Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Career choices regarding AS, looking for advice

Hello, Shirley:



This might be the case; the disease presentation is much different in women. There is a blurring and delay of symptoms and some articles suggest this might make things worse for women since it can be many decades to indication of SIJ fusion, but all along the inflammation is active.

In truth, we cannot experience each others' pain, so it is impossible to really explain clearly what the crazy-making pain does to us beyond a certain point. We get pain that cannot be 'sucked up' or 'worked through;' we are immobilized by it, until it finally relents. At the onset, we have a really cruel level of pain that really makes us think about the long-term outcome.

HEALTH,
John

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone,

I think you're probably all right to some degree; I need to be realistic but compromise as little as possible from what I really want to do. This could involve ruling out the areas which I cannot do now but keeping an open mind for careers I may or may not still be able to do in the future.
I will consider rheumatology among my options.

Again, I really appreciate your help, thank you very much

Andy

We are all very different. My disease has certainly not lessened through the years. I am glad it has for you.

:o)
Possi

I love what everyone here has said. John you are a wealth of info. I was reading what you wrote about how the disease presents and affects. I wish you would write a small book for us all, in layman terms.

It is different for men and women, as John says. If you were my child, and my youngest is 27, I would tell you to go for IT! Whatever IT is. My choice would be to go into Rheumatologic {ms}research at a Doctorate level and be able to help all of us with these crappy diseases but don't try to over think it and go with your heart. I saw a recent utube of a Dr., an older man with A.S. still practicing medicine. I don't know his name but you might be able to find it.

Just know that should the time come when you can't do what you are doing anymore, you can look back with no regrets and feel good about your accomplishments! Let us know what you choose.

Hey Andy,

Well, like some others here I would like to selfishly suggest you become a rheumy or pain management Dr - it would be soooo nice to have a Dr who actually truly understands what you're dealing with instead of just the clinical definition!!

However, I also agree that while it is wise to consider your future options, don't let the AS take over your life. I have seen considerable deterioration in myself in the last few years and it scares the crap out of me - especially when I only worked out what I wanted to be about 5 years ago! LOL!! I'm just managing the symptoms the best I can and working as hard as I can now to give me more flexible options in the future (such as being self employed). My rheumy also has a practice with a couple of others and I often get calls asking if I can come earlier than my appointment as he wants to go home early! haha! Nice work if you can get it

Do you have a pain counsellor you could maybe talk to if you're feeling lost? I have found mine invaluable for when the head gets a bit ahead of itself!!