The International Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis: USA: Indiana

Showing posts with label USA: Indiana. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

A.S. Face 1919: April Lockridge

Sunday, October 23, 2016

A.S. Face 1726: Laura McLaughlin

Saturday, February 7, 2015

A.S. Face 1419: Starr McNally

Diagnosed: December 2012
Indiana, United States of America

Monday, June 23, 2014

I have only been diagnosed with AS for a few months, but I've been living with the symptoms for several years. From what I've learned, I became symptomatic much later in life than most (I am 41 years old). Now, my goal is to simply control the disease and minimize it's progression so that I can continue to enjoy life with my beautiful wife of 15 years and my two sons, ages 14 and 11. I'm still working a full-time (45+ hours/wk) desk job and, although the pain and fatigue - especially the fatigue - are daily challenges, I will continue to fight so long as God wills it. My heart goes out to those AS sufferers whose disease progression is so much more advanced than mine. Despite my diagnosis and uncertain future, I still consider myself a very lucky man.

Indiana, United States of America

A.S. Face 1313: Melissa Jones

My name is Melissa Jones and I am from Sulphur Springs, Indiana, I am 35 years old and was diagnosed at 28 and have a 7 year old autistic son.

Indiana, United States of America

Sunday, April 20, 2014

A.S. Face 1248: Heather

My name is Heather. I was super active as a child. I played softball, kickball, volleyball and even cheered for a few years. Besides a few odd ailments throughout my teens I was a happy, healthy kid. In the winter of 2000, I was expecting a child of my own. My first baby boy was due in December. I went into labor a few days early and was ready to greet my son! The labor was horrible! I was forced to lie in a bed for about 32 hours. Anything that COULD have gone wrong, did it seemed. With my husband and mother by my side, my Nicholas was finally here!! Six months after this little man was born, my life took a turn for the worse. All of a sudden I couldn’t walk, stand, lie down, sit, anything without pain. Besides the stress of having an infant, now I couldn’t even handle getting up for work. Initial assessments from my doctors said that the baby had somehow thrown my back out, shifted my pelvis, something. I went to a chiropractor thinking that he could “adjust” it back into the correct alignment. One trip to him left me unable to walk for another week. I was finally referred to a rheumatologist. This was the worst doctor experience EVER. The rheumy pushed and poked very hard on every inch of my back. He then made me lay down for over an hour for an x-ray. He suggested cortisone shots that hurt worse than anything in my whole life. He told me I had sacroiliitis, prescribed me hydrocodone and steroids and basically told me to get used to being in chronic pain. I saw his nurse twice more before I decided enough was enough!! I was just 24 and was unwilling to give up on myself and my future. I searched and searched and found another rheumy. THIS doctor was my lifesaver!! He looked over the xray, did blood tests and immediately diagnosed me with AS. Although I finally had a diagnosis, I was even more confused as I had never heard of this disease. Not only that, my husband and I wanted to have another child and were lost as to how that would happen. We started immediately on biologics and did TONS of research on all other treatment and exercise options. After five years of tweaking meds, I had my health back in line and gave birth to my second and final child. Although I’ve had MANY ups and downs throughout the last 13 years, I consider myself so lucky to have been diagnosed so quickly. Biologics have kept me active and able to enjoy my life with my family and friends. I have a VERY supportive husband who takes such wonderful care of me and the boys when I can’t handle things on my own. My boys take excellent care of me as well. My mother and I are very close and she listens to me vent quite often. I have been blessed in more ways than I can even express. AS does not define me. My name is Heather. I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

A.S. Face 1228: Darcie Birge

I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 13, I had swollen fingers and my knees hurt a lot, I was told to take 1 aspirin a day so I did and it didn’t help, so as years passes I was ok with it as it wasn’t that bad I could handle a little minor pain here and there. When I was in my mid 20′s I started having severe back pain went to several different doctors and no diagnosis until I was referred to a rheumatologist who with 1 blood test determined I had AS so the pain meds came into play and NSAIDs which didn’t help much I have been on Remicade which led to an allergic reaction my second time going on it first time I had no problems I have tried Enbrel,Humira,Rituxan, now I am on Cimzia and 2 different strong narcotics plus few other things I take about 16 pills a day my hips are bad and so are my knees they are talking replacement in a couple years and I am only 42 unemployed cause of this disease and on my 4th try to get my disability.. Of course there is a lot more,I could go on forever on everything I have been through but I would be here for a few hours… lol
Well that’s my basic story.
Thank you for the Fb site I really think it helps knowing in not alone..
Darcie Birge

