Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Ineptly serious for a change...maybe

It is rare that I saunter through these boards, dribbling out anything more intelligent or purposeful than foolishly contrived words and, nearly, humour.

Thought then, today, having just done 2 hours piano practice and achieving better results than I normally do in the process, that I might bore those foolish enough to read, with an update on my current place in the world of AS.

I was made redundant in September from a high paying job, I am 62 now (Not 80 as Snowshoe would have it) and all but unemployable. IP my fab Rheumatologist wouldn't sign my Enbrel script because I hadn't given blood for a good while, she was right of course. Was diagnosed with Diabetes this year and also have an ever louder dose of tinnitus throughout my waking hours.

Second things first; not having the Enbrel for 6 weeks showed me in quite agonising ways, how valuable and effective it is. Thank goodness, having now donated a gallon og group O, I am now back in harness and my pains are beginning to subside. Where does/did it hurt.........everywhere. I am heading towards a proud!! 50 years of AS. I am unhappy to report that it is as chirpy and as energetically disposed to causing me misery as it ever was. So May I make a vote here for TNF Alpha's? All who agree say Aye,(like they do in Parliament)

Redundancy was a blow and a long time coming. There is a particularly nasty story surrounding it, one of threats to violence against my family and myself; of stealing on the grand scale but worse and far more disappointingly, a management team who didn't want to hear the difficult truth, who squirmed procrastinated and then they paid me off.

I write this part only as a tribute to someone who kept me together, sensible and focussed throughtout the nastiness. She knows who she is and so I wont mention clotty admin here. Thanks you. (See, KA is valuable in all sorts of ways)

Life has settled, they paid me off quite well so I am effectively retired but building my Piano teaching business again. Yay.

Thanks for reading, sorry it isn't really relevant to AS


Down with Mig....

Hey there King of Clotshire, the secret writer for those Monty Python geniuses. We need you healthy and fully retired so you can spend more time here educating us all in the ways of the world. Throw in a few demisemiquavers and we're all to the good!

"Pas d'elle yeux Rhone que nous" is what I always say....

Sorry about the difficulties with employment (or the lack thereof), but happy that they paid you off and you can do what you seem to love....teach music. I, too, vote for aTNFs. (still waiting for relief, but glad to have the chance to try). But I like Mig. Hope your Enbrel effect comes soon.

Hey Alan,

Good to hear you have your TNF again so AS can stay in shadows.

I thought they would have you donate a litre of blood.

Tim

Great news that the Enbrel is working for you Alan, it's been a life saver for me...I hope you continue to get good results but sorry about the threats, that's never good, I don't like bullies! ...as for you being serious, I'm not totally convinced of that, maybe a 60/40 split?!... Oh yeah, befor I forget...up with Mig!!! Go Mig!!!

Great to hear that you can now concentrate on the demisemiquavers...Yea. Pesky about employment though - and family threats - Ho-Hum. Scary.

Sorry, chief whip, but taking the other line-up for the vote... (Quelle surprise, non! <LOL>)

Go well - may the pain be stayed at bay.

(Up with Mig...Yea! )

i know the downsizing thing can really suck, my stepfather went through that in his 50s and with his crohn's, not about to get work elsewhere, so he took the early retirement buyout. around here, kodak has downsized by like 90% over the last few decades and so everyone around here knows someone who has been downsized.

glad you are able to turn your attentions to something you love, though i can imagine how difficult of a transition it must have been / must be.

and glad you are back on the enbrel! yay for the biologics! glad it is doing you good once again.

may you get joy and success from your music. wishing you must good fortune and happiness in this newest endeavor!

UK "Redundant" = USA "Retirement" I presume?

Is that legal to forcibly retire someone at 62 in the UK? Are there no age discrimination laws?

Good deal on the meds and piano though...

and regarding another thread... THIGH is not political?

Sorry - couldn't help it.

oy! would dearly love to have my kiddies take piano lessons from you, now just how to go about 3 weekly roundtrip tickets to faraway clotshire from potatoeville....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

glad to hear the enbrel is doing what it should, 50 years eh, time for the dirty rotten scoundrel to retire I say!! (AS, that is.)

Alan, i am so glad to hear that Enbrel is helping you. Sometimes it takes going without to realize just how much good something is doing for us. I had the same experience after having to temporarily stop Remicade. I will definitely say "Aye" to the TNF A's. Don't know where I - or my kids - would be without them. (Can I vote "aye" three times for myself and two kids that take them with great success?)