Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Still Flaring...

Just an update... I'm still flaring something terrible. I had to take off from work yesterday, because I just didn't feel like I could make it. The worst pain is in the center of my chest along the sternum. It feels like I would imagine the early stages of a heart attack would feel. But since I've had it before, and this time it's been going on for two weeks, I know it's not my heart. So anyway, I started back on my Lodine (that I am trying not to take because of kidney concerns). Well it's the second full day, and as I prepared to get in my truck to come to work, I started "dry-heaving." Haven't had this morning sickness at all since I wasn't taking the Lodine, so I know it is the cause. Worst thing of all about this crap is that when I'm flaring like this, I know it knocks my attitude down something terrible, and I become grouchy and just not a pleasant person. I just wish I could vocalize just how bad I hate this disease.

Johnny, just lending my shoulder as support. It's so frustrating and such a fight to keep the mood positive after a while, isn't it. I'm there right now as well. I've been in flare with my, well either the AS or the FM - sometimes they meld into one - for months. It eased while I was in Florida. Came back when I landed back in Toronto - whupped me upside the head bigtime. Still, I managed to keep my equilibrium until this latest thoracic episode. The past two days it's been all I can do to keep from ripping someone a new one - coworkers, family, friends, total strangers. I hate that aspect of this disease, the insanity that occurs in regularly sane and positive people.

As for vocalizing how you feel about this disease - you could try a primal scream. Go into a back alley way, inhale as much as your pain will let you and scream as loud as you can one mighty, wordless scream. OK, maybe it's not feasible, but it worked really well in theatre school.

Many hugs,

hey johnny,

i'm new to AS but i just wanted to say that i hear ya! and i feel your pain too (literally and figuratively). i get sooo grouchy and sad when i'm in pain. but hang in there. you'll pull through it.

justine

Johnny:

Sorry to hear you are flaring terribly and don't be too hard on yourself because you are crabby. I would think you were crazy if you remained in a good mood, it is just impossible when you are in too much pain.

Try to seek out others now for support and baby yourself.

I hope things settle down soon and as soon as they do, your mood will improve-

Shari

Hello Johnny

Sorry you are not improving.

Reading your post has made me think. I have been suffering quite a bit since just after Christmas. I have also been pretty irritable with those around me just lately - keep hoping they would all just not bother to visit or phone. Your post made me put the two things together.

Thanks for making me think about it - it's funny how we all interact and help each other without realising isn't it?

Must be why I like this place and keep coming back.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Hey man, I totally know about the sternum pain!!!!

It is freaky, feels like your heart....and it's really the bone connecting your ribs...but man, can it hurt, to breathe, expanding your chest...

hang in there, I have found that on Enbrel, all my pain is lessened to the point of nothing, unless I overdo some movements...because the underlying inflamation quits...before that, I felt the sternum and ribs in my upper back burn like mad...sneezing was the worst, and now it's like normal....for now!!!

Peace, hang in there, you rock
Linc

John
Sending you gentle hugs and lots of zen hoping the flare limits itself. You are so right about how frustrating it is not to be able to express how much you hate this disease to most people, because they don't understand. Hope you are in a situation where you can baby yourself for awhile until it is over. It is so hard to give ourselves permission to take care of ourselves when we have a flare up.

Hi...sorry you're going through pain and flares.... HOPE IS THE PHYSICIAN OF EVERY ILL 'S

Very sorry to hear you're feeling so badly. I, too get that awful chest pain, usually along with thoracic pain in a certain spot that makes me feel like I've been "run through" with a sword.

Wish I had some magical advice to make it better, but usually a hot bath is the best I can come up with.

As far as the grouchiness goes, sometimes you just can't help it. I try to give my famiy fair warning: "I'm feeling horrible, and will probably act like a butt sometime today...sorry ahead of time" They're usually pretty understanding after that.