Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Women Only Message Board [Sticky] Women Only Forum

Quay, I assume they've already checked for kidney stones and such? Short of when I have bladder infections, I haven't experienced anything like what you describe. I would suggest starting a new topic with your question so that more people see it. I would be surprised if it's anything directly caused by AS, but there's always the potential for additional autoimmune/autoinflammatory issues to pop up when you already have one- AS/ReA.

Hi Mama - sorry to hear of this ongoing problem!! I agree with Mary, start a new thread. Also, read through the old ones as there are a couple of women with ongoing bladder/urinary tract issues. I believe interstitial cystitis has come up here in the past. Good luck finding an answer! I hope your AS/ReA is under control, anyway.....

I had the same thing and it took months to get it under control so I feel for you. I do have the interstitial cycsitis and ostitis pubis (deterioration of the pubic bone) and they finally called it "painful pelvis syndrome". I got two Interstim devices implanted and it has helped the pain tremendously. They are much like a pacemaker for the heart but stimulate the nerves to help relieve the pain. I hope this info helps you.

Hello All,
I'm new to this board. I was diaganosed with AS about a year ago. It was fairly easy getting diaganosed as my sister had just been and we have many of the same symptoms. For a long time we both just felt like we were crazy with all the different things that were causing us pain.

Can't wait to chat with people who feel the same way I do. I talk to my sister but sometimes its tough even with family and someone who has the same condition.

I hear you on that. I believe my sister has it as well but she has no insurance to look into it. She also has Lupus. Our symptom's are so similar but I choose to treat it and she chooses to ignore it until she has to go see a Dr. I don't even think with insurance she would follow through. I am glad to see someone feel's the same way I do about having a family member who has it (possibly).

I was the one who ignored, but now am choosing to educate my self and she just kinda hangs out in pain.

Hi. I'm new diagnosed, in daily chronic pain for months. The rheumatologist who disgnosed me with undifferentiated spond has me trying sulfasalazine. I can't take NSAID because of my stomach. I'm on tramadol for pain. What I'm wondering is if you all work, if you're able to get up and go to work/jobs? I haven't worked for 9 months. I don't have a life anymore either. I apologize if I am in the wrong forum. I don't mean to offend anyone, I am new to the forum and not sure how to properly use it yet. thank you!

Hi Youngatheart!! Welcome to AS it is a world of challanges that can be managed. 1st read all of the information you can get your hands on relating to your diagnosis.
Now, get plenty of rest and restful sleep is the key. Be very honest with your Dr. about which meds work and don't work. I am sorry to hear NSAID upset your stomach try natural herbs, massages and anti inflammatory diet. I was diagnosed at the tender age of 23 and now 20+ yrs later I have learned to rest, work/play within my limits and take my meds religiously. You can still have a life but now every moment is planned to your specifications. This is my first post I hope this helps!

Greetings!
I'm a "newbie" here. I was diagnosed with AS in 2004 but lived with AS reeking havoc on my body for years. AS would attack my right eye (never my left eye), iritis would ensue and I'd get sick and would be treated and healed before I could get in to see a specialist who maybe would have been able to determine what was wrong. For a long time I lived with the pain, and thought I was crazy - mentally causing it to happen, bringing on the different things that were going on in my body.

I look forward to the communication and camaraderie that I see taking place here. I have a cousin that I was told has AS but I honestly don't really know her and don't feel comfortable talking to her about it. So, at this stage of the juncture, I feel better about talking to strangers than I'd ever feel about talking to her.

PS I'm African-American, Choctaw, and Welsh and was told that not many women of color have been diagnosed with AS. I'm open to communicating with anyone. But, if you're a woman of color, I'd be excited to eMeet you and to hear your experiences living with AS too.

Hi and welcome! There is not a ton of active chatter here in the women's forum - post your intro again as a new thread in the main discussion forum so more people will see & reply to it

I don't know about the racial/ethnic make-up of our members here - I don't remember it coming up in discussion - other than the fact that descendants of some Native tribes definitely have much higher rates of AS.

A point of clarification - iritis is not AS attacking the eye. It is its own auto-immune/inflammatory condition. A significant subset of spondies do deal with iritis; people with other inflammatory conditions like RA and IBD can also develop iritis. I'm glad you have gotten yours under control with good treatment! What are you taking for your spondylitis?