job.

Following Cipro I got a campylobactor infection which caused the

colon problems and took a further 6 months to find and cure (again

cipro). To cure the constipation following all the abx etc. I took

Lamisil 250mg per day for min of 3 months (I actually took for a year

but again I suspect a shorter course would work) along with fungizone

(Oral Amp B, also called fungilin). These antifungals cured the

constipation. Then probiotics in large doses to get the colon working

right again and a course of anti parasites (I used herbs from

humaworm.com).

Good luck, you are going to need it!

On 18 Dec 2008, at 04:06, dominicw78 wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

> mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

> there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

>

> Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

> or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

> some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

> my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

>

> The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

> I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

> much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

> back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

> `Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

> rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

>

> For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

> `perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

> it had nothing to do with it.

>

> Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

> it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

>

> The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

> (Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

> months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

> much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

>

> As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

> specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

> that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

> research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

> antibiotic method which lead me here.

>

> The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

> much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

> just as problematic as other options.

>

> Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

> will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

> infections?

>

> Is it something that you usually take forever?

>

> Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

>

> How long does it usually take for results?

>

> What have the results been like for you?

>

> Sorry for the long winded post!

>

> Any info much appreciated

>

December 18, 2008

Hi dolores its brennen. I just read your story. That is simply amazing that u

pulled yourself back to health with antibiotics when the drs. Could do nothing

for u . Now your immune systm is better than before that gives us all hope. Can

I ask how old u r ? Where u adding probiotics ?

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

rheumatic@grou ps.com

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

Hi,

I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

`Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

`perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

it had nothing to do with it.

Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

(Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

antibiotic method which lead me here.

The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

just as problematic as other options.

Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

infections?

Is it something that you usually take forever?

Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

How long does it usually take for results?

What have the results been like for you?

Sorry for the long winded post!

Any info much appreciated

December 18, 2008

Hi Brennan, I'm glad my story inspired you. Yes, I have had setbacks from time

to time, but instead of being discouraged by them, I welcome them knowing that I

am fighting the disease and not obsessing on the symptoms. The symptoms come

and go. For a year I had a sniffly, runny nose and a terrible itch that came &

went. Those two are now gone, but others come from time to time. Each set of

microbes emit their toxic effect as they die off and knowing that gives me hope

that I am doing the correct thing or I wouldn't be here today. These TH 1

diseases take a long time to resolve. Micoplasmas are Cell-Wall-Deficient and

they easily slip their DNA into a healthy immune cell. They kill off the DNA

and live as a parasite in the cell. When they overtake too many of our immune

cells, the immune system slows down and we get sick. This is a slow process as

they are slow growing and slow dying. The most important thing you need to get

through this is patience, patience, patience.. Write down your progress and

re-read it from time to time just to remind yourself during rough times that

there is a light at the end of the tunnel Good luck. Dolores

From: dominicw78 <dominicw78 (DOT) com.au>

Subject: rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

rheumatic@grou ps.com

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

Hi,

I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

`Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

`perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

it had nothing to do with it.

Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

(Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

antibiotic method which lead me here.

The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

just as problematic as other options.

Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

infections?

Is it something that you usually take forever?

Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

How long does it usually take for results?

What have the results been like for you?

Sorry for the long winded post!

Any info much appreciated

December 18, 2008

This is another reason to use antibiotics. Using antibiotics whether they are

pulsed or taken in large doses, we must treat according to the disease. It is

not unusual for people who take heavy duty antibiotics to have fungal infections

and other co-infections from the bacteria and viruses. All infections must be

treated whether it be of fungal, viral or bacterial origin. Ridding ourselves

of these parasites is the main thing. Congratulations on your perseverence.

You have great patience. My best to your continued success. Dolores

> Hi,

>

> I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

> mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

> there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

>

> Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

> or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

> some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

> my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

>

> The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

> I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

> much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

> back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

> `Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

> rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

>

> For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

> `perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

> it had nothing to do with it.

>

> Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

> it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

>

> The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

> (Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

> months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

> much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

>

> As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

> specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

> that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

> research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

> antibiotic method which lead me here.

>

> The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

> much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

> just as problematic as other options.

>

> Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

> will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

> infections?

>

> Is it something that you usually take forever?

>

> Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

>

> How long does it usually take for results?

>

> What have the results been like for you?

>

> Sorry for the long winded post!

>

> Any info much appreciated

>

December 19, 2008

Welcome!

