Hi Tarnip
I can honestly say if my gene comes back negative my mouth is going to fall to the floor. In my head, my plan forward is based on it coming back positive but if it does not I can see me getting a bit depressed. I will try not to but I have no idea how to convince them without this test, since all my other teswts are not showing much. But having said that it would be nicer if it did not come back negative because I do worry about my childrne and thier children, but then again there is a pattern already in the family with the many broken backs.
Regarding the difference with AS and Reactive Arthrits, as I understand it As is a reactive arthritis but As is genereally specific to the sacroiliac joints and does lead to fusion, IBS Crohns or another form of bowel problem is common with AS too. I think, but I am not certain, with other kinds of Reactive Arthritis their will usually be problems with the gut but the joint affected would not have to be the sacroiliac, could be but would not have to be, and fusing of the spine is not usually a feature of the other Reactive Arthritis. There is sometimes a form of arthritis on the hands and feet. I actually get this but when I look at the pictires on the Internet mine seems as severe but does not present in the same way, it is more flaky. Plus I get a lot of water infections but these are never that severe, but that could be the diet helping with this
I think what it is for me is the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, it does not fit my symptoms. I may have fibro since I get a lot of candida and I am sensitive to noise smells etc, but I think a fair few people with AS get this kind of stuff too
The other reason why i do not think it is just Fibro, and nothing else, is my sacroiliac joints are my main problem, plus all my flares originate there, they do not originate anywhere else. Most of my friend with fibro tell me thier flares originate in different places
But the big one for me is that one and a half hours after having starch I am well over 90% likely to have a flare. this definately does not happen with Fibro folk, but having said that Fibro folk do not do well with any carbs and those I know that have cut back on both starch and sugar do do better, but they do not automatically have flares following starch like I do
Anyway, if there is one thing I have learned we cannot let this get us down no matter how much messing around we have. Just sharing here has helped me no end. It has brought back a lot of confidence for me, I no longer sit there thinking over all my problems wondering what caused my flares, I now know it is the starch, where as in the past with the Fibro diagnosis i was told over and over its stress, its the way you think, just be happy. I did honestly think that it was me causing it. I did believe them when they said I triggered it. I wont put up with this babble any more and they get told bluntly when they start all that
Anyway, it is good you are having an MRI, I am still not certain of one but I see a Rhumatologist in December
Love Joanne
