A.S. Face 2202: Cindy

Hello, I am Cindy. I’m 45. I was diagnosed with AS in 2013. I my diagnoses are AS, PsA, Fibromyalgia, Connective Tissue Disease, Hypothyroid, Chronic Gastritis, Gerd, Baretts Esophagus, Hypermoblilty and I have a compound heterozygous MTHFR mutation. I was always sick as a child. I was prone to sprains and strains and was in adaptive physical education in school. I always told everyone I had arthritis because I always had joints that hurt but none of my doctors would diagnose me with anything. The fatigue started when I was about 25. I had my gallbladder out about a year later and I felt so much better for about 5 years. During this time, I met my future husband and we got married and had children. After my last pregnancy I started falling apart. When I had my son I though my body wasn’t going to handle it. I made it through but my body wasn’t ever the same. My oldest was in taekwondo and it was in the mall. So I would take the 2 younger ones and walk around the mall while we waited. We did about 4 laps twice a week. After my PCP took me off my thyroid medicine (she said I didn’t need it) within 6 months I gained 65 lbs. (It took me 10 years but I have since found a great PCP that put me back on thyroid medicine.) I was still trying to get as much walking in as possible. Until I started limping… It came on suddenly and I went to the doctor and they sent me to an orthopedic. He told me I had arthritis. I was 38. He retired about a year after I started seeing him, I asked my PCP for a referral to a Rheumatologist. The Rheumatologist told me I have AS although I am HLA B27 negative. I was diagnosed by xrays and a MRI with an elavated Sed Rate. I have tried and failed 5 biologics and now have a PsA diagnosis and started Stalara. So far only 3 things have worked. Embrel helped me the best although not completely but I had a seizure on it. Prednisone helps but I gain too much weight. And Celebrex but I have to be very careful because I have a bad stomach. It’s a balancing act to keep my symptoms manageable. Sometimes my doctor and I have to start from scratch and try different combinations. If it wasn’t for my faith in Jesus, I don’t know if I could handle this dreaded disease. But I know He is always with me through everything no matter what I have to face. I know I am never alone.

One Response to “A.S. Face 2202: Cindy”

Dear Cindy,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Sincerely Cookie

Cookie Has A.S. said this on July 4, 2019 at 9:33 pm | Reply

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