Just reading these messages made me happy and sad at the same time. I have had AS since I was 19 which is nearly 20 years ago - but the same scenario; the rheumys won't diagnose it until I start showing differences in x-rays (which takes about 10 years) and my AS didn't get really bad until 6 years ago. I have been told my rheumys that it is all in my head, that AS isn't hereditary (even though my mother has it and has had it for 40 years!) and that AS is extremely rare in women - go figure!
I also suffer from FM quite seriously and cannot stand anybody touching me for massages etc. I'm frustrated as I'm not from the USA and cannot receive the drugs that I read on this website - NZ is still living in the ark with a governing body called Pharmac calling all the shots which basically means they don't give a toss about the AS sufferers here because the only drugs they subsidise are the old ones. The new ones like Celebrex and Vioxx you have to spend around $50 per week on them and they aren't covered by your medical insurance!
So, as you can guess, I'm really happy that there are people out there like me who are suffering the same old same old but I'm angry at the same time because of the NZ health system which doesn't allow AS sufferers (and many other disease sufferers) to get the kind of drugs that we need to.
I'm not sure if there's anybody on this site from NZ but if there is I guess you would just get the same message.
Anyhow, thanks for letting me vent my spleen and nice to read all your messages - makes me feel that I'm not so far away after all!
Cheers
Julie

Hi Julie

Shock , horror , disbelief , another Kiwi on kick as .

Reading your posting we are a similar age too .

I've tryed to encourage others with A.S. to use this site , but with no joy .
There is a A.S group ( part of A.N.Z ) in Auckland and they have a get together once a year . There are women in this group who have A.S as well .

I see you are from Dunedin , I from the Waikato but shifted to Tauranga six months ago .
Must be bloody cold down there ! , Hamilton is bad enough that's why I moved .

Yes A.S. does run in families my younger brother was diagnoised just over a year ago .
I suspect one of my parents may have a mild case .

My Dx was about 7 years ago by a Chiropractor , and later confirmed at Waikato Hospital . Previous to this G.P's probably thought I was a hypocondriac , I started having back pain since about 10 and A.S really kicked in about 13yrs old.


Yes the Medical systems sucks . One rhemy I went to could smacked around the head with a 4 x 2 plank , man was he obnoxios .
I'm on naprosyn , have tryed the free samples of vioxx and celebrix and the didn't work for me . Yes those two are expensive drugs .

I prefer more natural therapys , because the side affects of some of this drugs are worse than the original condition .

There is one other kiwi (Shane )or should say Piwi , he's from England and has only recently moved to N.Z .and he prefers to be called a Pom so if you combined the two names you get Piwi .

The are some postings about 1-2 yrs ago from another Kiwi " Scroat " but he hasn't replyed to my messages .

Regards
Stephen

( Calixto )






Everyday above ground is a great day ! .
If you don't believe me try missing one .

Hi Stephen,

I don't know why but Scrote (Mark) hasn't been on KA for some time now. He used to be a regular poster before we moved to this new forum. I was going to suggest you email him but he didn't include that on his profile.


Michelle

Hi Michelle

Thanks for the info. .

Like the bird " Kiwi's " we seem to rare and endangered species on ka .

I'm still trying to encourage more Kiwi's to log on , but we have this "she will be right mentality " .
If we ignore our symptoms long enough maybe they will go away. Not ! .

Regards Calixto

Everyday above ground is a great day ! .
If you don't believe me try missing one .

Hey Cal and Julie - Sally is also a Kiwi, just so's you know.

Hugs,

Kat

Hey Kat,

I think Sally is an Aussie...from Oz. Kiwi's are from New Zealand. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Michelle

Yep...Kiwi's are from New Zealand... but then again, it seems like New Zealand is almost another state of Australia... God knows enough of them live here.... "Would the last person out of New Zealand, please turn the light off"...

ANON4NOW

"Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift, that's why it's THE PRESENT"