Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group how old when diagnosed/took AS serious

Hi,
I was diagnosed at nearly 15...so that makes it 10 years (I am 25 now) had had some trouble before then but somehow I thought it was normal to be like that (lots of sport) until my doc told me it wasn't. I took the whole thing pretty seriously because I have other family members with arthritis and I started on meds straight away. Within a year I was taking Methotrexate, and at 18 I went into remission, but returned by the time I was probably 19, and seriously by the time I was 20. Like you, it doesn't stop me doing what I want, but perhaps as I have gotten a little older I have learnt to accept that sometimes I can't always do what I want to do, but who knows, tomorrow - I will be able to do it. I know it probably sounds silly, but that is how I see it.
I am also a Mum, with lots of nieces and nephews and I understand that sometimes playing with the kids takes its toll. But not always.
I know this sounds probably a bit cliched, but I have good days and bad days and I try and take each one as it comes. At the moment I am having good days. I do admit I get depressed a bit if I have a long/bad flare.

I hope this helps you,

Jess

Jakira,

I'm 35, first symptoms at 17, dx'd at 25.

I don't know that I'm taking AS seriously enough yet. It has places where it shows up in my life, but I try not to let it persist throughout my every waking thought. that has been easier at some points than others.

I've tried and found success with the low starch diet. I've reintroduced starches after an 18 month experiment with the diet and have not had the problems I experienced prior to that, including severe pain, recurring iritis, and restless sleep.

Like you, I stay active and try to kick As.

I'm scared of the drugs like Enbrel and even something less ominous like Sulfasalzaline. Until more is known or I'm in a state to really rely on them I'm taking a pass. I haven't been to a rhumetologist since 1999, but I'm not advocating that. It would be good to have a baseline to track the progression of the disease. John (dragonslayer) is a great voice of experience for me regarding making the best decision we can at a given time knowing there may be unexpected results down the line. Staying off of the meds like Enbrel may be doing me as much or more harm than going on them. They might be a great benefit to me today to ensure a better result down the road. We just don't know, so I'm cautious.

So, an I taking it seriously? I try not to. Maybe I should. Maybe I'm in a sort of denial. Then again, maybe this is my own prescription for kicking the mental aspect of AS. I'm either doing something right with the physical aspect, or incredibly blessed for the moment. Either way I'm on a path that is working for me.

Welcome to KA.

I'm 40 now ... was 39 when I was finally dx'ed after 10 years. Started having iritis at 9 years old, always been mild, until I got hit with severe case of iritis which lasted a few days back in 94. I never knew Iritis was an autoimmune thing. I was pizzed not knowing all this stuff.

Forever thanking my therapist for telling me she suspected that I could have AS bec she has seen how I walked in pain, the fact I had history of irits, because a couple of her clients have AS as well. Then next day I called doc for an appt and got in that same day and told him. He ran blood tests, and yup I have it.

Also STD's can trigger AS.

Hi Jakira! I'm female, 39, diagnosed and knocked on my AS at 27, but symptoms were unknowingly present in high school and college. Until this year, I had mainly been afflicted in my peripheral joints, especially knees. Enbrel had an amazing impact on my life in 2001, and I disappeared from this website for a good 3-4 years as I thought I had AS "under control" Now I am experiencing severe pain again, but this time in my back and neck---go figure... Where is the crystal ball when you need it. For the time being, I too, am trying to set the pizza and pasta aside ----hopefully, not a day too late... Warmest Regards, Teresa