The intracellular bacteria being treated with this low dose protocol are

cell wall deficient organisms, and therefore cannot build up resistance to

the antibiotics. Long term studies on the efficacy of this treatment show

that the longer one stays on the antibiotics, the better the results. Also,

the antibiotics possess anti inflammatory and immunomodulating properties,

which also contribute to the benefits. See the FAQs on rheumatic.org, also I

believe there are medical histories of people who have used this for

Reiter's on the website. I can tell you that I had an extremely severe case

of polymyositis- first doc said I would die, all the rest said it would be a

lifetime of disability, and I was only 24 yrs!- and I have made an almost

complete recovery- hoping to be fully recovered in the next year. I was so

weak I could only wiggle my fingers and toes and was in horrific pain. Now I

am nearly perfect. This is an illness that is treated with steroids and

immunosuppressants and I ONLY used the antibiotics! It was a long gradual

process however. It takes time to see a change, and for some people it takes

two years before the turnaround. I was acting purely on faith all that time,

and it paid off. Best of luck,

Emma

On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 10:06 PM, dominicw78 <dominicw78@...>wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

> mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

> there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

>

> Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a week

> or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave me

> some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

> my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

>

> The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out, noticed

> I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

> much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

> back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they said

> `Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

> rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

>

> For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea that

> `perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors said

> it had nothing to do with it.

>

> Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked out

> it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

>

> The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

> (Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

> months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still very

> much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

>

> As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

> specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life and

> that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

> research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low dose

> antibiotic method which lead me here.

>

> The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to make

> much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method seems

> just as problematic as other options.

>

> Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

> will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

> infections?

>

> Is it something that you usually take forever?

>

> Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

>

> How long does it usually take for results?

>

> What have the results been like for you?

>

> Sorry for the long winded post!

>

> Any info much appreciated

>

December 23, 2008

HI - I was diagnosed with RA 2-1/2 years ago. Started with just

NSAIDS, had time to look stuff up, read Scammell's book, and got

started on minocin. Worked great, minor side effects, so after 6

mos. switched to Doxycycline. Spent the next 12 mos. totally symptom

free. Then made the mistake of switching from generic tablets to

generic capsules. after about 4 weeks, a flare. Then another, and

another. After 6 mos of upping the dose, trying everything, I

realized that this had started after the change of dosage type. Went

back to the tabs, but the disease has totally invaded my joints.

Some almost immediate relief, but am still fighting joint

problems...my hands are ruined. Would like to learn more about other

antibiotic protocols. You mentioned the Marshall Protocol...what

does that entail? My rheumatologist is anxious to get me on

methotrexate, and I do not want that! Will need to find another who

is more supportive of the antibiotic approach....

>

> From: dominicw78 <dominicw78 (DOT) com.au>

> Subject: rheumatic New to this site, my story and some questions!

> rheumatic@grou ps.com

> Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:06 PM

>

> Hi,

>

> I`ll give you my background. I went to Thailand in March and got

> mild gastro, didn`t think anything of it. In the last week I was

> there a thin red line appeared in my right eye, but no pain.

>

> Got back and the red line was still there but no pain, after a

week

> or two it began to hurt a little so I went to the doctor, who gave

me

> some antibiotic drops. That night the fun began, I put them in and

> my eye flare up very red and was insanely painful.

>

> The next day I went to eye emergency room to get checked out,

noticed

> I was really stiff in the legs but was worrying about my eye too

> much. They gave me various drops, pred forte etc and I kept going

> back for the next week. I told them I was a bit stiff and they

said

> `Òh yeah, by the way you've probably arthritis better see a

> rheumatologist about it` I was thinking `What the...?`

>

> For the next month I did loads of tests often offering the idea

that

> `perhaps this has something to do with Thailand` all the doctors

said

> it had nothing to do with it.

>

> Then after seeing a few different specialists they finally worked

out

> it was Reiters disease and that I had the genetic HLA B27 marker.

>

> The eye slowly got better and I went on anti-inflammatories

> (Meloxican), was told that I should be better by six months. Six

> months passes eye is no longer flared up, but joints are still

very

> much inflammed, so I begin (about 10 weeks ago) sulfasalazine.

>

> As yet there has been no real change, I went to see another

> specialist they tell me that I will have this arthritis for life

and

> that I should also now have methotrexate also. I`ve done some

> research don`t like the sound of it. I stumbled accross the low

dose

> antibiotic method which lead me here.

>

> The idea of treating the cause rather than the symptoms seems to

make

> much more sense to me. However the low dose antibiotic method

seems

> just as problematic as other options.

>

> Doesn`t the body build up an ammunity to antibiotics meaning that

> will eventually not work also leaving me more susceptable to other

> infections?

>

> Is it something that you usually take forever?

>

> Does anyone have a similar story to my and can vouch for results?

>

> How long does it usually take for results?

>

> What have the results been like for you?

>

> Sorry for the long winded post!

>

> Any info much appreciated

>

December 23, 2008