A.S. Face 1758: Sharlene Huntley
Hi there. My name is Sharlene Huntley and I live near Columbus, Ohio. I am originally from Ontario Canada. I have lived in the USA for almost 10 years now. I was diagnosed summer of 2016 with AS. I believe my symptoms started in May of 2010 with a bloated stomach and in November 2010 I developed a swollen ankle. For the next 5 years I was treated for plantar fasciitis and instead of getting better, it got worse. January 2016 I had the most achey feet and ankles. I was limited in how much I could do and I was fed up, sad and mad all at the same time. In March of 2016 I got a rash, they called it the butterfly rash and within a month I had seen a rheumatologist. I am HLA B27 positive and found out a cousin of mine who is the same age as me has it as well. I explained to the doctor ” I feel like I am stiff from the waist down” I don’t have much pain with my upper body, but sometimes. It is Mostly my lower body. Especially my ankles and feet. Hips sometimes too. I have a family that tries to understand but they can’t see my pain. I work a 3 hour a day job serving lunch to school kids, I can’t be on my feet too long. It’s been a long road but it is better knowing where the pain and stiffness comes from. I want to be a warrior of this disease and become involved in the AS community.
Ohio, United States of America
Dear Sharlene,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. You are already a warrior, takes tremendous courage to share your soul.
Sincerely Cookie
You are really being a warrior! (( ))