Hi everyone!
I was so keen to shake off my "lurker" status that I haven't introduced myself yet! I was beginning to feel like I should be wearing a raincoat and sunglasses!!!
OK, so I am 33 years old and mum to 3 little girlies aged 6, 4 and 18 months. The older two LOVE Tinkerbell - so that's where the username came from! I usually use the name Cupcake because I LOVE baking, but that did't seem appropriate for this website!! It would be a bit like going on an AA website and calling yourself Tequilla slammer!!
I have a wonderful husband - who met a fit, healthy, carefree girl in high heels (pre AS) and ended up dating a "little old lady" shuffling round in slippers and in constant agony! Luckily for me nothing scares him off!!
About 10 years ago I started to get a "restless" feeling when sitting, this quickly progressed to pain in my lower back and down my left buttock, my toes started to swell up and were so tender and painful I could soon not wear shoes at all. I saw a specialist who tried many approaches to my condition; physio, cortizone injections (in my toes - ouch!) and finally he decided we had no choice but to go down the drugs route.
It was at this time that I heard about Prof. Ebringer from a family friend. I got a referral and he diagnosed me straight away as having AS!
Initially I was so excited that I had a name to go with my symptoms. But then came the news that I had to go on the NSD. I might sound very ungrateful - but please bear in mind that at the time I was a vegetarian, smoking, starch junkie and Dr Ebringer delivered the news that I must eat meat, give up smoking and all the food I love best!!!!
I was in denial and I so wanted the diet to fail so it meant I didn't have to give up all these things. The first thing I did when I left his office was go and get the biggest yummiest sandwich I money could buy! I wanted to feel like I had some control of my life back. AS can make you feel so helpless and so old. But after 3 months my AS went into remission completely!
I am SO grateful to Dr Ebringer and his amazing research. I feel so lucky that I was diagnosed so quickly and have no lasting damage (yet) I do not take this for granted having read so many moving stories - they are very humbling.
I joined this website because I have had an attack of AS which started 2 weeks ago. I am trying to control it by going strictly starch free again.
I didn't know anyone with AS until I came on this site and it's very important to me to try and help and support others.
Lots of love and best wishes to everyone on this site. I look forward to getting to know you better!
