A.S. Face 1043: Luke

A.S. Face 1043: Luke

I have suffered from Ankylosing spondylitis for around 3 years now, at first I didn’t know I suffered from the condition until I went to the doctor as I was suffering from pain around my groin area, I had been for numerous Mri scans and the consultant told me that it was growing pains, I burst into tears as I knew it was something more than that , me and my mum had been looking online and at numerous leaflets and all the side effects which it said in the leaflets I had.

It was really hard at school as no one knew about it but me , and when I was telling people that I was feeling unwell , they would all start to say things to me , I felt as though I had no one to talk to and I felt alone I became depressed as I were looking online at all the worst things that could happen to me , it was a really tough stage in my life.

From that point on I knew in myself that something had to change and it did , I went back to the hospital for more Mri and CT scans and then after that I had been told that I suffered from Ankylosing spondylitis.

Then the treatment started , ever since then I have been taking naproxen twice a day and once a week I am having methotrexate injections at home which my mum is taking for me , following folic acid 2 days after. I am still getting a lot of pain and discomfort everyday but the thing is now I have become anemic so now I am having to take medication for my iron levels as well.

Ankylosing spondylitis has also effected me in other ways like I am no longer able to dance which I used to love doing, also trampolining and running now I am unable to take part in any sport and I am unable to have a great social life , that is why I just stay in , I hope you have found this helpful hearing my story on my life with AS.

Yours sincerely

Luke

England, United Kingdom