> As the peach drops?    They drop a peach... for  real? lol   WELL
WELL WELL,
> Georgia drops a peach.....That just stuck  me funny...LOL
> Wonder why then Virginia can't drop some peanuts!
Or maybe even a HAM- a Virginia Ham- you could drop that on me if it is
not too far up!

Hummm, what should we drop in Chicago.... a
politician???  Oh, let me choose!  Happy, Healthy and
a Prosperous New Year to all.







--- spenser23as <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

> I think in Virginia, they drop a Ham ... Happy New
> Year to all, and may
> the coming year bring us all better health and the
> fufillment of all
> our dreams.
>
> Spenser23as
>
>
>
>





__________________________________
Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.
http://brand.yahoo.com/cybergivingweek2005/

I think in Virginia, they drop a Ham ... Happy New Year to all, and may
the coming year bring us all better health and the fufillment of all
our dreams.

Spenser23as

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. HOPE 2006 IS GREAT FOR EVERYONE

debbie,
thank you very much!!!  the same goes to you.  i will
have to totally agree with you on being thankful for
this group!!  i feel the same way!!  happy new year to
you and yours!!  thank you thank you thank you!!!!

christi
--- soccermom2d <soccermom2d@...> wrote:

> I would just like to say Happy New Years to
> everyone.  This last year
> has been one of the hardest for me.  You have helped
> me so much with
> all of the emails.  Somedays I don't think I would
> have made it without
> you.  Thank you.  My toast for 2006 is this.... May
> all of your hopes
> and dreams and wishes come true.
> Best Wishes
> Debbie
>
>
>
>





__________________________________
Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.
http://brand.yahoo.com/cybergivingweek2005/

In a message dated 12/31/2005 4:52:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
no_reply@yahoogroups.com writes:

It was  nice to meet Steve this morning in the cafe.


Rats...and I missed it... As usual I ended up going down to  the shop for a
bit.. even on New Year's Eve.
I had hoped to meet Steve... He sent me an e-mail a day or so  ago..and I
told him about Spondyville.

Steve, I'm glad  you checked  out Spondyville. We're  all the same here...
(i.e. sore, stiff, leaning forward..ribs hurt, butt hurts,  feet hurts, can't
sleep, and many of us take lots of pills/shots... LOL)

Never be afraid to ask questions... Glad you found  us!

betty


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 12/31/2005 4:52:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
no_reply@yahoogroups.com writes:

AS usual I will most likely be snoozing as the peach drops here in  Atlanta.


As the peach drops?    They drop a peach... for  real? lol   WELL WELL WELL,
Georgia drops a peach.....That just stuck  me funny...LOL
Wonder why then Virginia can't drop some peanuts!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'll add my Happy New Year Wishes to all those who visit our lovely town from
time to time. It was nice to meet Steve this morning in the cafe.  Come back
again often and let us here how everyone is spending the New Year.  I'm here in
in my den typing on my laptop via a nice new wireless connection that was a you
know what to get started up but seems to be working OK right now.  We will have
a quiet night here alone probably as our nest seems to be emptying out.  AS
usual I will most likely be snoozing as the peach drops here in Atlanta.  My
vacation is almost over since I have to go back to school on the 2nd and that's
the day our Georgia Bulldogs play in the sugar bowl.  Hope everyone is well. 
Laura



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would just like to say Happy New Years to everyone.  This last year
has been one of the hardest for me.  You have helped me so much with
all of the emails.  Somedays I don't think I would have made it without
you.  Thank you.  My toast for 2006 is this.... May all of your hopes
and dreams and wishes come true.
Best Wishes
Debbie

Once again, New Year's Eve in Spondyville will be ushered in with a
celebratory crowd gathering in Ankylosinger Square to watch the Giant
Golden Anti-inflammatory Pill drop from the top of the Marie Strumpell
building, Spondyville's only skyscraper. As always, prism binoculars
will be provided for those unable to look up.

This year, town handyman, "Pops" DeMaupassant will be assisted in
lowering the Golden Pill by retired Fuser Shortstop, 89 year old
Phil "Slim" Phrozeneck.  Standing by, in case of hernias, will be the
Spondyville EMS squad, and police officer Gus Crimp.


Happy New Year to all!


