Hi –
Have been reading for a while and thought I'd finally say hello. Have had seriously sore joints for about three years now, coupled with chronic iritis but am still waiting for that confirmed dx. Doc seems fairly sure is AS and it looks like I may have inherited HLA-B27 marker off my mum. She was diagnosed with RA about 20 years ago, but her new doctor is sure she doesn't have it because her joints "aren't damaged enough". Whatever, she still is in chronic pain and her back is fused. Seems obvious now.
I'm interested in the difference between how AS affects men and women. I've had some back soreness - some stiffness when I first started with my iritis but after I started with vioxx didn't have a problem until recently. My doc suggested coming off the tablets to help with the diagnosis. Since then I'm suffering some stiffness and discomfort - BUT it's nothing compared with how my other joints have been over the years.
I know women are supposed to suffer more with the other joints than the spine - but I don't put much store in the theory.

I couldn't move my head properly for eight months last year - can't move my left foot properly now (since April) and previously had to chew my food on the right side of my mouth (for about nine months) because the left side of my jaw was so sore and swollen. (and yes, that was really attractive)

Is this always going to bounce around my joints like this - or will it just pick on those it's already targeted? or will it become more symmetrical? Or what???

What d'yall think? I'm past feeling anxious - and I guess I never was because if my mum can cope so can I. But I'd like to know.

Sxx

PS Life of Brian is the best -
FRANCIS: Why are you always on about women, Stan?
STAN: I want to be one.
REG: What?
STAN: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me 'Loretta'.
REG: What?!
LORETTA: It's my right as a man.
JUDITH: Well, why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?
LORETTA: I want to have babies.
REG: You want to have babies?!
LORETTA: It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them.
REG: But... you can't have babies.
LORETTA: Don't you oppress me.
REG: I'm not oppressing you, Stan. You haven't got a womb! Where's the foetus going to gestate?! You going to keep it in a box?!