I in my early stages have had family members and friends show great empahty and others be callous and ignorant. My AS however manifested itself with physical changes early on so some of the doubters then realized iI was not kidding.

One particularly foolish Doc when I was about 15 told me point blank with my parnets present without knowing a thing about my work ethic or personality said I was lazy and may have some minor pains but was without doubt exploiting these to be a ne'er do well.

The man was and is for most things a good Doc. He on that day clearly had a bad day and even as a ery respectful teen the notion of throttling him crossed my mind. INstead I bit my tongue and nodded knowingly. Told my poor parents the DOc was a fool and they were left without an answer.

Problem with stuff like that is I think I even started wondering a bit. The corollary would go something like this.


he's a Doctor---- I am a teen
he's seen more arthritis and pain cases then I can immagine-- I have no medical evidence of the apin I complain of on x-rays
I think I am exercising vigorously---- what do I compare that to
young people of 15 don't get AS apins like I'm complaining of-- I must be wrong.

I absolutely started wondering if I was a bit of a hypochondriac. Folks who don't appreciate how debilitating our AS is can do more damage than we imagine.

I am working on my sixth hip. Well original two, two replacements and two more replacements before 45 so I suspect I was realy in pain back then. Mainly I've learned that I can't change the minds of folks who don't want them changed and I know more about my body than anyone so I use all the Doc's I can to get info and be the person in charge of my own AS- management.


I am gnarled and twisted in some degree of pain every day but all in all pretty happy. Quite a few folks who still know me now marvel at the things I do and my resilience when maybe they used to be suspect. I don't take their marveliing too seriously either. Some day I surprise myself at how tough I am in this battle those are great day. Other days I know I am wallowing a bit and on those I feel entitled but remind myself to snap out of it.

I gusess what I'm saying is it takes sort of an evolution not a revolution but it is usually we the ASkicker who have to change not the folks who doubt us. They probably should but we do it to survive and hopefully survive happily.



L-R: Julianna, Jamie, Diane and Tonimarie

stevec-they also serve who stand and wait