I have endured the struggle and pain of Ankylosing Spondylitis for years. I learned the value of surrounding myself with people who are traveling the same journey. We are kindred souls. When I attended my first AS support group, I met people that had similar experiences to mine. We were able to share and support each other in a way that those without AS were not able to do. Our common bond of having AS brought us close together, even though we had just met. After experiencing many years of painful days and doctors that could not connect the dots, I was forced to turn elsewhere for answers. Doing my own extensive research and having the right blood tests performed, I finally received a diagnosis of AS in 2018. I have had a 50-year journey and my hope is to educate all in our community of the value of nutrition, exercise, and correct medical care so that they can better understand their diagnosis of spondyloarthritis and improve their quality of life.
I hope the New Hampshire Spondyloarthritis Support Group will be a valued resource for those suffering from all types of spondyloarthritis.