Hey Beverly Welcome,

Sorry to hear about all of your recent problems. Sure glad you found this site, as you will learn and share what many of us live day to day. I must say I have to disagree with your chiro, as I have found very few rheumies who can actually help people in our conditions. I have had one doctor tell me 40% of the US population is affected by AS or AS like disease with B-27 involved. I came home and took the doctor some information back for her reading at her convenience. About a week later she called me stating she was sorry and is planning to do more research on spondy like disease so she can be informed for her patients.

My doctor, who understood back pain and AS retired in the mid 1990’s so I only went to other doctors when I could no longer tolerate the pain for medication. Finally, after having a myocardial infarction in January 2003 I found a PCP that would listen to what I had to say before interrupting and making diagnoses before I could get everything out. I suffer from AS and Mechanical Spine disease (degenerative disc disease with 9 herniated and ruptured discs). I’ve been dealing with AS since 1986 with symptoms going back 31 years. My doctor now has ask me several times joking “when are you going to get your medical degree”, because I have lived and studied the spine and AS so much. She is always happy to hear suggestions on ways she can improve helping any patient with spinal problems.

One thing I have found to help out when you go to the doctor is to keep a journal and make notes of what happened and when, then take it with you for your appointment. I have a lot of problems with my eyes also and when they started acting up I drink a lot of Gatorade to get some electrolytes back in my system. My temperature is usually below normal or will stay at 99 for weeks at a time.

Once again welcome,
Brent