Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group How old?

Flip,
I am actually a lacto-vegan and I stay away from most glucose. I eat some dairy occasionally (that is why I say lacto-vegan) and I try really hard to buy all glucose free pastas/breads. Unfortunetly, most of those products are expensive and I am a poor college student. I started the diet about a year ago. I have noticed some changes but nothing that would make me "all better." The major change is I sleep through almost the whole night, almost every night. Before I started the diet, I was waking up 3-4 times a night, every night. Now, I wake up maybe once a night, 2-3 times a week. A little off topic, but it has also given me much more energy and I feel so much better (not AS wise, but just healthy wise). I was going to ask my doctor about Orencia but I didn't think it was FDA approved for AS yet. I could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere. Thanks again to everyone for the kind, inspiring comments. I appreciate it so much.
- Angie

Hi Angie,

I am 39? I think...whatever, but I was diagnosed two years ago. Like others in here, I have gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations over the years and wrote it all off to an inactive lifestyle, an over-active lifestyle, etc.
I had a good laugh when I read DragonSlayer's comment though and remember being marched into the doctor's office on several occasions as a child due to "growing pains" as well.
Come to think of it, I was monitored for scoliosis as well way back when...they figured I just grew out of it.

Hi Angie.. I was 20 when pains started & dx at 21.

I think my daughter has beginnign symptoms...she's been showing symptoms since around age 5...now she's 10 and her doc thinks there is something going on that's not growing pains. (fibromyalgia, spondy, maybe thyroid issues ....something not normal)

Hi Angie,
Im Leah. I live in Australia and im 21.I was diagnosed just over 2 years ago but doctors confirmed iv had symptoms since i was about 12. Its nice to hear from someone young like me. This place is fantastic but having someone your own age to talk to is always a good thing. Like you, iv never met anyone else with AS either. I also have crohns by the way.
If there is ever anything you need or just a chat, just sent me a msg or pm me.
Leah

angie, aloha

the doctors said there was something wrong when i was in kindergarden...
as this was in the dark ages of the 1950's...growing pains was the answer.

by sophomore year of high school i was getting heat treatments to my lower
back several times a week...didn't work...didn't get an actual spondy diagnosis
till 1987 or so- age 40 by then

your not alone, but your prospects are better than mine were.
good luck

Thank you all so much for all the responses. It is definetly interesting to see the age range. I was originally told, AS affects mostly men over 30. I have read in more recent text that it affects all ages and all sexes. Thanks again. Much love.
- Angie

Hi Angie, glad you found us and hope you will stay. There is so much information and experiences here to help you along the way. If we don't have an answer, there is always someone here that will try to find it for you.
My answer to your question is similar to Brad's. I was misdiagnosed in my late teens with RA only to find out 20 years later that I have AS. Many women my age were missed diagnosed in the 60's and 70's because AS was a "man's disease". We weren't taken seriously and left to fend for ourselves only to find out too late, after the damage was done.
Please hang around and get to know us. This is a great family
Cindy

I sympathize greatly with your frustration, we all do. No matter how different;y our disease manifests for each of us, the fear and frustration are the same.

Im 35. Recently diagnosed. Had tailbone pain and nick pain when I was 20, which went away after about a year. At 24, suffered mind-blowing fatigue for 2 years with minimal low back pain and "tired" muscles. That resolved slowly over another year or so. 6 months ago, BAM, night sweats, everything hurts, nothing works right, and voila diagnosis.

Hi Angie

Welcome to KickAS
Glad you found this site. This site has the best people you could ever hope to meet. Hope you stay around.

I am a 49 yrs old male and started having "flare-ups" about ten years ago ( I could hardly walk and the pain was extreme-I was told it was probably bulged discs that was causing the pain). They would last about a week and then subside with the help of meth-prednisone packs,epidurals and/or pain meds. NSAIDs really did nothing for me through those years. 2 years ago on Labor Day I had another flare up that even Vicadin did not touch. After a couple of days the initial flare went away and I was left with chronic pain in my hips that has now progressed to my back and every other major joint in my body. I was finally diagnosed November 08'.

The nice thing about coming here is that people DO know what you are talking about.

Hope to see you here again soon!!

I was diagnosed with AS in my 20's but had gotten an RA diagnosis at 14. I don't know what was going on then but I was in a lot of pain and sick a lot.

I will write more tomorrow.

Rest Well.
Possi