A.S. Face 0512: Amanda Unrein

My name is Amanda. I’m 34 years old and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in October 2008. Since then it has been an adventure to say the least. When I first found out I was actually relieved. It answered years of unexplained pain and actually made me feel like I wasn’t crazy. I had so many doctors through the years telling me my symptoms must have been in my head because they didn’t make sense in their eyes or what the medical books stated. There were no visual signs or easy explanations of the pain I was going through so they would pass me off to the next doctor. I was constantly told the words so many AS patients have heard…”but you don’t look sick.” Like many people I never even heard of the disease until I was diagnosed. To hear you have a disease that will only get worse and has no cure can be extremely overwhelming not only physically, but emotionally. I felt very alone in the beginning and found that the multiple websites and support groups were vital to my own awareness of the disease. My hope for you is that together, as a strong AS community, you will find comfort in knowing you are not alone

Georgia United States of America

5 Responses to “A.S. Face 0512: Amanda Unrein”

Very well said

Layne Muir said this on July 19, 2012 at 2:30 am | Reply
Nicely done Amanda.

Derek said this on July 19, 2012 at 3:07 am | Reply
It’s unfortunate so many have such similar stories. The medical community needs a better way to communicate their lack of knowledge. No patient should ever feel their symptoms are in their head!

Amy S said this on July 19, 2012 at 10:56 am | Reply
Welcome to our growing group, Amanda! Most of us have the same feeling of being overwhelmed with a disease that is progressive and for which there is no cure! I wish you all the best!

Stephania

Stephania Ford said this on July 19, 2012 at 11:07 am | Reply
Dear Amanda,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Couldn’t have said it better myself!
Sincerely Cookie

Cookie Has A.S. said this on July 19, 2012 at 4:49 pm | Reply

Our Stories

© Cookie Hopper and The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis , 2011. There is an implied agreement and permission granted to Cookie Hopper and the Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis that the participants photo/story will be used only in order to raise awareness for Ankylosing Spondylitis. There will be no monetary value gained by either party. The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis agrees to uphold the integrity and honor of each individual’s story when doing projects to raise awareness, and will be a mutual agreement of both parties involved. Once a photo & bio are submitted to Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis ( Cookie Hopper) , heretofore known as "Faces," the individual submitting to Faces gives permission for Faces or its representatives or organizations coordinating with or whose services are retained by Faces or the invisible illness or Ankylosing Spondylitis community to use the image/likeness, name, & your bio or portions of bio as written, from the moment of submission, for as long as Faces exists as a website and/or organization. All submissions become the property of Faces, and upon submitting, participants grant full rights to the submitted images & bios to Faces, and the right to use & name in connection to activities of Faces, from now into eternity, in all forms of media, including new media, and agree that they are the property of Faces from submission until dissolution of the organization." Once included the removal will not be possible due to being number, but every possible action will be made to change any information if you feel the need for it to be. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without expressed and written permission from this blog’s author and writer of the individual story is strictly prohibited and legal recourse may be taken in the event of this happening. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Cookie Hopper] [individual author of the story] [The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. COPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK NOTICE ©2012. There are underlying copyright interests in the various works of authorship associated with this the faces of ankylosing spondylitis. These copyright and trademark interests may not be reproduced and redistributed, with or without alteration in whole or in part, unless prior written permission provided by Cookie Hopper of Alvin, Texas US 77511, along with the individual author of the story. Trademark name “The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis” and " I Am The Face Of Ankylosing Spondylitis" name has been approved and acquired by Cookie Hopper February 10, 2012. Others wishing to use this name or logo are hereby requested to contact the owner Cookie Hopper to discuss their interest before doing so. The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis Trademark number is 40671 The stories submitted may not be used without the original author’s permission, along with Cookie Hopper, which you may acquire by submitting a request to Cookiehasas@aol.com. The phrase I am the face of ankylosing spondylitis and the phrase the faces of ankylosing spondylitis are protected under the copy right and trademark laws. By submitting your photo & bio to Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis (Cookie Hopper) you enter into a legal and binding agreement on both parties side. Cookie Hopper agrees there will be no selling of the stories or monetary value gained. Cookie Hopper agrees to uphold the integrity and honor of each individual’s story when doing projects to raise awareness, and will be a mutual agreement of both parties involved. This site is protected under the Trademark and Copy right laws. 40671 as of January 2012.

%d bloggers like this:

The Faces Of Ankylosing Spondylitis