Jennifer Dibble
Hi, I am Jennifer Dibble from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA.
I have had issues with my health starting in my late teens early 20’s. I was diagnosed with AS in the summer of 2012. Before I was diagnosed it took me a few years to find out what I had. I have had many flare up of Iritis and each flare up damaged my vision. I had a flare up so bad that the doctors thought I may end up blind or even lose my eye all together. To get the right diagnosis I had to travel a few hundred miles. The doctor I saw was great he did so many test and we found that I have the HLA-b27 gene and that my inflammation makers were high and so on. Through the test on x-rays the doctor was able to see that I have AS. Since then I have educated myself and try to educate others. I love the “well you don’t look sick” reaction. When I say love I mean I can’t stand. My family doesn’t understand it. I don’t understand it. Though I am on disability for other reasons I will not let my health dictate me or how I will live. I will learn new ways to live and keep going.
Michigan, United States of America
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Sincerely Cookie