2011-07-12, 04:04 PM
Long post and I'm sorry!!
Ankylosing Spondylitis is what it's called and I was just diagnosed with it this spring.
It's a lot for me to accept considering I use to be such an active person. I had overcome so many obstacles in my life in the past few years. An abusive relationship (well 2 if you count the past 12 years), graduating college TWICE, 2 babies, 2 c-sections, surgery to remove my appendix, gallbladder and parts of my intestines, my first house with my fiance, A FIANCE!
I woke up one morning unable to move my fingers and toes. My body ached and my joints were swollen all over the place. I didn't think anything of it since arthritis runs in my family and I just thought that's what it was. I popped some motrin, after not being able to move out of my bed for 2 hours, and went on with my day. The pain and inflammation got worse as the days went on. I was bed ridden for almost 2 1/2 months, unable to even get out for dinner with my family. I was seen by my regular physician during this time, put on every steroid and anti-inflammatory you can think of. Nothing helped. I was put on Vicodin, Tramadol, and other pain medications. Nothing helped. I was still in massive amounts of pain.
I was unable to go outside with my kids and fiance. Unable to play in the snow with them, unless it was on my BODIES terms. After 2 months, my physician sent me to a Rheumatologist thinking I just had severe arthritis or Lupus or even Rheumatoid Arthritis. I got an appointment with one close by at a great hospital and a top Rheumatologist. He didn't take my Insurance, but my friend I went to school with was doing her externship there and spoke to him. He said he would see me as a professional courtesy (see me for free with no charges for anything including all testing). I saw him and he sent me down to the lab for blood work and some x-rays.
I went back a week later for the results and was shocked to hear them... Ankylosing Spondylitis. I cried and cried and didn't know what to think. I read up on it when I got home. It said most people need hip replacements by the time they're 50. I'm 30. I'm getting married in less than 11 months. We're planning a baby in the next few years. Could I do any of this without pain? Without worrying that a flair up would ruin any of our plans for the future? I wasn't sure, but one thing I was sure of was that my fiance was by my side through all of it. Through all the pain, the anger, the depression, the sadness, the hate, the everything. I also learned that I would no longer be able to work as a Nurse. I was heartbroken. Unless things change with my health, this will no longer be a career I love to do.
Here I am, 6 months later since the pain first started. I'm still in tons of pain in my joints, but I've been put on Sulfasalazine which is a powerful medication that will help with the inflammation. I'm still on the motrin and vicodin and soon I'll be starting Physical Therapy.
Just when you think something won't happen to you, ANYTHING can happen to you in an instant. Everything can be taken away from you. So, just live your life. Love it. Love the people around you. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
I'm still depressed because I can't do much still... but my dream is to walk down the aisle to my fiance, holding my dads hand, saying our vows to each other, having the baby we want and going on our cruise for our honeymoon in 2013.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is what it's called and I was just diagnosed with it this spring.
It's a lot for me to accept considering I use to be such an active person. I had overcome so many obstacles in my life in the past few years. An abusive relationship (well 2 if you count the past 12 years), graduating college TWICE, 2 babies, 2 c-sections, surgery to remove my appendix, gallbladder and parts of my intestines, my first house with my fiance, A FIANCE!
I woke up one morning unable to move my fingers and toes. My body ached and my joints were swollen all over the place. I didn't think anything of it since arthritis runs in my family and I just thought that's what it was. I popped some motrin, after not being able to move out of my bed for 2 hours, and went on with my day. The pain and inflammation got worse as the days went on. I was bed ridden for almost 2 1/2 months, unable to even get out for dinner with my family. I was seen by my regular physician during this time, put on every steroid and anti-inflammatory you can think of. Nothing helped. I was put on Vicodin, Tramadol, and other pain medications. Nothing helped. I was still in massive amounts of pain.
I was unable to go outside with my kids and fiance. Unable to play in the snow with them, unless it was on my BODIES terms. After 2 months, my physician sent me to a Rheumatologist thinking I just had severe arthritis or Lupus or even Rheumatoid Arthritis. I got an appointment with one close by at a great hospital and a top Rheumatologist. He didn't take my Insurance, but my friend I went to school with was doing her externship there and spoke to him. He said he would see me as a professional courtesy (see me for free with no charges for anything including all testing). I saw him and he sent me down to the lab for blood work and some x-rays.
I went back a week later for the results and was shocked to hear them... Ankylosing Spondylitis. I cried and cried and didn't know what to think. I read up on it when I got home. It said most people need hip replacements by the time they're 50. I'm 30. I'm getting married in less than 11 months. We're planning a baby in the next few years. Could I do any of this without pain? Without worrying that a flair up would ruin any of our plans for the future? I wasn't sure, but one thing I was sure of was that my fiance was by my side through all of it. Through all the pain, the anger, the depression, the sadness, the hate, the everything. I also learned that I would no longer be able to work as a Nurse. I was heartbroken. Unless things change with my health, this will no longer be a career I love to do.
Here I am, 6 months later since the pain first started. I'm still in tons of pain in my joints, but I've been put on Sulfasalazine which is a powerful medication that will help with the inflammation. I'm still on the motrin and vicodin and soon I'll be starting Physical Therapy.
Just when you think something won't happen to you, ANYTHING can happen to you in an instant. Everything can be taken away from you. So, just live your life. Love it. Love the people around you. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
I'm still depressed because I can't do much still... but my dream is to walk down the aisle to my fiance, holding my dads hand, saying our vows to each other, having the baby we want and going on our cruise for our honeymoon in 2013.
