At 51 ,I am disabled by AS.I fought it for 32 years and finally had to retier last year .I have a 59 year old brother who has psoraissis bad.He has really messed up fingernailsand patches all over his scalp and body.He woreout a hip joint out a few years ago but still goes back packing in the Sierras several times a month to catch and release trout. A 57 year old brother in Australia has had ulcerative colitis for 35 years but seems to get along OK. I have a brother in law with psoriatic arthritis so i am keeping my fingers crossed for my 10 year old son. All these diseases are related and are hereditary.My dad had AS but it did not cause him much problem until his late 60's.I hope they get on with the research into these related deseases.Unfortunately they don't sem to be one of your popular diseases ,althoughI i don't feel any resentment about the diseases that are more inthe public's eye such as cancer and aids.I just wish our obscure diseases had more publicity.
Kev
