A.S. Face 1770: Deborah Lara

A.S. Face 1770: Deborah Lara

Hey, HI! I’m so very sorry if you are reading these faces because you have been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis but I want you to know there IS HOPE! It will take dedication and work but I believe you can get some relief of these debilitating symptoms. My name is Deborah Lara and I’m 49. My grandfather was active and even played minor league baseball in his youth. An injury set his AS off and he fused bent over. Horrible devastating symptoms. After he passed away in his 60s, it took years for my uncle to realize he also had AS. Recently, my sister and I found out we have AS. We are HLA-B27 positive! Both my daughters 20 and 17 have many symptoms of AS but are HLA-B27 negative. We have a great Doctor who is an Infectious Disease Doctor and Rheumatologist. We take supplements, probiotics, prebiotics, pain meds, muscle relaxers, benydryl or clariton or alkaseltzer cold/flu effervescents, a teaspoon of baking soda in water daily, HOT SHOWER DAILY, try to avoid gluten, starches, and sugars, stretch, use heating pads or heat cream, and take antibiotics to treat Lyme Disease we acquired from a camping trip five years ago. The antibiotics also keep the Klebsiella bacteria, usually present in AS patients, down. We do other things as well. If you FIGHT instead of giving up, you can build a life WORTH living. Ask for help from those willing by communicating EXACTLY how they can help you but don’t abuse their kindness. Let them live their life, as they are not sick.