The Cleveland Support Group

In my early 30s I was experiencing back pain, stiffness in body when I get up in the morning. My Primary doctor told me that I could have Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). I went to 29 doctors they told me that I do not have it. It was my 30th doctor that in fact diagnosed me with AS. Doc first put me on Humira and that didn’t do anything plus the injector backfired. Then they put me on Remicade, and it was very infective. However, my liver levels spiked. They then put me on Steroids while we were waiting for approval from Taltz. While I was on Steroids, I learned that for me it made my joints lock up to the point that I temporarily needed a use of a cane and a wheelchair to get to the doc appointments.

That is when I knew that I could not do oral Steroids. I was approved for Taltz, meanwhile I found a doctor that another person who had Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and they told me of a wonderful doc. She switched me to another med because I ended up being allergic to it. I am on Simponi Aria (golimumab) and I been having fewer or no flare ups. I am now stable.

On my free time I walk my 13-year-old Shih Tzu, JJ. We adopted him in July 2024. He keeps my active. I like to read, hike, and workout.