WLS and Iritis - related to Ankylosing Spondylitis

I had my WLS on Feb 22/05 and have had two episodes of iritis. The first was last September and then again a flare up on Good Friday (not so good). Does anyone here have iritis or AS? I have been wondering if the flare ups are occuring more due to the mal absorption of our nutrients. Does anyone supplement with things such as Greens + or glyconutrients? So far the pain and problems have been related to my eyes. I don't take any NSAIDS and very small amounts of tylenol when needed. I do worry about all the drops I am using in my eyes. The pressure went up really high and now I am taking glucoma medicine to control the pressure. The opthamologist is sending me to a Uveitis specialist in Toronto. I hope he has some experience with WLS patients and our special cir****tances.

Karen, I don't have eye related problems, but I have AS. My mother has AS, as well as, my two brothers. Only my mom has eye related problems with AS. I hope your flare ups subside and you find a way to control them. I have been off all Arthritis meds for over 5 years now. I have found my way to control the disease without medications. Good Luck, Bob

I don't want to sound weird, ......I have no miricle cure but here goes. I have learned to listen to my body. I have had severe flare ups in my hips, spine, neck, and ribs all the way around to my spine. When it happened it was really debilitating. I pay real close attention to what I eat and how it makes me feel. I don't drink anything decafinated. Everytime I do I have had a flare up. I don't eat too many tomatoes. When my body is tired I have learned to rest. If I keep going I pay for it with pain. I sleep with body pillows, I purchased a very good bed and I don't sleep too long. I have noticed that if I am imobile too much I start to hurt....the more I would hurt the more inactive I became. The muscles around the flare areas would start to hurt and spasm etc. I have learned that I do best on about 6 hours of sleep and if I have a few days of more sleep than that, then I start to hurt. I watch how long I stand and how long I sit. I keep moving positions as to not stress the joints form staying in one spot tool long. High stress was my worst trigger! I have had severe reactions to Vioxx, Tolectin, Voltarin, NSAID, Sulfasalazine, Indocin, Meclomen and a few others....the meds seemed worse than the disease.....so, after my last bad reaction I told myself no more. I have been off all meds for over 5 years now. I have had two minor flare ups during that time. I do worry that I will have a bad spell and now be limited on how to treat it....after WLS.......I will cross that road when it comes. The best things for me are no decafinated beverages, body pillows, and sleep habits. My mother used to struggle with Iritis continually.....she has had a bad time. She is almost blind in one eye now. She too has been off of all meds for over three years now. She also has learned to listen to her body and identify the triggers. There were times that I hurt so bad that I could not even get socks on or get out of bed to go to the bathroom for weeks on end........after years of this I finally learned what not to do and what not to eat. Good luck to you both, Bob

Hi Bob, I also am interested to know how you control your disease without medications. Since I first posted this thread I have been taking the Greens+multi supplement and my eyes have improved greatly. I also have much more energy and no pain. My brother also has AS and use the greens+! How often does your mother have flare ups of iritis? I have an appointment with a Uveitis specialist in September and I am down to only taking voltaren 4X per day to keep the inflammation at bay. The Dr won't see me if I have a flare up. Take care Bob and thanks for replying to my post. Karen