Spenser23

This Week at the Spondy Cafe: Blueberry Waffles!!

Join a splendiferous spasm of 'specially sporty Spondys for a
friendly, supportive chat EVERY Saturday morning at 10AM Eastern Time
(NYC time) in the Spondy Cafe chat room here on the Yahoo Spondyville
Home Base ...

FREE bottomless mugs of cyber-coffee or cyber-tea!

The Spondy Cafe, where the refills are on the house and NOT in your
lap ... (Unless we forget to take our meds, then extra cyber-napkins
are also available ... )

To get to the Spondy Cafe Chat room, just click on the Chat button on
the left side of the Spondyville Yahoo Home Base page...

(Sorry, I may not be able to get online tomorrow, but I will leave
the door to the Cafe open and the lights on, so feel free to avail
yourself of the all-you-can eat cyber-waffles and the cyber-coffee!
(And don't worry, "Pops" DeMauppassant, the town handyman, will come
around later and lock up.)


Spenser23

thanks betty.

i do stretch every morning before getting out of bed,
and all throughout the day.  i had been doing pilates
for a while, and then with the holidays, i stopped.  i
know that i need to do it again though!!  thank you!!
christi

--- onefineseamstres@... wrote:

> Hey... I forgot the most impt thing...    STRETCHING
>  exercise... there are
> some that are great... some you lay down to do...
> Sometimes the stretching
> can help get you out of a bit of trouble.. can at
> least  help you cope some....
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

Hey... I forgot the most impt thing...    STRETCHING  exercise... there are
some that are great... some you lay down to do...   Sometimes the stretching
can help get you out of a bit of trouble.. can at least  help you cope some....



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hey dwayne,
i would definitely have to agree with spenser on this
one.  it could be a fun game.  i have to do that with
my hubby, depending on what's hurting at the time.  we
kind of make jokes out of it!!  it can be fun.  i'm
sure that if this guy really does care for you, he
will be willing to do what it takes!!  and remember,
if he doesn't, then he's not worth having you!!

christi

--- Dwayne Allison <dwayne-allison@...>
wrote:

>
>
> Hey All,
>
> I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and looking
> forward to a New Year.  I
> finally graduated nursing school, so I will start my
> internship in January.
> This may sound like an awkward question and it
> probably is, but how do
> people with AS have sex?  I am a gay male that has
> AS and have had it for 10
> years now, but the right guy never came along until
> now.  I am really in
> love with this guy, and I was wondering if having
> sex with a woman with AS
> is the same as having sex with a man with AS.  Like
> I said I feel stupid for
> asking this question, but I did not have anybody
> else to turn to.  Everyone
> thought I was nuts when I asked this question.  I
> was thinking that there
> are a lot of people with AS and some do have sex,
> but how can you do it
> without hurting yourself?  Do any of know any
> positions that would make it
> comfortable to have sex?  Some people tell me to use
> a lot of pillows.  Is
> that a good idea?  I am really confused and need
> some help.  If anyone out
> there in Spondyville can help, please email me back
> when you can.
>
> Thanks for all your help.
>
> Take care,
>
> Dwayne
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>





__________________________________
Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.
http://brand.yahoo.com/cybergivingweek2005/

With spondys, sex takes some planning and adjusting. But it CAN be
done.  Certain positions are better than others. I would suggest making
it a game of exploration with your partner called "let's find out what
works best for us."

I don't have much time on the computer this week, but I will try to
email you privately Dwayne.


Spenser23as

I haven't had that kind of lock-up in years, although my left knee
still locks up from time to time.  With me, it seemed to be more the
muscles tightening up and then going into spasm. Usually, just avoiding
sitting too long in any one position, particularly difficult positions
like the floor helped to minimize things.  When it did happen, I would
lie on my back and try to slowly stretch my body.  I also had my rheumy
give me a prescription for a muscle relaxant, which I took as needed.

