Yup thank you guys so much. A bit on the unsure scale after having 2 other rheumatologist drop dx after testing before for HLA B27. More education is needed here.

Hi Rhonda, I am negative as well but I do have AS. My entire family including nieces and nephews are all positive. Pitac explained it the best. It is a strange oddity that really makes no sense but I know I have it and the doctors know I have it, so I don’t pay any attention to the test itself. Just pay attention to your body. I’m sorry you have to deal with this as it is no fun. I try not to dwell on it as it makes me feel worse. I do know I have good days, and I take advantage of those days. The bad days I also take advantage of, as I love to read so I settle in and spend the day reading. Please feel free if you have any questions to give me a shout. ❤️

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. I am negative. Being negative or positive for this gene is not a definitive diagnosis either way for AS. It's just one of several factors considered in the diagnosis. People can have that gene and never have AS. And people can be negative for the gene but be crushed by AS. Also, there is more than one type of Spondylitis. I have Psoriatic Spondylitis and it affects my entire body top to bottom both sides. I suppose if any of the joints in my spine begin to self fuse, the diagnosis will then include Ankylosing. Although they are moving closer together due to advancing degenerative disc disease, they aren't fusing so that diagnosis isnt in my list of "oh-$hi!-osis". It doesn't matter either way, pain disability and treatment is the same anyway. Im sorry you have this to deal with. It's a full time job. 😑🙏

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A MySpond...

Im in Mimi! 😁🙏

My dream, if I ever won the lottery, would be to open a center filled with specialist just for the likes of us... only compassionate doctors, rheumatologists, PTs and the like who all understand us, who never gaslight us, who make us feel heard and seen, and who have a wealth of truly helpful knowledge. It would have nutritionists to help us figure out diet, a pool and therapy equipment, and a cafe for us to all just gather and decompress.