Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases HLA-B27 negative

I only wish my nails looked as good as the one in the photo on that site about the nail ridges. Here is a photo of my left ring finger. It won't grow any further than this without splitting right down the middle. My nails have always been severely ridged, which is why I think my diagnosing rheumatologist noted it.

Trying to upload the photo...

I DO understand the 'personal' comment..hence my harping that people need to be their own advocate because after being told over and over I don't have it, I walked away (and even the one doctor that felt my getting aggravated was a sign I needed to be put on anxiety meds [never filled the prescription after I found out what it was]), but heck yeah, after a while, it gets old hearing it, having the Rad reports (but them refusing to look at them), etc.

If it were a choice and I knew then what I know now, I would have challenged them with the backing I have (now).

I think still, there is a lack of broad knowledge of AS in the medical community and a person versed in it should be the only one able to proclaim or deny it (like I didn't know the sweats or the eyes or the enthesitis, etc. were symptomatic of AS).

Anyway - hugs Jen as I know that is a real bubble blower (and mental set back).

Trouble with the photo link. I'll come back to it later.

Okay, I think I figured out how to post from photobucket.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t662/Cathy_Tyrrell/IMG00389-20130611-1210_zps3ee94888.jpg

I don't think they look alike at all. Each of the wide white lines on my ring finger nail are raised very high, with the dark lines being deeply indented.

I suppose you'd have to see and feel them in person to understand what I mean. I get comments on them constantly.

Oh yes, I have tried many things over the years. I have been told that it is systemic. When it comes to a healthy diet and proper nutrients, I've been all about that, since I realized a long time ago that it is one of the best ways to manage my AS.

Here is another odd feature of my systemic disorder. I had a tremendous amount of extra bone growth throughout my body during my most severe flare period at age 30. I used to have a cute gap between my top two front teeth, which closed due to all of the bone growth just above and to each side of them. This is a stock photo, NOT me.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-11670592-buccal-exostosis.php

Then, in 2009, I had a CT scan of my chest and learned that I have a lot of new bone growth bilaterally off of my first ribs.

It's all just pure weirdness. Not much surprises me anymore.