More AS facts that are probably just for me.

Now, because of my research on AS I know there were a couple things that I checked contrary that knocked down my score, but doesn't mean I don't have it. Like one of the questions was am I male or female, and because I'm female it knocked the rating down, but the reasoning there is because men are affected more than women by a ratio in excess of 2:1
And the other one that knocked my score down was that I don't have lots of eye inflammation or bowl issues. But those two are only a fraction of AS patients. Not all with AS have those, and for many it's an issue that arises as the disease continues untreated. (From what I understand in all I've read.) So just because those things aren't issues I deal with doesn't mean that AS isn't the right diagnosis. What all this does mean is statistically it would seem that a diagnosis of AS is appropriate. That treating my symptoms as such makes sense (I guess I'll crack open my Tai Chi DVD...) and that I should probably make sure my Orthopedist and physical therapists understand this issue about me.
I find the internet a real blessing. It gives me tools and resources to seek and bring questions and test results with me when I do go to my doctor visits. I've said it before and I still think it's true, that AS actually is a relief of a diagnosis to me because if my spine does fuse someday, yes my mobility will suffer, but my actual pain will greatly decrease, and that would be such a huge blessing.
I really hope that when I make posts like this one that it doesn't come off as complaining, but as informing. I know I've had this for years. It was debilitating when I worked retail, and to know now ways to rest and stretch and exercise properly has made my life so much better. Before I was at such a loss. So I share these things hopefully to raise awareness. I mean before I started really piecing this all together I had no idea that there was a type of arthritis like this. Sometimes it makes me feel like it all makes sense now, that a lot of my pain issues were not things I did to myself to cause them, but things I just didn't know because I didn't know what I was dealing with something that not everyone knows about. So I feel it important to let others know what I'm dealing with, to give validity to my disability and to let others know what to look for if they're dealing with such things as well.
So that's all for now I guess. This last week was rough sleep wise, so I never was really with it enough to make my phone calls for my appointments. I must be done Monday. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to, my sleeping is starting to even back out to 8 hours per night, or morning.
I'm still not certain if my injections are helping my AS symptoms or not, but they are helping my RA symptoms, I've actually been writing recipe cards by hand and while I have to take lots of breaks at least it's legible, so I'm happy.
Labels: Ankylosing spondylitis, hip pain, medical, medications, pain, quizzes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, symptoms






























































































































































































































































































