Janneke’s AS Journey: From Frequent Flares To Starch-Free Feasting

Welcome to Starch-Free Feasting! 

My name is Janneke. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in 2019.  

The Pain. 

I was in a terrible flare at the time of diagnosis. It felt as though my life had ended. I was horrified when I could not lift my infant twin boys out of their cribs when they needed me. On occasion, my husband had to help me out of bed. Sleep was a thing of the past as my pain was worst at night. I could easily write more about how miserable that time was, but it would do no good. I write this part of my story to help you understand that I have been there!  

The Determination.

I felt overwhelmed when I learned about the starch-free diet. Pain exhausted me and I felt I had no energy to dedicate to this new lifestyle. I longed to feel better without the effort. However, because I had no access to effective medication, I felt like I had no choice but to give the no-starch diet my all. 

So, I did give it my all. I went extreme.  

For months, I consumed only chicken, broccoli, bone broth, Himalayan salt, and a handful of blueberries a day. It took wild determination. Two weeks into the diet, when I was still feeling terrible (perhaps worse because of cravings) I wondered, “Is this even worth it!?”. I realized that the alternative was not doing anything and waiting for the disease to progress. I did not think that was a good alternative. At times, I wondered if I should give up or cheat. However, I was determined not to waste the effort I had already put into this lifestyle change, so I chose to continue to give it my best effort. Mentally, the time of strict elimination was difficult. Practically speaking, eating only a limited number of foods made preparing meals an easy task!  

The Improvement.

I noticed a significant improvement in AS-related symptoms several months into the diet. At this point, I started reintroducing some new foods. Fresh, green herbs made the food so much more palatable! Healing was slow for me. I believe stress in my personal life, such as the passing of a beloved family member, added to the length of time it took to feel better.

The Appointment.

I was thrilled to learn that my initial appointment with a rheumatologist got bumped to an earlier date. Instead of waiting the predicted 6-months for my initial visit, I was slotted in for a cancellation appointment only four months after starting my dietary modifications. During the difficult early stages of the elimination diet, my eye was on the prize: medication. However, by the time I saw the rheumatologist, I felt so well that I no longer felt I needed medication.  

The Difference.

The pain continued to decrease. However, I didn’t start thriving on the starch-free diet until I embraced the foods that made me feel good instead of focussing on the foods that caused me pain. I had been grieving a diagnosis of AS and the need to be on a starch-free diet. Instead, it was critical for me to recognize that an AS diagnosis was worthy of grief while the starch-free diet was worthy of celebration. I came to thrive when I realized that nourishing, delicious foods happened to be the foods that make me feel great. Andrea Wyckoff was good at inspiring the foodie in me!

The Journey.

My rheumatologist and my MRI results agree that it appears that there’s been no progression of ankylosing spondylitis since starting a starch-free diet 2.5 years ago. I may not have been able to lift my boys out of their cribs but I am so thankful that I am now able to pull my twin boys in a bike trailer, jump in bouncy castles, and go sledding and hiking in snowy mountains with my family. I still have ankylosing spondylitis (and sometimes I get AS-related flares), but most of the time I feel like a healthy person who is able to live a full and active life while feasting like a king (queen).