MEET AS FACE , Erin Thatcher
Here’s her story:
I am 30 and have had AS for the past 10 years. It took me 8 to get a proper diagnosis. As a child I had been inflexible, but from my late teenage years I began having issues like chronic tendinitis, bouts of inflammation and pain, and several fractures.
No provider could help me. I saw countless doctors and physical therapists but everyone was stumped. I was diagnosed with celiac disease, several vitamin deficiencies (D, B12, iron, etc) that I still struggle with today. We hoped that resolving those problems would fix my inflammation and joint issues but it did not.
Eventually in research I found out about enthesitis, the inflammation of tendons and ligaments where they attach to bones. This was a major issue of mine and I asked my rheumatologist. She agreed to test me for HLA-B27 which she said would come back negative because it is an indicator for a “Man’s Arthritis”. It was positive and I switched providers following the results – my new Rheumatologist did more testing and I was diagnosed with AS promptly.
Today I have twin toddlers who were born micro-preemies. They make my life so worth it – though it is a challenge to physically care for them at times. I work full time and also run a non-profit organization. Enbrel, Mobic, and Lorzone along with a consistent sleep & work schedule help me manage my AS.
Wed, 14 May 2014 14:03:15
