Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Hello from a new member

Hi all,

I'm glad to have stumbled upon this site.

I'm a highly active 35y male. I've been active right through the onset of hard-to-ignore symptoms and eventual diagnosis. This seems to have kept any major pain at bay (and stiffness). I sympathize with others who struggle with pain and admire their tenacity.

I took Naproxen/Omeprazole for over a year and recently stopped after developing anxiety. AS has become secondary to dealing with a pesky anxiety disorder. Getting AS made me feel mortal, now every little feeling has me thinking the worse. Anyone else had similar experiences?

Cheers
Mark

Hi, and welcome. This is the best place to kick your AS.

I believe we all have been there..."feeling mortal" it's a lesson we've all learned.

If your anxiety gets worse and has a big impact on your daily life, please visit a psychiatrist. I did, and the medication helped a lot.

Hi Mark and welcome to KA, we're glad to have you!!!

It is so scary to feel singled out by a chronic illness or condition. As humans, I feel as though we've got this sense that we've got to keep up with our tribe or pack, and getting a diagnosis of a disease can make us feel so vulnerable. Anxious, and sad.

For anxiety and depression, I can't recommend highly enough: www.radiantrecovery.com. Does not matter if you are over weight; it is a nutrition plan to help balance brain chemistry.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: a really helpful book and apporach.

Getting support online, where people understand is so valuable.

I'm so sorry you have the dx of AS and also the anxiety disorder. I have the sense, from the way you are reaching out, that healing on many levels is in your future!

Hi Mark,
Nice to meet you and Welcome to Kickas.org. I'm sorry to hear about your Anxiety. I suffer with anxiety too, though the last couple of years it has been much better with the right treatments... in fact most of the time I wonder if I still need as much treatment. I'm taking Buspar and Pristiq for anxiety/depression.

Is there alot of info out there that says NSAIDs/anti-inflammatories can cause anxiety? The last time I looked I wasn't able to find much information about it. I remember when I first got panic attacks I was taking alot of Ibuprofen. I take NSAIDs now but not as much as I used to.

Take care,
James

Hi Mark,
I just "stumbled" myself and have already received support and encouragement from total strangers. I am glad to hear that you have stopped naproxen, I had stomach upset with all the anti inflametories I tried and now that I know how damaging they can be, it was a blessing in disguise. I am going on the no starch diet to manage my SI pain, so I can continue to avoid drugs, maybe you can try that too? I know it sounds like a lot of fun.......eating salads and almond bread, but if it means I can go back to cabinet making, horseback riding, and skiing then count me in. I always wanted to play women's hockey, strange right!

Hugs Nette

I used to use Naproxen to avoid TNF-blockers (going along with my GP instead of rheumatologist, who loves TNF-blockers), but due to heartburn side effect switched mostly to diet and 5-loxin boswellia supplement (now take no more than a few over-the-counter naproxen doses per month). Definitely know about medicines causing anxiety problems, though it wasn't my own reaction, because my sister has suffered that side-effect with a few different meds.

It should be worth talking to your doc about this -- my sister got really knocked for a loop with drug reactions, but a good doctor was able to wean her off of the anti-anxiety stuff gradually and she has never needed to go back on. Good thing, because the anti-anxiety meds had annoying side effects (probably yours do too). She does have to avoid certain medicines though, and knows to be wary when trying a new one. So if advil messes you up, might need to avoid it altogether...

Nette, you are Canadian and you want to play hockey?! Now THAT'S weird!
My sister played hockey in her teens. My oldest daughter played roller hockey for a few seasons. I hope you are able to do that.

Hi Mark, welcome to kickas
The Anxiety is something many of us are all to familiar with as well as depression.
I was an athlete and very active through the first 25 years of AS. I was able to adjust through most of the progressions by changing careers. I was the "Queen of adaptation" I felt empowered that I could fight through it and no one knew the struggles. It wasn't until the last 15 that the struggle became tougher. The internal struggles that we go through, hiding it from others, and hiding it from ourselves (denial), the whole thoughts of "I got myself through this before, why can't I do this any more" (feeling weak or less significant). I have finally gotten help with meds and counciling this past year. If you find yourself not dealing with this please admit to your doc you need help. Don't wait until you get out of control with this that it becomes dangerous, like I did.
Glad you found us
Cindy