My Journey with an Invisible Disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis

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11/01/2015

After a trip to the Emergency Room with severe pain and limited mobility on New Year’s morning of 2013, a visit to my primary care physician and a referral to a bone specialist resulting in a positive test for the HLA-B27 gene marker and a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.) The symptoms had affected my life for 16 years prior to my diagnosis, which included Psoriatic Arthritis with a soft bone heal fracture, then years later, Osteoporosis just two months before the A.S. diagnosis. Treatment changed to a more coordinated effort between my new primary care center, a rheumatologist, and continued low impact exercises with pool therapy through “Exclusive Physical Therapy” in Lansing, Michigan.”

Was treated for PsA with Enbrel 19 years ago that lasted 15 years +/- til it stopped working, systematically affecting my breathing, Lymph nods, prostate, pancreas, all while removing my inflamed gall bladder in mid 2014 from finding up to 20 gall stones inside.  Elevation of liver function tests went down after lowering A1C highs discovering diabetes is in a high percentage of A.S.'ers.  Painful cramps in leg mussels and feet have been off and on for years. On Remicaid since 2013, while also taking the maximum allowed 2 yrs of Forteo injections, followed by a recent ReClast infusion to control this monster inflammatory condition. Haven't missed any work while fighting this invisable desease, and feeling stronger just as the fusion was shown starting on regular X-rays in Sacreiliac and Lombard spine in 2015. What a ride, don't wish this on anyone, but staying positive on treating it.  Joined Faces after learning it was A.S., and then volunteered with the Spondylitis Association of America in July of 2015 promoting Michigan Educational Support Groups as a leader in Lansing. http://www.spondylitis.org/Connect-With-Others/sg_Lansing