Saturday, March 29, 2014

A.S. Face 1208: Kim Underwood

My name is Kim Underwood and I live in Indiana. I am a mom of 3 wonderful children ages 24, 21 and 14!! I am also a RN. It took a long time for me to get the correct diagnosis. It all started when I was 17, and had a bout of bloody diarrhea. I had several GI tests done and was diagnosed with IBS. I was graduating high school and getting ready to go to college. I really didn’t take any medication for it because in 1986, really nothing to do for it. So I tried to control it with diet…not to well I might add. My arthritis symptoms started in my late twenties. I went to a rheumatologist because my knees were hurting and very swollen. He pulled the fluid off and ran a few tests and said I had osteoarthritis! At 28??? That was an ‘old person’ disease. Started taking NSAID’s and had some relief. But it seemed my arthritis was worse when my IBS was flaring…i always thought there was a connection between the two. I tried many different NSAID’s and COX-2 inhibitors but nothing really helped. Then I started having trouble with my back, in my lumbosacral area. They told me it was sacroilitis. Another “old person” disease…or so I thought. It was until about a year or two ago that I was having increased symptoms, headaches, fatigue that was not just your normal everyday kind, achy all over…i finally went to a different rheumatologist. Thought maybe I had lupus. He ran a bunch of testing and HLBA23 was positive. Finally got the correct diagnosis, AS and he tried NSAID’s first and gave me some pain medication and treated me for low vitamin D. After my first follow up, I was still having tremendous pain and he started me on Sulfasalazine. He thought that my IBS had been misdiagnosed and felt that I add ulcerative colitis. This medication treated both…we have been increasing the dose and also added Cymbalta. I am able to function but I work full time as a school nurse and have to take naps after work every day. I have 3 children of my own and am working on trying to be the mother I used to be…i have a granddaughter that is 2 1/2 and the joy of my life. I just hope that their will be other treatments in the future that I will be able to live a more fulfilling life…As for now, I am doing the best that I can and trying to listen to my body and rest when I can!
Indiana, United States of America

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

A.S. Face 1050: Alex Janiga

My name is Alex Janiga. I live in Portage, IN. I am 19 years old and just recently got diagnosed with AS. It’s very hard to be young and have a chronic illness, but I still plan on making my dreams come true one step at a time. I am a face of AS, but I will not let it define me!

“Just keep swimming!”

Indiana, United States of America

A.S. Face 0878: Joey Poynter

Hello I am Joseph Poynter from Auburn, Indiana and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. I started to have problems starting in elementary school. I would walk with a limp and complain about pain in my hips but everyone, even doctors, said it was due to growing pains. Thought out middle school, my pain was random and it would effect either one or both of my hips as well my lower back. I thought it was due to all the sports I been playing; like football, wrestling and track. I just pushed on and dealt with the pain. My family doctor still did not understand why I was complaining of pain. Maybe they thought I just wanted attention, well that was until I got into high school.
My freshman year the pain wasn’t random anymore, it was nonstop. Both my hips would hurt and I had days were I could barely move after football games and wrestling meets. My mom had enough of seeing me in pain and pushed me to go to the doctors and really find out what is wrong. After a couple x-rays and different doctors, I had blood work done to see if I had AS. If I didn’t then the doctors would open me up just see what’s really going on.
After a long week of waiting, at the age of 15 I was told I had AS. I was destroyed because all the sports I been practicing, I would never be able to do again. My doctor first told me while I sat there speechless, “You can either live with it or die from it”. At first I was just angry and scared because of a disease I couldn’t even say and from those words and the pictures that doctor showed me.
But now, after five years with Ankylosing Spondylitis, I now understand what he truly meant with that statement. You have the choice to either sit around and let the disease fuse your spine and take your movement away as well as the life that you want to live away or you have to take action and stay active. Stand strong and stay active because I know from experience that no one but yourself can help slow down Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Indiana, United States of America

A.S. Face 0864: Lisa Fuller-King

I STARTED AT AGE 14 WITH DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE IN BOTH OF MY KNEES REQUIRING MULTIPLE SURGERIES. ORTHO DOC TOLD ME THEN BY AGE 40 I MIGHT BE LOOKING AT REPLACEMENTS. I AM NOW 40, NO REPLACEMENTS YET. HAVE HAD CHRONIC PAIN SINCE THEN. AT AGE 21, THE BACK PAIN REALLY HIT HARD, SAW ORTHO DOC, TOLD ME TO TAKE ADVIL AND LIVE WITH IT, WHICH I DID UNTIL ABOUT 6 YRS AGO WHEN IT JUST BECAME TOO MUCH. STARTED HAVE PAIN IN MY LEGS ETC. SAW A BACK SURGEON, TOLD I HAD 2 HERNIATED DISCS & SPURRING….TAKE ADVIL AND LIVE WITH IT UNTIL YOU CANT WALK OR MOVE YOUR LEGS. THE AMOUNT OF ADVIL I HAVE CONSUMED OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN ENOUGH TO KILL MY KIDNEYS.
I NOW SEE A RHEUMATOLOGIST AND TAKE METHOTREXATE & SIMPONI. THE MTX HAS HELPED SOME, BUT I AM HAVING PAIN IN ALL OF MY PERIPHERAL JOINTS NOW. JUST DO WHAT I CAN & HOPE ONE DAY IT GETS BETTER.
THANKS FOR YOUR WEBSITE!!!!
Indiana, United States of America

