AP - has everyone tried it | Arthritis Information

 

I just finished reading Dr Scammell's book, about The Road Back and antibiotic protocol.  I found it to be a page turner and really couldn't put it down.

Has everyone pretty much tried AP?  After reading it, my first question was "why isn't everyone doing this???" 

I understand why doctors may not be promoting it... and why the industry as a whole isn't promoting it... but we all know we are the ONLY ones looking out for #1 - no one else could give two sh*ts...

Anyhow, I'm making the call to my RD tomorrow to start AP (I went out to Whole Foods today and bought 3 different probiotics as well as more Lemon Cod Liver Oil and more Turmeric capsules) and was curious as to what percentage of you have tried AP.  I understand it can take years to work, but that you can take it along with the other more "standard" drugs. 

Another question I have, after reading the book, it seems clear that one can only stay on DMARDS for a limited period of time. Does anyone have a sense as to how long that time frame is?

Many thanks.
I haven't tried AP, although I would consider it if the meds that are working for me now (mtx, enbrel) fail me.  As far as I can tell from what I read, it's pretty individual as far as how long DMARDS will work.  Some people on the board have been taking mtx for over a decade and it's still working.

I have not tried AP therapy for the simple reason I am allergic to the antibiotics that are used.  If there were an alternative I would try it.  for one thing not easy to find rd that will do ap therapy at least that I have foundI have researched AP; I've read Scamell's book.  I'm not opposed to AP, but I'm also not convinced that it's the end-all-be-all.  If plaquenil stops working for me, I may consider AP at some point in the future.

For the first few years I had RA, it was well-controlled with high-dose fish oil and exercise.  For the occasional flare (a couple per year), I used naproxen, vicodin, and medrol dosepaks (in that order).  In the past year or so, things seemed to get a bit worse, so my rheumatologist and I decided to try plaquenil.

I know that I'm definitely not the only one looking out for me.  My medical team cares a great deal about my health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of their other patients.  I know, however, that I have to take charge and oversee all of these expert consultants and ensure that they are all aware of each other's findings and treatments.  They usually do a damn fine job, but they are only human, after all. I haven't tried it, but i can say one thing, when i get an infection that i know about, my flairs go up about 85%.CdnDream, there's a lot of politics surrounding AP. You know the beginning of the story, with the AMA and the invention of steroids in the late '40s. There was actually a whole book written about the issue call "Why Arthrits?" but the read is a bit more of a slog than The New Arthritis Breakthrough.

I'm on MTX, plaquenil and AP so I'm not in a position to unequivocally say it works, but since I started AP about a year ago I have cut my MTX to half of what it was and I'm definitely doing better than I was. I have quite a few pain free days, my thinking is clearer and I have none-at-all morning stiffness or unusual fatigue. I can ride a bike now. I've been on a plateau for a while and I can't seem to get lower on the MTX. I talked to my (non-AP) RD last week and asked if she would be willing to run tests and prescribe some other antibiotics, and she said she would. She said whatever I was doing was working for me. So I am convinced it works, I just can't hold myself as an example. I would like to consult an AP doc cause I'm sort of whistling in the dark at this moment. I think having an AP doc increases the chances of success but I like and respect my RD and want to continue as her patient. She said it was okay with her if I consulted someone else. (She's great).

   Why doesn't everyone try AP? Some people do not have the time or inclination to really explore the different treatment options and because AP has been institutionally shunned by the medical communitiy (although that seems to be getting to be a lot less) it is not given support by their doctors, so patients are really not compelled to try it. In my 2 years of being interested in it I have only encountered a small handful of people who have investigated it and not subsequently tried it, and most of them say it's because their current treatment is working for the moment. There is also a small handful minority of people who have tried it and it didn't work at all. I think it's like most therapies where there's a range of success from "not at all" to "miraculous".

No one can say how long any of the different drug therapies will be effective for any individual, but people report AP working (and at VERY LOW doses) for decades or life times, and MTX for as long as 20 years. I have tried it and stayed on it for 3 years from memory, I came off of it as my Rheum was quite happy for me to try it but he said I started it too late and my RA is severe and very badly controlled.  I would say give it a try especially if you are in the early stage of RA, you have nothing to lose, and it obviously works wonders for some people.  Best of luck, Janie.  PS  I have thought about retrialling it but I take so many tablets, I can't keep up with it all as it is!!!!!  Love Janie.  ps Nothing I have used has ever really worked well except maybe ARAVA but side effects were disabling.  janiefx2008-05-12 03:33:37I started on MTX and nothing really happened in the 18 months I was on it, and my ex-rheumatologist told me I would be on it for life.  He never suggested any other drug.  I learned about AP in here and my primary agreed to let me try it.  I had huge results within a week and the not feeling sick and tired 24/7 has been the greatest gift.  But I also do not have "only RA".  Good luck.  CathThanks to all who replied.  I appreicate your insight and advice greatly.

BTW, I do know that our doctors do care, and do give a sh*t... It was late and I was tired. So please accept my apology for being a bit bad with word choice and a little too blunt. The gist of what I was trying to say is that in life, we are the ones who have to look out for ourselves overall, we cannot rely on others to do that for us.  I was raised to believe that the opposite was true, which is very optimistic and nice, but not really reflective of the real world.  While others may care and help us, really, we are our own responsibility.

I know if I listened to the majority of doctors they'd just put me on meds, which only mask the symptoms of RA.  Since it's early, I'm going to try AP to see if it works.  Fingers crossed.

I love my doctors but sometimes I think they are a bit too robotic and way too reliant on pharmaceuticals.  I would prefer a doctor who thinks out of the box a bit and who has a more holistic approach to wellness, which includes things like nutrition, psychology, chiropractic and other things.  Just my personal opinion.
[QUOTE=cdndream]BTW, I do know that our doctors do care, and do give a sh*t... It was late and I was tired. So please accept my apology for being a bit bad with word choice and a little too blunt. The gist of what I was trying to say is that in life, we are the ones who have to look out for ourselves overall, we cannot rely on others to do that for us.  I was raised to believe that the opposite was true, which is very optimistic and nice, but not really reflective of the real world.  While others may care and help us, really, we are our own responsibility.