Joanne,
You do know that you can be negative on the gene and still have a.s. or you could be positive on the gene and not have it. I was primarily concerned when I went to the rheumy was fibro. When he went over my chart and symptoms he diagnosed me through the pain/duration/timing as well as some ddd and a bone spur I have in my foot. There are special criteria for the diagnosis of a.s. which I know you must have researched. I am negative for the gene yet he diagnosed me with the a.s. anyway. I dont want you getting the result back and it possibly being negative and to be crestfallen. Dont hang it all on just one test.
I mean you could be positive for the gene and psychologically you will feel relieved because finally something says A.S.
You CAN have both the fibro and the A.S. I never really understood what a.s. was until my symptoms got worse and FAST. Sometimes I have a hard time which one I am flaring. Have you looked up the BASDAI? You probably have...
I guess my concern is that you seem to be pinning it all on the HLA-B27.
Just breathe, ok?
Kirsty
