A.S. Face 0376: Diedre (Dede) Vaughn
I am on the left! I finally diagnosed myself after getting dxs like :you’re neck is all jacked up” It started out over 20 years ago with sciatic pain and having every treatment under the book! I finally found a doc that would listen, although he told me he didn’t think I had AS. He did the xrays and blood work. The soft tissue in my neck is completely calcified and the t-spine is close. My right hip and shoulder are fused and I am HLA-B27 positive. That was all the proof the rheumy needed to agree with me! I am on Enbrel, but had to go off for 7 weeks after the initial infusion because of an infection. I have now taken 6 injection in a row! I hope to someday soon be able to walk straighter! For me, most of the time, fatigue is by far the most debilitating symptom! I also have Sjogren’s Syndrom and Diabetes.
Diedre (Dede) Vaughn —
“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” ― C. S. Lewis
Arkansas United States of America
United States of America
Does your neck grind like mine Dede?
“…you are a soul. You have a body.” And sometimes we feel trapped inside it, just along for the ride.
Good luck with the Enbrel, it’s helped me. (when we get 1000 face’s, I say we lobby to make the needle smaller!!)
Seriously, I see the strength of the human spirit in you Dede. Thanks.
Thank for sharing your story Dede 🙂
Welcome!
Dear Dede,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I absolutely love your quote. Wishing you the best.
Sincerely Cookie