Spenser23as

thank you for responding!  it really makes it easier
to deal with when you know that it's happened to other
people.  not that you wish that on anyone.  i will
hopefully get in for the mri soon!!  anyway, thank you
all!!

christi

--- spedmus <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

> Yes- I've had the famous lock up can't move thing
> before- but it's been
> a really long time thank goodness- mine have been at
> the onset of
> really painful flares and I can't really connect
> them to any episode
> that I did before- one particularly bad one was
> after I got really cold
> one winter riding in one of those little shuttle
> things and looking at
> Christmas light displays- you know the ones that
> cover acres and acres-
> another one was after sitting and doing painting on
> a piece of that
> plaster stuff that then gets fired-these were at
> least 4 or 5 years ago
> and the freeze up was so bad I can remember exactly
> what I had been
> doing- now whether that triggered it or not- I have
> no idea.
>
>
>
>





__________________________________
Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.
http://brand.yahoo.com/cybergivingweek2005/

Yes- I've had the famous lock up can't move thing before- but it's been
a really long time thank goodness- mine have been at the onset of
really painful flares and I can't really connect them to any episode
that I did before- one particularly bad one was after I got really cold
one winter riding in one of those little shuttle things and looking at
Christmas light displays- you know the ones that cover acres and acres-
another one was after sitting and doing painting on a piece of that
plaster stuff that then gets fired-these were at least 4 or 5 years ago
and the freeze up was so bad I can remember exactly what I had been
doing- now whether that triggered it or not- I have no idea.

In a message dated 12/28/2005 11:51:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dwayne-allison@... writes:

but how  do
people with AS have sex?


It's a fair question and the only real answer I've come up  with is....
very slowly, very carefully.  I guess one just has to be  creative.  If you
are not fused, I suppose you have more  possibilities.

To be honest, I tried looking  on the internet for AS/Sex  issues and found
it to be lacking pitifully.  What I did read was a joke to  me.
For ex.   _http://www.nass.co.uk/zips/NassBook.pdf_
(http://www.nass.co.uk/zips/NassBook.pdf)
This site says....."AS normally should not affect your sex  life"....  I am
not fused and when I still had a sex life, it affected mine  GREATLY.
_I have  ankylosing spondylitis and am worried about performing in bed_
(http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/sexandrelationships/sex/201101.html)    here is
another site...

I didn't find any particularly helpful though.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Christi...

YES.. I've had that happen... and sitting on the floor or sitting in
bed...like trying to read in bed... will aggrivate it badly, cause you can't sit
properly.... leaning slightly... YUCK...
I've felt that pain before...

With me it was a disc that slipped out of place... DISC can cause EXTREME
pain...
Often the pain will radiate across the low buttocks... back of the hip....
You can't walk, can't sit.. nothing  seems to help.  Sometimes the  pain will
seem to go right across your butt cheek... and down the leg... like a  line of
pain....down the outside of the leg... and can eventually go all the day
down.. across the ankle..foot and sort of "out the toe"  ... WITH  me... it was
a
long time before I ever had a Dr. that was interested enough to  do an MRI and
diagoise it.  A few of us  have had problems with our  butts "swelling out"
like below the waist..and it swells and becomes like  a big ol bubble butt...
I know it sounds funny, but it sure isn't.  The  dr.s always said it "wouldn't
be a disc"  because disc would not cause  swelling,,,BUT they were WRONG...
it can.. it's just not at all the norm...
Sometimes it helps to lay on your side...Lay on the side lease affected.  Put
a pillow between your knees to help keep back aligned better.. sometimes
this helps ... also sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees helps
sometimes... especially if it is a disc that is moving around.

I've felt that tight (pulling feeling)  feels like your skin will rip  before
it will move... and it's horrible pain..

To make it short..with me... it turned out I had psoriasis on the tendons
that wrap around the disc to hold them in place.... Repeated flare ups   scared
that tendon..and it finally "dropped loose" leaving the disc free to slip  out
and finally rupture... Believe me..you do not want it to rupture...

OH, and ONLY  a MRI or CAT Scan would show a disc.... Xrays do not  show
tissue..only bones... spurs...etc...

betty


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey All,

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and looking forward to a New Year.  I
finally graduated nursing school, so I will start my internship in January.
This may sound like an awkward question and it probably is, but how do
people with AS have sex?  I am a gay male that has AS and have had it for 10
years now, but the right guy never came along until now.  I am really in
love with this guy, and I was wondering if having sex with a woman with AS
is the same as having sex with a man with AS.  Like I said I feel stupid for
asking this question, but I did not have anybody else to turn to.  Everyone
thought I was nuts when I asked this question.  I was thinking that there
are a lot of people with AS and some do have sex, but how can you do it
without hurting yourself?  Do any of know any positions that would make it
comfortable to have sex?  Some people tell me to use a lot of pillows.  Is
that a good idea?  I am really confused and need some help.  If anyone out
there in Spondyville can help, please email me back when you can.

