Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Question?

Hello odd Englishman. I don't recall all I should and thus probably pilfered previous post. My wee brain synapses spend much time taking sin-naps. I suspect somewhere in that void that is my cranium I appreciated a considerate answer or two so I asked again

I suspect like you indicate my assessment of AS'S impact on my life is cyclical and dependent on how my present circumstances are. Presently, I am reflective and this place always seems to give me a bit of inspiration and a chuckle or two

I always try to remain positive, in the best tradition of that hackneyed lemons into lemonade gibberish, but despite an aversion to lemonade it seems to leave me smiling more often than grumbling

As for my once wee trio of lovely ladies they are now 15. Soccer has evolved into lacrosse and cross country running. I coach the lacrosse only because I take odd delight in folks seeing my unique frame bouncing about the sidelines and barking instruction to a remarkable bunch of fit young ladies and maybe because I am wise enough to know that being involved with a fine group of young athletes is great medicine

AS wins a little each year, hopefully I win back a bit more

Orch

I often come here for inspiration or to renew my waning determination. You always provide me with both

When I think... Maybe I can't.... I read your posts and hopefully try... Maybe I can


Thank you for that

John

If I come here for inspiration I also come here for information and edification. I am unfortunately medically under informed and less traveled about the world than you.


So if you are a slow learner,Iamatortiose

Hi Steve,

How lovely that complete strangers have gone out of their way to say how much they admire how you deal with folks. While your AS is visible, and may have contributed to why they spoke up, I suspect that if you never had AS, folks would still find you to be an inspiration and that the way you deal with folks would still be compassionate and admirable.

Has my AS ever opened a good window? Yes, I do think it has ... the most obvious being that I've met and made some dear friends in here. Another good window - while I like to think that I was and would have been a compassionate and sympathetic sort regardless of AS, it brings to mind a man I saw on a train years ago. He was very young, probably in his late teens, and I noticed his eyes as the train would stop at each station and start up again. He was standing (crowded train with no seats left) and despite a brave face, his eyes betrayed pain. Then I noticed the discrete black cane tucked next to his leg. With my eyes, I offered him my seat, and without a word, he thanked me and accepted.

So a person in pain offering a seat to another in pain, on a crowded train in the morning rush hour. (There is a song in there somewhere.) I like to think that as a group, we've all experienced similar moments, countless times. We are in a sort of brotherhood.

And, Alan is in here with us ...!!!

Ok, since I happen to be having a particularly bad hair day today, I'm giving you this one, Alan...!

just today!!!!

Oy!!

Goodness, you make me laugh!

not like your hair makes me laugh......I especially like the bangs!!!

Steve, I remember Miss Cristina's questions. How lovely of you to get this going again.

AS made me get over my fear. I was afraid to excel, afraid not to excel. Fear stopped me from pursuing my dreams. AS gave me a bigger fear - fear that I would not be able to pursue my dreams, that my dreams would be stripped from me. The day I made the decision that AS was not going to steal my dreams was the best day of my life. As a singer and performer, if I cannot breathe, I can do neither of my passions. So, I changed my lifestyle and became determined to keep doing things I love. I find ways around any limitations and strive every day for what I want. Fear no longer controls me. And if it rears its ugly head, I take a deep breath, push fear to one side and go for it anyway. AS will not steal my passions.

That diagnosis was the best thing that ever happened to me. Sixteen years later, and after the past five years of recovering from another blow that some of you old-timers may recall, I am living the life I want to live, with my sweetheart. We have built a new life and this year, I am recording my first album.

AS be damned is a given, but it was the only thing that could have stripped my psyche of my lifelong fear of standing out and excelling.

Now, Steve, we need updated photos of the girls!!! 15!!!! Good grief, it's nuts how time goes.

Love,

Hate to be the grumpy one, but can't figure out anything good that has come of the spondy. Could be that my neck has been in a bit of a flare for a month now and that has made me a bit cranky. So for me, I still answer like I did last time, I'd be just fine if I had never had this lovely conglomeration of symptoms to deal with.

But also glad for the heartwarming stories of lessons learned by others. Perhaps in time I will see it differently. But for now, I only see it as the beast to be battled.

I remember reading that Teddy Pendergrass who was a paraplegic after a car accident thought others like him should learn to be more accepting of their "condition" and I remember Christopher Reeves who fought to his dying day to find a cure. So two great people with two very different world views and approaches. To me, neither is right nor wrong. We all have our own ways of dealing with stuff....so whatever works....and gets us through life.

Happy Wednesday all