Posted 3/20/2013 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
For those who may not remember, quick recap.
Had an eye issue -iritis- (still ongoing but improving slowly), opthamologist ran some tests, one of them being a test for the presence of the antigen HLA B27 (the others being Lyme and syphilis). The one for the antigen came back positive. His suspicions were piqued. He sent me to xray for a lower back/pelvis series of plain x-rays.
Had a follow up appointment with him yesterday, and the films do show indication of Ankylosing Spondylitis. He's trying to get a better MRI scheduled that will image further down into the sacroiliac area, as the other MRI's just didn't quite get low enough, and he wants the rheummy I'm seeing next month to have all of the films he needs.
So the AS is basically confirmed, according to the radiologist's report. Just waiting to see what the Rheummie has in store. We know it's there, we know it's probably auto-immune. Just waiting on a name now.
And as an aside, the folks at the eye clinic, from the doctors to the receptionists, have been so top notch, I did a little something different for them. I printed up a bunch of official looking memos expressing my gratitude. So everyone got one, and it was put on the bulletin board. I was going to get pizzas delivered to them one day, but I can't afford it. I think it's a cool thing to do if your doctor's office treats you well to say thank you in some way, even if it a simple note. All of the behind the scenes stuff they have to do is sometimes tedious and tough, and someone recognizing that effort is a good pick-me-up for all involved. We sometimes get wrapped up in our own things, so if you have a chance, make sure you say thank you to the people who are helping you. Flowers, cards (even homemade), any kind of stuff like that. I once sent an office 10 pounds of decent coffee, because I heard one of them complaining about the cheap stuff that they said was pretty bad.