Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Young Adults - The 20-Something Club What Do You Want to Be When You "Grow Up"?

Hi ...I am not a 20 something but my son is. He was just given the blood test for HLAB27 and tested positive. He was given it because I have the antigen. He has had scoliosis his whole life.Not bad enough to wear a brace but uncomfortable. He does not really complain about any pain. He is away right now enjoying his summer and when he comes back I have to tell him that he tested positive and try to explain to him what this really is. It is all pretty new to me too since I only tested positive recently due to a tremendous amount of pain when getting up in the morning.I was put on meloxicam and it really is helping.My question is what other tests should he be given now to determine exactly what he has? Just because he has HLAB27 I know does not necessarily mean he has AS. I was told they think I have Rhumatoid. He has not had xrays in a few years. Is that something he should get. Should they test his sed rate? What exactly would be present if he has AS? Thanks for any help you can give me. I don't want to scare him unnecessarily but I do want him to know he has to stay on top of this. He does not like to go to doctors or take meds...never has. Thanks.

To be honest, chronic pain would be present if he has active AS or any other active inflammatory arthritis. I would just let him know that he potentially has a genetic predisposition, and that he should go to a rheumatologist if he starts experiencing joint discomfort. The rheumatologist will decide what additional testing is necessary. If he's HLA B27 positive with zero symptoms (assuming he doesn't have any he hasn't told you about; maybe something he's just attributing to his scoliosis), he's really not going to get a diagnosis at this point. The antigen is meaningful when it's present with symptoms and radiographic changes, but not on its own, as it's present in 7% of the population at large.

I want to experience a lot of things that AS will restrict. But mainly I want to be a Psychology and English Professor. I am newly diagnosed so I don't know how much AS will affect me.

I am interested in medicine as well but I haven't even started the path yet. I hope you reach your goal. I may need your services in the future.

I had to reply to this one...

It was actually my career choice that pushed me to see one last rheumy. I have had a lot of pain for a long time. But last year as a first year vet student we had a small animal physical exam lab in which I had to stand on concrete for 2 hours pretty much in place. I couldn't move from all the pain. And it was pretty embarrassing with all the stares when it was time to leave without being able to actually say what was wrong...

So, leads me to some big fears. I AM going to finish vet school. But it scares me to death to think I have put this much time and effort into something and I won't be able to do my job. Heck, I want to be an Equine vet! I wanted to specialize in podiatry which is not going to happen (you have to be bent over most of the day)... It's a scary thought. I noticed over the summer I was having problems doing dentals so I really fear I won't make it through a surgery if I can't even hold the polisher!

But one way or another it's going to happen!!

Sirita, I so hope you can achieve your goals. With your determination, I bet you will. Maybe you'll need to share a practice so that you have help on bad days, but I think you can make it work. We're young enough that I have hope that significant improvements in treatment will come in time to help us before too much permanent damage is done.

I am 5th year medical student, going for ophthalmology next year and forever!

I was diagnosed just this year, but I have had a sore and tight back for years before that. I knew something was really going on when in a couple of months I became soooooooooooo tired, my buttocks hurt like hell and my back was always stiff and cracking! Plus, new onset asthma, at 24. Yay? What's going on?

Anyways, I am here now. Patient AND health care provider. Never know which one to check in forms haha. It was kind of weird having my rheumatology rotation... I could totally empathize and understand what patients felt. And I often was no better than them... But well, I could never be rheumy just because I felt like I constantly saw a mirror of myself all day long. Hardest part of my clerkship so far.

As for ophthalmology, this just suits my needs. Short procedures, sitting surgeries, easier hours, lots of patients and thus lots of sitting/standing/walking. Plus, it's fun!

I think anyone can find a career path subfield where they can be comfortable. Don't give up your dreams, that would be accepting defeat!

iviary - I'm currently a graphic designer for a big fashion company and enjoy it. I just don't like the long hours at the computer. Not so good for the AS even if I do take tons of breaks.

My dream job was riding and training horses. I've ridden jumpers my whole life and worked a little as an assistant trainer before the AS took a hold of my life. Had to quit due to heart problems and the increasing pain. There's pretty much no amount of drugs that could get me back to that level of activity again.

I've since altered my dream job a tad and now hope to someday run a breeding farm. I'm really good at keeping horses happy and healthy, so having babies running around would just be an added bonus! I couldn't do everything on my own, and would have to have a few people to do the manual labor for me, but I think it's definitely manageable with my AS!

I want to be happy and relatively healthy. Other than that I couldn't care less.

I originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but when I got "sick" at 17, I realized I wouldn't be able to do what I really wanted to do (work as an animal trainer at Sea World) due to the physical demands. Now I'm ethically against it anyway, but looking back I still could have probably gone into the field. But I've gone through quite a bit of schooling and gotten into psychology, which I also quite enjoy. I'm not quite sure what I want to do within the field, as I don't want to be in school for twelve years as I go part-time and we can't really afford that, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. I like people and I love helping people.
As of right now I work at a job where we import products from the UK (mostly food products) and then we sell them either in our store or wholesale. I manage selling through Amazon, which is pretty cool.

Well, I feel crazy with what most people want to be...I'm a Corrections Officer at a State Prison on the Special Operations Response Team (SORT). I enjoy. I also do painting and photography on the side. The biggest downfall is when I flare, I have not go to work, but upside of a government job is a ton of sick leave. I had wanted to enlist in the military, but I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis when I was 18 and would not pass the physical due to all the medication needs I had.