Thanks for all your help.

Take care,

Dwayne





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hello all,

i hope that you all had a safe and happy holiday.  as well as good
times with family and friends.

i will try to explain what happened to me the best that i can, so
please bear with me.  haha!!

i was playing a video game with my daughter, sitting on the floor,
(which i really shouldn't do but it was christmas), and when i tried
to get up, i had very intense pain in my hips and lower back.  i made
it to the bed and i tried to lay on my stomach and dangle my legs off
of the bed to stretch them.  well, that didn't work, i made the pain
worse in my lower back.  i was bawling my head off, and my husband
came in and asked what happened. i told him that i didn't really know
if i pinched something, or what.  anyway he tried to get me to walk,
and he said that i looked like someone with cerebral palsy.  i've had
my hands lock up, but never my legs, and that's what it felt like.

i also found out that i wasn't supposed to be taking my indocin
because of a recent colitis diagnosis, but i was never informed.  as
a matter of fact i asked the nurse right after my colonoscopy if i
should take it, and she said that i had to wait a week.  nobody
bothered to tell me that it could aggrivate the colitis!!

anyway, back to the back thing.  i've never really had a lot of pain
in my hips, or too much in my lower back.  it's been mostly neck, t-
spine, and knees, and a few other extremities.  now i am in a lot of
pain in my hips and lower back, but i was just wondering if any of
you have locked up like that.  it feels like all of your muscles are
very tight, and it takes everything to move them.

i am going to have an mri soon, and hopefully will have some answers
soon.

thank you all!!

i really did have a wonderful christmas, my babies were so cute with
their presents, and just the whole thing!!  it was a good day!!  i
didn't let this get me down!!

love you guys!!

christi

OK, now that's just not right.............;-(  I hope everyone who celebrates it
has a very Merry Christmas.

   Crystal

Robert Davis <rad360@...> wrote:
   >
>
>
The teller at the bank today told me to have a Hairy Mistress and a
happy New Beer. I guess that is a new extrapolation on Happy Holidays.

Robert


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

spenser23as wrote:

>A Merry Christmas, Joyous Holidays, Delirious Chanukah, Ecstatic
>Kwanzaa and Happiest of New Years to ALL the residents of Spondyville!
>
>May you find Happiness and Joy everywhere you turn this holiday season
>and all year long.
>
>Spenser23as
>
>
>
The teller at the bank today told me to have a Hairy Mistress and a
happy New Beer. I guess that is a new extrapolation on Happy Holidays.

Robert

mindy,
thank you very much!!  to the rest of spondyville,
have a wonderful holiday!!!  may you get all that you
wish for.  may you have good quality time with family
and friends.  and all of you take care, and try not to
overdo it!!!  eat lots!!  talk lots!!!  and be merry!!


i know that i had one wish granted when i found all of
you!!!

merry christmas!!

christi

--- Mindy <mindy_1969@...> wrote:

> I just wanted to wish you all the Happiest of
> Holidays.  Stay safe and
> warm and pain free (I hope!!)  My new doc Dr. Logan
> (Thanks Mary!!)
> is great, I'm still stiff and hurting a little, but
> he's got me on new
> meds (can't remember names of them but I'll maybe
> post that later)
> and some pain pills for those bad days.... now I
> just gotta find time
> to start working out more and hopefully lose a
> little weight, which
> will help me all the way around.  Anyway, all of you
> have a great
> Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years and
> all......
>
> Love
> Mindy
>
>
>
>
>




__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

A Merry Christmas, Joyous Holidays, Delirious Chanukah, Ecstatic
Kwanzaa and Happiest of New Years to ALL the residents of Spondyville!

May you find Happiness and Joy everywhere you turn this holiday season
and all year long.

Spenser23as

This Week at the Spondy Cafe: Christmas Cookies and (non-alcoholic)
Egg Nog!!

Join a splendiferous spasm of 'specially sporty Spondys for a
friendly, supportive chat EVERY Saturday morning at 10AM Eastern Time
(NYC time) in the Spondy Cafe chat room here on the Yahoo Spondyville
Home Base ...

