I had a fairly long-awaited appointment at the hospital this morning. It’s been nearly a year since the eye consultant I was seeing about my uveitis said ‘you know, this HLA-B27 gene you have is probably why you have all these lower back problems as well’ and referred me onwards.
Following a two-hour process of tests, having stuff measured, long discussions with consultants, more tests and a trip to the X-ray department, I have begun the long and experimental process of finding a semi-effective treatment for my ankylosing spondylitis. I officially have ankylosing spondylitis now… I think. Doctors never seem to out-and-out state ‘YOU HAVE X’ these days. But I was given two booklets about it and a prescription for the first of the many treatments that can be tried in the effort to mitigate it, so it looks like they’re fairly certain.
I’ve had this chronic pain for about twelve or thirteen years at this point and having it finally taken seriously is an incredible relief. It might take a while to find something that helps, but at least I’ve got the ball rolling now.