Ankylosing spondylitis wife, mom, and grandmom!

I always think of the things that people say to me out of ignorance of my disease and I really can't blame them.  I too, was ignorant until this disease took over my body, but I've decided to become an advocate for myself and others that are suffering.  -50 MILLION AMERICANS suffer from autoimmune diseases -Can you name an autoimmune disease?  Only 17% of folks can. -Did you know that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease?  I would say you know about diabetes but didn't know it was an autoimmune. -autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body's own immune system can (among other things) cause damage to the skin, joints, and internal organs.  The body actually attacks it's own cells.  In other words the body kills itself from the inside. -they run in families/are hereditary -over 75% of those affected are WOMEN -it is possible to have more than 1 autoimmune disease at the same time and the symptoms are often similar which makes it...

first off--starting with some facts! -50 MILLION AMERICANS have an auto-immune disease, yet only about 17% can name one -There are 100 different auto-immune diseases (sooo many) -Auto immune diseases are in the TOP killers of females UNDER 65! -There's a higher risk of getting an auto-immune disease if your mom and grandmom have one--yes, they are hereditary! --I HAVE A AUTO-IMMUNE ARTHRITIS ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS -There is NO CURE!  -This is my life--my future-- another important fact--my "arthritis" is not the same as just "arthritis"--it's not I'm getting older and everyone gets it.  I have an auto-immune type--which means my body is destroying itself from the inside out!  OK--now to the topic of help.  In my many waking hours because of my excruciating pain, I've been thinking a LOT on the topic of help.  Many folks offer or seemed concerned.  I'm sure I'm not the only person that thinks this way, but I'm not really gonna ...

Yesterday my pastor (Stephen Carpenter-SC) at my church (Christ's Church at Whitewater-CCW) started a series on FAMILY.  If you are close by, you should come!  The service yesterday was wonderful.  OK--plug over and now let the reality of the message/service, blog away... I'm JOB! That's what I've decided.  If you don't know what I'm talking about it, just dust off your Bible and read "Job".  SC started off by saying he's rolled over and said, "I don't want to get up and go to church" just as we all have (let me say all of our pastors are human so don't think they aren't).  He was referencing the aches and pains of getting older.  BUT, I immediately thought--I THINK THAT EVERY STINKIN DAY!  He also mentioned how he's learned that southerners don't "talk" about their problems, that they stay behind closed doors.  WHOA! He's right! I'm a born southerner so I know this to be soooo true! We say, bless h...