FREE bottomless mugs of cyber-coffee or cyber-tea!

The Spondy Cafe, where the refills are on the house and NOT in your
lap ... (Unless we forget to take our meds, then extra cyber-napkins
are also available ... )

To get to the Spondy Cafe Chat room, just click on the Chat button on
the left side of the Spondyville Yahoo Home Base page ...

OR - If you're feeling a little more adventurous, you can follow
these simple cyber-directions:

To get to the Spondy Cafe, simply turn left at the intersection of
Inflammation Ave. and Autoimmune Blvd., then go straight for a mile
and a half, past the hollowed out tree stump, which is actually quite
close to the legendary thorny briar patch of idyllic happiness,
which, ironically, is only a few short steps above and beyond the
festering quagmire of lost hopes from which rises dramatically, the
majestic purple mountain of steely resolve under the bluest of dream-
laden skies ... Keep going till you get to the beautiful art-deco
Spondyville Bijou - Now Showing: Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni in "Fun
with Dick and Spondy" ... then take a very HARD right and follow
the big gaudy billboards to the dark and scary sinkhole of outrageous
idiocy, this week featuring: Who else? The Judge that issued a
restraining order against David Letterman because some crazed fan
claimed he was using his show to send her secret messages ... (Just
as I am using this forum to send the Judge secret messages) ... Dear
Judge: You're a putz ... (Oops, forgot the secret decoding device ...
Oh well.) ... Of course, you can shake your head in utter disbelief
and then avoid getting involved in that whole mess by using the
secret door behind the sinkhole's southwest brick wall and proceed
directly to the Alpha Gore Memorial Information Superhighway overpass
and filibuster your way to the newly revamped Howard Dean Last Gaffe
Cafe, turn left onto the Democratic Blue Highway Bypass to America's
Coastlines and make your way to a secret undisclosed location in
Washington D.C., where the neo-con refugees are still trying to avoid
the rising floodwaters of voter outrage by eavesdropping on fellow
Americans and then claiming the Patriot Act is keeping us safe from
people who want to overthrow, thus clearly ignoring the fact that
THEY are the people overthrowing our Constitution ... (Ah,
Irony...) ... (But getting back to the directions) ... then go
straight till you get to Pete the Papparazzi's Absolutely Authentic
Real Genuine photo museum, this week featuring candid pics of Michael
Jackson in Bahrain (Fill in your own punchline) ... WAIT A MINUTE!!
Those pictures are REAL!!?? ... Then go straight for a mile and three
quarters, turn left at the second traffic light, then take your coded
restraining order to the Letterman Bypass, swerve to avoid Oprah, who
is putting away the Late Night bear while sneaking a sandwich with
Paul and the hipsters known collectively as the CBS Orchestra and
keep going all the way to the littered empty lot which has been
magically transformed into Spondyville.com, It's completely
Spondylightful AND Spondylicious ... but still in need of YOUR
creative input! (Reminder: For the Holiday Season: It's Back! The
Holiday Classic tale, "Christmas in Spondyville"! Click on the Xmas
tree icon on the Spondyville.com main page, and enjoy! And for even
more holiday fun, click on the blinking star atop one of the
buildings on the main page for a Spondyville Xmas sing-a-
long!) ... then hang a right at the bronze plaque which marks the
EXACT spot where Santa's making his list and checking it twice ...
and isn't it time YOU checked out purchasing your very
own Spondyville Fuser Baseball caps and 11oz. ceramic Spondyville
mugs! (They make Great Xmas gifts!) And after all, they are available
for your enjoyment!! But wait! If you GET YOUR ORDERS IN NOW, you be
too early to take advantage of the January clearance sale! In
January, you'll be able to buy 3 mugs and get the 4th one FREE! (Stay
tuned for details) ... But, once again, back to the directions ...
keep going until you see the friendly, blinking neon signs for the
Spondylitis Association Home Page. Then park your vehicle in the only
lot where 9 out of 10 spots are marked "If you can turn your head,
you CAN'T park here!", whisper "Marie Strumpell sent me", and then
take the flagstone path that leads around the back and look for the
enormous non-toppled statue of the smiling Elf with the
fused spinal column ... and ... you've made it!!

