Anyone out there with Ankylosing Spondylitis?

I went back to the doctor yesterday and told him about my new complications. Ongoing lower back pain shooting down my right buttocks to my legs, stomach burning and irritation of the eyes. He wants to test my stool for other bacteria which I was diagnosed the 1st time around. He gave me antibiotics before and it helped me a lot, he is afraid that I probably have it again. He then tested me for a genetic HLA-B27 gene for Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is new to me, he says it's most common in men than in women. I told him about feeling morning stiffness and unable to sleep at night from tossing and turning. I almost feel like when you ride a fast rollercoaster and you feel all beat up but this pain is ongoing and tiresome. Stiffness of the back and shoulders. From my research this sounds like inflammation of the spine. Great! this is all I need. I was putting it off going to see the doctor cause the Holidays are here and I didn't really want to hear anymore bad news and now I am depressed, logically. I told my husband but not my family, I feel guilty letting them know what is now happening. They worry so much and besides I don't like that kind of attention, like the pity look on their faces when I tell them my situation.

He wants to see me again in 3 weeks to view my results and hopefully give me the antiobic for the bacteria if any. I took tylenol once for the pain but it didn't do anything. I wander if I should take something stronger, but I forgot to ask him. Would anyone have any suggestions for this? If so Please share!

Feeling tired and frail.

I do not have AS but do have spondyloarthritis. I have ongoing tendinitis in my wrists, hands and feet. It is causing very painful bone spurs and tendin pain. I see a rheumatoologist also. I hope you can get some relief.

My dad and brother both have Ankylosing Spondylitis, but I do not. My brother has been in remission for several years since taking Enbrel once a week at home.

I have AS.

OMG! Nanners that is exactly how I feel, like something inside is always aching me. I have been feeling a lot like this at times and I thought it was because of lack of sleep or working out. Does your body feel hot like when you have stayed up all night. I don't know how to describe it. Maybe I just feel like that all the time. Today I am feeling so much better, I didn't take anything different other then Nexium and Lialda yesterday. I woke up this morning feeling like a totally different person. I even had dreams last night. I can climb a moment from how good I feel. My mood and all, even though I do still feel a subdue back pain that is always there, but the rest of my body feels good. I am so confused in the way this disease makes you feel. When I 1st got diagnosed and found this site, I felt bad about everyone who has had many operations and thought that since all I had was flaring in the stomach I was in the safe zone. I know there are a lot of complications that may come up, but I didn't realize it would be so soon in my age. I'm 31, but I feel older and come to think about it I have been feeling like this for quite sometime specially in my late 20's, I guess my body was trying to give me hints.

When my test results come back and if I am positive for anything that deals with the bones I will ask him for a referral to a rheumy.

Manners- I hope everything turns out okay with your knee. I will definetly call my doctor for a referral to the Rheumy, thank you so much for listening and I will definetly keep you posted.

Ides- so meaning that you can have an AS flare without constantly going to the bathroom. I figured since I was not going too much my body aches were something else. I told the doctor about feeling better tummy wise except for burning right before going to sleep and waking up and he still thinks that I may have too much bacteria in the stomach. So he send my stool for more tests. i also noticed that my teeth are sensitive when brushing especially my gums, I haven't been to the dentist in 2 years maybe I have to go back for a checkup since I am having some many problems everywhere else.

I'm waiting for my formal diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. I've had SI joint pain for almost a year and a half that has been steadily increasing to an almost unbearable level. I did the physical therapy thing. The PT said that my SI joint was "locked". I'm waiting for my rheumtologist referral to come through and get an appointment set up. Also, my mom had AS. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Jen