Re: Re: Unsure of myself/Tawny

July 26, 2004

Tawny,

AS is caused by a gene, HLA-B27. Either parent can have the gene. But you

only " get " AS if the gene is triggered. The most common gheory is that it's

triggered by certain viruses - just a few. So you can be a carrier and not have

your AS triggered.

The true is the same for her father.

AS does not always become crippling. There are many people with AS that

have inflammation of the spine, and never fuse. My AS was triggered in my 20's,

but it took 30 years before it became a serious problem. I'll go through

periods where I can tell that I'm fusing, and then there are times when I know

it's stopped for a while.

It took my Dad almost 4 years before he was completely fused, and that's

considered very fast. Neither of his parents had it actively, and none of his

siblings did either. I'm the only one of my siblings who has it actively.

AS is simply another word for arthritis of the spine. The same meds that

work for RA tend to help with AS.

Maybe this will help her feel better about it. I hope so.

Dix

[ ] Re: Unsure of myself (mentions God)

Hi Dix,....My daughter is upset over being diagnosed with AS. She

thinks it comes from me why she has it, but I don't have AS. When I was first

diagnosed with RA, she was really upset about that.

When it didn't work out with her boyfriend, she tells me that he

don't won't to be with somebody that is going to be crippled,

thinking she is going to get RA.

She is in the military right now, and it scares me with the AS,

because they lift so much weight, and she is so small.

I have lived in Oklahoma all my life, so it's not me,lol

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