I have been thinking about this a lot. I fear my post will become a long rant but shall try to keep it to the point.

I see no problem with questioning a diagnosis or symptoms for that matter as long as it is an honest question and not an undrhanded attack on the original poster. For example you question what the symptoms could mean/caused from rather than question if the poster has the symptoms in the first place or severity of those symptoms.

I must agree with Dow, I don't like the characterizing someone else's illness as "moderate" "severe' or "slight".
While those with AS who have fusing may be concidered by the medical community as having a more servere form of AS they also believe there is less pain once fusion has taken place.

I question what symptoms classify you as servere/moderate/slight.
Person (A) has AS with fusion but no heart damage.
Person (B) has AS with NO fusion but the heart has been damaged.
Person (C) has no definative dx, Drescribes servere pain in the SI's and back. Limmited range of movement. And can barely take care of simple duties.

Now even as I write this I couldn't tell you who is the most severe. And I don't feel it is right for us to even try.
We should just accept it for what it is to the individual at the time.

Support mmm I guess again the definition changes with the individual.
Going back to my teenage years now to try and explain how I feel.
I remember breaking up with my First serious boyfriend.
Mum told me all the things like, you will get over it, you will meet someone wonderful one day and you will forget about "bob, Fred, whoever" He was only your first boyfriend and its not the end of the world.
Now this was mums way of trying to show support, but it only made me feel like she wasn't supporting me at all.

All I wanted was for her to give me a hug and accknowledge that it felt like it was the end of the world to me. I just wanted her to say it sucks big time and you have every right to cry.

I guess it is the same here for me. When I am having a realy crap day I just want someone to say I feel for you it sucks doesn't it.

Kevin, you know I think you are great and you have been a great support since I have came to kickas. However when I read your post, it made me feel like I was less of a person. Whilst I understand you are being encouraging and in no way putting me or others down. I just thought I would be honest about how it made me feel. Its so hard when you have managed to do the things you have done inspite of AS that when I have my bad days and aren't able to do the house work etc that I am a weak person and not trying hard enough.

I guess what I am trying to say with this long rant (yes Im sorry) is that if someone is feeling like you/we are not being supportive. Instead of trying to justify ourselves and prove we are being supportive. Just accept it for what it is and listen to how the person is saying they feel. We are all different.

I will stop now. This is just me and my opinion but that doesn't make it right. Or wrong for that matter LOL.

Trish
xxx