Lon,

Good post. AS is a harsh tutor, and MS is a cruel whip. But there is knowledge to be gained from them: knowledge of pain, frustration, and self-awareness. I'm glad to see that you are focusing on the self-awareness. Focusing on just the pain and frustration can ruin your life and the lives of those around you.

Here's an old Irish blessing:

If God sends you down a stony path,
may he give you strong shoes.

Lon, you seem to have strong shoes.

--Greg

AS symptoms started 1991. Official dx in 2006 with HLA-B27+, fused SIJ, bone spurs in back, extreme rib/hip pain, and other family with SpA. Started Enbrel in 2006 with good results, but stopped in 2010 due to nerve damage (MS) from it. Getting good results with no-starch diet since 2011.