A.S. Face 0855: Jacob Kuhn

My name is Jacob Kuhn, I’m 26 years old and I have AS. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 10 years old. I started noticing my back hurting more and my neck being very stiff, I was diagnosed with AS when I was 15. I was also diagnosed with crohn’s disease. I’m currently on Remicade infusions every 4 weeks, it seems to help for the most part. I still have my bad days, but that’s expected with AS. I had a very bad flare up a few years ago and I am currently on social security disability because of it. I’ve lost almost all movement in my neck and I’m hunched over due to AS. thankfully I have very supportive family and friends, they have been there for me through everything. People always ask me how I do it, how do I handle this disease. I always smile and tell them, it could be worse….
Indiana, United States of America

Monday, February 17, 2014

A.S. Face 0757: Nikohl Failor

Indiana United States of America

A.S. Face 0690: Jeremy Henderson

My name is Jeremy Henderson. I am 32 years old, and I am the face of ankylosing spondylitis. My journey “officially” began today October 29, 2012. This is the day I was finally diagnosed. Unofficially, I have been dealing with this disease for close to the last 10 years. That is just a guess though because after researching this for the last month there were signs long before that. Ten years ago I was in a pretty nasty car accident. I was ejected through the sunroof at about 55+ mph and landed square on my bottom. The whole accident to this day is still a blur, but this incident seems to be where my severe pain started. I actually thought I faired quite well. I was in the hospital for a week and faked my way through the physical so I could get back to work. My wife stayed at home with our newborn daughter, so I really couldn’t afford to take much more time off than that anyway. But honestly I didn’t feel that bad, just beat up. Within a month or so I was back playing softball and riding 4-wheelers, good as new. But then within the next year I started getting terrible (there really isn’t a word in the English dictionary I feel adequately describes it), terrible pain in my hips. I couldn’t tell you when it was going to happen. One minute I would be walking fine, then Bam, I would drop straight to the ground. It felt like bone grinding on bone and it would last anywhere from a couple hours to a couple days. I was taking over the counter medication like candy before my wife finally talked me into seeing our family doctor. She contributed it to my car accident, gave me a shot of prednisone, prescribed my some vicoden, and sent me on my way. And thus started my dependence on prescription pain killers. Not that I have ever abused them, thankfully they make that really difficult to do anyway. At that time I only needed pain meds when my hips would flare up, so I really didnt take them that often. As the days went on though I started having a really hard time sleeping. I work 12 hour shifts so going to sleep wasn’t an issue, but I’ll be damned if I couldn’t stay asleep for more than 3 hours at a time. I would wake up so stiff I would have to roll out of bed. I would get up, take a pill, stand in the shower till the water ran cold, and go back to bed. After a few years of this, and a few more doctors, I was referred to a pain management doctor. At the time this man seemed like my savior. He believed me. The problem I had was that I was a young free spirit with a lot of tattoos, which usually led people to believe that I was just trying to get a script. This has been the most frustrating part of my journey. When you know with every ounce of your being that something is wrong with you but no one believes you. I did not want pills. I just wanted to be normal again. I wanted to be able to sit and watch a movie with my kids and not be miserable. I wanted to wake up late for work and not have to have my wife put my socks on for me. I just wanted to be me again, but that goal seemed further and further from atainable. I gave up being honest about my pain level years ago because the solution was just stronger pain meds. I didnt’t wanna be a zombie. I just wanted to live my life. Finally a month ago, with a very angry call from my very awesome wife, I got a referral to a Rheumatologist (a very awesome Dr by the way). It took 2 visits, a blood test, and an x-ray to confirm that I have AS. This seemed to be a double edge sword for me so to speak. I always knew in the back of my mind there was no “fix” for me, but there was always hope. Now I at least have an explanation, and I have a list of dozens of doctors whos noses I would love to rub in it. I just started methotrexate this week. My Rheumy has 0 confidence it will help me, but I guess I have to go through the steps for my insurance to pay for the tnf blockers. I feel like I ended a long journy and am now embarking on a new, hopefully better, one. I have a fantastic supportive wife, so regardless I know I will be fine.
Indiana United States of America

Saturday, February 15, 2014

A.S. Face 0632: Karen Oliphant

Indiana United States of America

A.S. Face 0621: Laura Groscost Potts

January 12, 1914-December 1985

Monday, February 10, 2014

A.S. Face 0620: William Potts

He was diagnosed with Marie Strumpell (sp?) Disease when he was 13, which later became AS. His spine was fused by 19.
Devon says, This is my grandparents on their 50th anniversary. On a side note HIS mother, my great grandmother was the 2nd person in the united states to have a total hip replacement, and the first for total knees, total elbows, and total shoulders at the Mayo clinic. She had sever rheumatism and suspected AS as well.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

A.S. Face 0530: Linda K Littrell

My name Linda K Littrell. I will be 53 in September
This is who I have become and where I have been.
Healthy. And then ill on multiple medications including Remicade and Prednisone therapy
Indiana United States of America
http://linda3182.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/my-basic-info-of-where-i-have-been-where-i-am-now-and-daily-random-thoughts-struggles

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