Remember, since 1995, if it's Saturday, it's the Spondy Cafe.

Spenser23as

Khana

   If I can pass on anything to you at all it would be DO NOT let the doctors
ignore you or tell you Oh your just getting older and you have to deal with it.
My AS went undiagnosed for over 6 years until I physically got to where I
couldn't work, My posture was visually alarming and the pain and general crappy
feeling as you put it :-) was so bad I really thought I was dying. I had a very
unresponsive primary care doctor and he really thought that all my problems were
because I was depressed. The secret to dealing with AS I believe is EARLY
detection and treatment. All the symptoms you talked about I have had or have,
Get to a good RA doctor. Even if you dont test positive for the gene it does not
mean you dont have AS. A good doctor will rely more on good old fashion x-rays
and you telling him whats going on. Again all of the above is strictly my
thoughts on the matter. I am on Remicade now back at work and although because
of the VERY late diagnosis I have very limited range of
  movement in my back, neck, hips, etc..I am feeling much better with the pain
being managed by a pain specialist and a RA doctor I love to death and credit
him for saving me. Good luck and find a good doc.

   Brad

krame00 <ktramey@...> wrote:
   Hello, everyone -

I know this is not a forum of doctors (tho some of you may be!), but
I thought I would use this opportunity to ask a few simple
questions. I am going in for a routine physical at the beginning of
the year with my primary physician, and I feel like I need to be
armed with information before I go in.

I stumbled upon the disease of AS today on the internet while I was
doing yet another pass on Google to see if I could figure out what
is going on with me.

Right now, my biggest issue is pain in my spine upon awakening. When
I wake up in the morning, I can hardly move. After being up for a
while, the pain goes mostly away. This seems to be episodic. In
other words, I had this problem a while back and it lasted a few
months and went away. Now it is back again.

During the day, however, I have problems with my posture and my
upper spine aches. If I sit up straight, or stretch, all of the
bones in my spine go, "pop! pop! pop!". I get sharp pains in my
chest that come and go and which are not triggered by movement.

I am 38 year old woman - and I would say this spine pain started
about 18-20 months ago.

I have had sporadic hip pain since I was 19 or 20.

My dad has psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

I was doing a lot of exercise (40 minutes four times a week), for
about 6 months, and I felt great, but then in March I started
feeling just generally crappy and could not continue.

I have gained about 30 pounds in the last 6 months.

I also have Hashimoto's Disease which is an autoimmune disease of
the thyroid. I tested negative for Lupus at the beginning of the
year. My ANA levels are a little elevated, though I do not know what
that means here.

So - my questions:

1. Is the spine pain in the morning something that is mostly only
associated with AS?
2. Does the chest pain or the spine popping sound familiar to anyone?
3. What about the feeling generally crappy or achy?

I am planning on talking to my PCP about this, and maybe getting to
a rheumatologist, but I want to make sure that I am not being a
hypochondriac before I insist upon getting attention from my doctor
for this. She basically ignored me last year when I brought it up.

Many thanks for your help!

Khana Ramey
Gladstone, Oregon






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I just wanted to wish you all the Happiest of Holidays.  Stay safe and
warm and pain free (I hope!!)  My new doc Dr. Logan (Thanks Mary!!)
is great, I'm still stiff and hurting a little, but he's got me on new
meds (can't remember names of them but I'll maybe post that later)
and some pain pills for those bad days.... now I just gotta find time
to start working out more and hopefully lose a little weight, which
will help me all the way around.  Anyway, all of you have a great
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years and all......

Love
Mindy

Khana,
     I have definite lupus and possible AS. I would have your ANA levels
tested several times before ruling out lupus. It tends to run in families with
RA.
And then psoriatic arthritis and AS tend to be associated. My ANA can be
positive one time and negative another. A titer of at least 1:80 is considered
positive.
     My Aunt and cousin had RA and my sister and father had possible
spondyloarthropathies. Do you test positive for HLA-B27?
     I have the popping and sometimes it feels like my bones are moving. That
is true especially when I am in severe pain and can't walk or sit. I don't get
that way so often now that I am on medication.
     Being in constant pain wears on a person and there is no test out there
to verify a person's pain level. That's what makes some people not take out
pain seriously.

Jane


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