Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group doubting myself

LOL!! ME TOO!! I couldn't handle that stupid hospital birthing position, so I did my last 3 with a midwife in her clinic. My last one was at home ... UNASSISTED!! woohoo! what a rush!! DH wasn't too pleased at the whole thing and couldn't figure out why I didn't wait for the midwife to show up!! and my kiddos are usually naked running around as toddlers... I can't keep up with them constantly tearing off their diapers, so I let 'em run 'free' & say HAVE A BLAST! My last one can even get pinned cloth diapers off so I just stopped trying.... hehehehe

I am very strong willed & will stand up for stuff like that... now when it comes to standing up to a VA doc.... eeek! I run & hide!!

Well your doctor believes it's arthritis so hopefully you will get the meds you need regardless of the exact type. I was HLA-B27 positive but nothing showed in x-rays or bloodwork until I was referred to a rheumy who ordered a bone scan. It picked up inflammation of my SI joint. Without that the doctors would have continued to suggest it was bad posture I'm sure. I continued to worsen and my mornings became unbearable. I finally was placed on Enbrel but only after I tried a whole bunch of other meds that didn't work. It's a frustrating thing to deal with, especially when others don't understand. I get reassurance when I see my PCP and she tells me how well I'm doing considering everything I've been going through. I think of everyone, my boyfriend was the most sympathetic about the whole thing... mainly because he has his own back issues. But even he over time has become "used to it" I guess you could say and gets frustrated when I can't do things. I hope your doctor gets you feeling better soon. Just because your blood test was negative, doesn't mean you don't have just as painful issues. My mom never believed I was in pain until she started having pain of her own... she recently was found to be HLA-B27+ Now she's trying to get my sympathy... that's Karma for you.

that is so brave of you for doing a birth unassisted. i'd love to do that. did the midwife get there soon after? i was 9 cm dilated b4 i called the midwife for my 1st, but i was rushed off to the hospital for high blood pressure. i still remember them telling me there was no time left but i was making myself a hot chocolate and told dh to quit rushing the baby's not coming any time soon. n i was in labor for 8 more hours so i was right.

i'd b worried about tears if there was no midwife there. i tore with both of them but especially with my first coz i had drugs. with my 2nd i was completely aware and ended up changing position a few times.

sorry my life just revolves around my kids, i bet everyone whos not a mom n even the moms r probably bored with these stories.

trudi, maybe you could imagine in your head what u would say if u were defending ur kids instead of urself. u wouldnt let someone put ur kids thru all this suffering, so dont let the mother of ur kids go thru all this suffering.

have u found that the pain of AS is similar to labor? i like to describe my pain in labor stages. stage 1 u can think straight, once in awhile u feel an ache but it doesnt affect ur living too much just might make u a lil tired. stage 2, ur in quite a bit of pain, having trouble thinking straight, but u can still continue ur daily routine with assistance. stage 3 u can't continue anything, all ur energy is focusing on the pain. stage 4 is the pushing stage, which is not at all like AS. my everyday pain is stage 1. my last flare was between 2 and 3.

this is coming from a woman who goes shopping and cooks a big supper b4 giving birth coz i know i won't have time once the baby is born!

Diagnosed aged 21 with a bone scan 20+ years ago.

Am also HLA neg with bilateral sacroiliitis on mri last year.

Have been in denial, living my life for the last few decades but Orthopeadic Surgeon said many cases do not have HLA B57 gene and I most definately have AS.

When treated correctly, most people, including me have full and active lived.

Don't give into it has always been my motto, work with it.

Learn to adapt your lifestyle accordingly.

Good Luck,

Dobsy

honestly,,, this AS pain is WORSE for me than my labor pains. I usually only had maybe 5 big contractions that were difficult to bear and then baby was out...... I'd go from 5 cm to delivery in 1/2 hour. Afterwards, I never even looked like I just delivered.... I am blessed! The ONLY think in my life that has ever been easy is LABOR!!!! The midwife showed up about 45 minutes after baby arrived, just before placenta delivered. I was hoping for a discount in her fees, but to no avail....

my AS pains don't seem to stop and the constant lowback pain feels just like back labor that doesn't go away!!! UGH! And my hips are worse than the last month of pregnancy when everything is all loose & hurting..... I'm considering having another one just to get a couple months of remission.... but not sure about the extra stress afterwards....