A.S. Face 0473: Stephen Cook

My name is Stephen Cook, I am 38 and live in Southend-on-Sea in South East England .

I have been well aware of AS throughout my life as my father is a sufferer. Thankfully, my symptoms did not start until my late 20’s but started to get worse in my early 30’s. I also suffer with Psoriasis, often linked to arthritis. I was diagnosed with AS in 2006 and the advice from the doctor was to keep active. At this point I started to swim regularly and have taught myself the correct breathing techniques to swim front crawl. I am trying to resist drugs as much as I can and over the past few years have benefited from a pamidronate infusion where I sit on a drip for 3 hours in a hospital. This treatment is actually for osteoporosis but has been known to help AS sufferers including me. Two weeks after the infusion I can normally sleep more than the six hours maximum I can currently only manage.

After reading many of the inspirational testimonies on this website I feel lucky to have a relatively manageable condition at this moment in time. My main issues are sleeping due to the pain in my lumber region and recently I have experienced problems sitting down as I expect my coccyx is flaring. I do have exciting news however which is that I am performing in the London 2012 Olympic games opening and closing ceremonies as a drummer and on field marshal. It is quite physically demanding but I won’t let AS define me and I am determined to have a full life. In 2013 my wife and I are planning to travel, a process I am writing about on my blog – Life Begins @ 40 (www.stephendcook.blogspot.com). I am on twitter (@stephendcook)

Southend-on-Sea in South East England .

Stephen Cook To Perform In Olympic Ceremonies! http://www.nass.co.uk/news/as-patient-to-perform-in-olympic-ceremonies/

6 Responses to “A.S. Face 0473: Stephen Cook”

Dear Stephen,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I hope you will be sharing pictures of your amazing accomplishment in the 2012 Olympic games. Amazing thank you so much.
Sincerely Cookie

Cookie Has A.S. said this on June 12, 2012 at 5:03 am | Reply
Welcome to the group, Stephen! Congrats on being part of the 2012 Olympics!
Warm regards, Stephania (Face #445)

Stephania Ford said this on June 12, 2012 at 11:14 am | Reply
Thanks Cookie and Stephania. Such a great website!

Stephen Cook said this on June 12, 2012 at 4:35 pm | Reply
Thanks for sharing. your. story.
2012 Olympics -what an experience!

joy last said this on June 16, 2012 at 10:50 am | Reply
- really excited Joy. Was in the stadium last night rehearsing. wow.
  
  Stephen Cook said this on June 20, 2012 at 11:10 pm | Reply
Thank you for being so strong ans such a good ” Spokesperson”

Jacquie said this on July 3, 2012 at 2:11 pm | Reply

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