Hi everyone. I'm a newbie here. Still learning how to poke around the site. I am awaiting confirmation from my rheumy that I do have AS. Had my x-rays and blood work this week. She said definitely a Spondylo arthropathy, most likely AS. And quite honestly, it makes so much sense in hind sight. I almost hugged her when she gave me a diagnosis as I have been searching for so long.

I'm still in the preliminary stage and trying to figure out what this means for me and my family and my future.

I'm on Mobic now. My stomach is not happy, but it has only been five days.

The big question I had today is if anyone else gets a hoarse voice. I sound like I am sick or getting sick and have a bad case of laryngitis. I have two small children, so I talk a lot and have to raise my voice to get attention and it just makes it worse the more I use it. But it definitely started when all of "this" started. It comes and goes...some days worse than others.

Does anyone else have it and what have you done to help? Is there anything?

I get my results next week and then have a follow up with the rheumy in a month so I want to have a list of questions/possible solutions ready.
Thanks!
Amanda (ajdub)

A big issue for my mom; not as much in the past, but more with age, she's ~70 now.

At first they thought it might be her reflux, but then they realized it was the arthritis / muscle spasms, i think. I can ask her what they've done about it; she's told me, but I've forgotten.

My husband "teases" me that i sound like my mom when i first wake up, but then it gets better pretty quickly. Almost like my stiff body when waking that loosens up once i'm awake and wiggle my toes and fingers and get in the shower.

When i had bad muscle spasms in my neck muscles, including in the front, they caused me to lose my voice for a few days. that surprised me. but that was only one time when i was working with a PT and she was too aggressive massaging my neck.

So, i'll ask my mom what they did for her. For me, its temporary enough each morning and was only a few days once that for me i haven't had to do anything really.

Thanks, Sue! Mine is definitely all day. No rush...when you get a chance to ask your Mom that would be great!

ajdub

I have been getting a hoarse voice on and off for several months now. Very annoying. I don't even have to be using my voice a lot for it to pop up.

I plan on asking my rheumy about it at my appointment next week. I know that folks with RA often develop voice problems, but I don't know about AS or PsA.

Check out Barrett's Esophogus? Ask your doctor about it too.