Oh my goodness, I just wrote a big long post and then went and closed the window without sending it! Guess I'll have to make this short and sweet.
I'm 33 and have had symptoms since I was a teenager. A few years ago when I was having so much back pain, I was tested and it was found that I have the HLA-B27 gene. But because I was female, my doctors didn't feel like I had it. I was referred to a rheumy who at least acknowledged the possiblity that I had AS. He finally diagnosed me with AS about 6 months ago after all other treatment had failed and my symptoms were increasing. I've got a new PCP now that is really helping me. She has arthritis and I was excited when I found out she had a craniotomy so she knows first hand about that also.
My mom had a blood test about a year ago but they didn't look for the gene. I finally convinced her to ask her doctor to test her for the gene. I guess she's hurting pretty badly at the moment. A year ago she was surprised to find out she had arthritis because she didn't hurt all that much. She said her hands hurt her but she thought that was old age. I just find it interesting that about 10 years ago, she was telling me that my pain was all in my head. Guess she's finding out the hard way what it feels like for people to think that.
Sharon
