Hi Toria,
welcome to KA, but sorry you had to join this great community - you will find it all here - info, support, humour, BTDT stories - you need it, somebody here will have an opinion or an experience that you can relate to!
I'm a fellow banana-bender waving to you from down south in Melbourne!
I am late 40s and a physio - I started getting spinal pain when I was in 3rd year at uni - over the ensuing years I have moved into areas that are easier on me physically.
As the others said - take it day by day and don't spend too much time worrying about how you'll get to your "use by" date!
In terms of getting appropriate meds - where are you? In Brisbane, or elsewhere? There must be a specialist spondylitis clinic run through the RBWH or PAH (? or both?)
OK - did a bit of googling - looks as if it is at PAH: Hey, I know that guy who heads the unit - he was in the same year as me at UQ!
Head of Unit: Dr Phillip Vecchio
Contact Details:
Phone: 07 3240 2296
Fax: 07 3240 7131
Have you seen a rheumatologist yet? You can always see somebody privately. Be assertive - do your research and ask loads of questions of your doctors!
Here's a few places to get started if you need a rheumy:
http://www.rheumatology.org.au/otherpages/search.asphttp://www.rheumatology.org.au/community/rural_services_displaystate.asp?State=QLDHope you find help locally as well as here at KA.
(OK - it's a new harlequin smiley - just had to use it!)
