Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group stress/as pain connections?

Hi All.

I dont usually think of myself as a stressed person (everyone notes how calm I always am) - however I have recently been suffering the physical signs of stress (heart palpitations, over breathing etc etc).

At this time I have also had the worse flare for 3 years.

Then I also can recount that every-time I`m away I feel better. I started to jokingly say I was allergic to my wife but maybe its the work/home treadmill that does it to me..

I have have been on a low starch diet for 5 years (on and off) but was just wondering your thoughts

Cheers,

Hey there,

Too much stress can definitely kick in my AS and from my years of posting here I can tell others will agree.

I could handle stress from work fairly well... but at times even that got to be too much with deadlines and big projects that at times it set off my AS.

Best to you,

Tim

Yes, I have definitely experienced "stress", or the feeling of being "stressed out" since the heavy inflammatory symptoms started to pile up and become chronic.

Work stress can really get to me now, where as it never used to face me before (not at all in the same way). When symptoms were at their worst I had almost anxiety attacks, feeling completely overwhelmed (racing heart/rapid breathing) something I had never experienced before.

Now, with symptoms managed, and being able to reduce a flare when it occurs, I feel more in control - knowing better what to expect, when I need more rest, when to say no to others (plans, activities, etc.).

I see it as a full-body meltdown The body is dealing with too many things at once, the system becomes overloaded and the only thing you can do is take a step back, say no to things and really simplify for a period of time, until the flared state has improved, and you can take on more tasks, and interactions again.

As supportive as my husband is, when he sporadically goes away on survey for a week, I truly feel like I'm on vacation! It's great when he does come back, but the break in routine, and not having the constant feeling of needing to "keep up" with the energy levels of a more normal person, is very... refreshing!

Pain will change my heart and breathing like that - often long before I recognise it as "pain".

I'm also better when away from home (though I live alone so can't blame it on a partner). Its because when I am away I eat very low starch (easier to avoid gluten on a coeliac diet), I don't have to do housework, cook, make my bed, etc, and I'm not physically pushing myself, so it all adds up to being a whole lot easier on my body.

Yes, I agree, and that's one reason I feel everyone with AS should have some sort of daily relaxation response practice, whether it is prayer, yoga, bio-feedback, tai chi, and so on and so forth. I try to remember to take my own advice!! >_<

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

I am actuality thinking that anxiety is flaring my AS rather than the other way round.

Anyone else combat anxiety and then found AS pain lowers?

Stress can certainly accelerate everything I believe. I have had the most stressful 2 years of my life and my A.S. is like a freight train on a non stop trip around the world! Home stress, body pain, too much stress from a surgery, infection, all can add up and do a number on the nervous system. I have breathing problems too, fast pulse rate all from what started off as stress.