Posts by placiddrifter86

The post isn't stupid at all. Look, the liver—your liver—is just one component of the human biological system, much like an individual ant is a single part of an ant colony's collective intelligence... a tiny piece of a larger consciousness. That little ant or honeybee feeds data back to the queen in much the same way your liver sends signals to your brain, which itself is just another part of the overarching system. Is the liver "more intelligent" than the brain when you consider its massive array of vital functions? Besides, a human can technically survive without a brain, but without a liver, you're done. I don't get why you're putting him on such a pedestal, acting like he's the sole mastermind behind the scam (even if his methods are primitive). The fact that you can't wrap your head around the idea of a single ant or a liver being capable of a deception designed to elevate its status within the system just shows how narrow your perspective is... it's a failure of comparative reasoning. You'd better watch out for the liver—because once it betrays you, you're a dead man. And no, I’m not being morbid here, unless you want to be...
The brain is the fraud, and the liver is just the victim.

See, this is how it goes. Our healthcare system is such an interesting mess. I did some digging online and it looks like your diagnosis actually covers a whole spectrum of autoimmune issues. It basically means they probably haven't nailed down the specific type yet—or maybe they have and just aren't being clear? Either way, you're in that spot where you might just let everything slide until the pain hits a point where you can't get back to where you are now... and right now, it hasn't become unbearable yet. From what I've gathered, fibromyalgia often comes with joint stiffness, which is pretty common for people dealing with autoimmune stuff too.
My condition—ankylosing spondylitis—started with my pelvic bones fusing together, and back then, the diagnosis was just sacroiliitis. At that stage, the pain was manageable, almost negligible. Maybe that's where you are right now. But very quickly—after maybe two or three years—other parts of my spine started hurting because of the ossification. The process just keeps moving forward while we all just sit here watching it happen. It’ll be a pleasant surprise if, in two or three years, they tell me it wasn't AS after all, but something like lupus instead.

I'm laying all this out because I feel like we get way too little information from our doctors—honestly, they probably don't have many answers themselves either—and our best shot is to take matters into our own hands. We have to research this ourselves and swap stories to figure out how to handle things and what steps to take next. If you're up for it, write back and tell me exactly what you're feeling and how you're managing—or whatever else is on your mind. If you don't have the energy to dive into this topic, then maybe—like you said—that's the right way to cope. If anyone else wants to share their experiences, specifically regarding ankylosing spondylitis, treatments, or how the disease progresses, please reach out.

Mark Torres14 said:👍Spot on.

.. but you aren't looking at it in a beehive .. or an anthill .. where you'd actually find .. brotherhood and unity .. acting as the bedrock of the organization ..

That's an interesting point. Can a bee or an ant even lie?
Every time I think about them, they remind me of computer code or robotics. It's closed-loop system logic that doesn't allow for surprises.
Is an ant just a gear in some machine that might one day evolve into intelligence, or is their world just a closed loop of endless, repeating patterns that only adapt as a collective to new situations?
How? Who knows.🤷

... you won't pull it off ..

Watch me.🙂

Is your liver just a cog in some biological machine that could eventually evolve intelligence, or is its world just a closed loop of repetitive patterns that only adjust to reality when viewed as a complete system?
Could your liver ever become an intelligent entity?

It looks like this thread has gone completely silent—I guess everyone finally found their cure and moved on... Please, send me the contact info for whichever specialist you all saw so I can end my own misery too.

Most of the posts here just list medications (the sheer variety is wild—I’d almost call it experimental at this point). Is it really just a matter of finding the right pill for most of you?
Can we actually talk about what life is like living with this condition? Everyone is always preaching about exercise, spa treatments, and whatnot. How are you all actually managing? If swimming is supposed to be so great, why isn't everyone doing it every single day? And why can't we just get some sort of coverage through our insurance for pool access, a group therapist, or something similar?
How are things holding up at work? Do you go in for those various therapies—electrical stimulation, magnets, ultrasound, lasers—and do you actually take sick leave for them? Does the insurance company give you a hard time when you try to get covered for inpatient stays at a wellness center, and how do you deal with that? Which facilities are you using?
I’ve heard people mention connective tissue massage. Does anyone know anything about that, or if there are any specialists practicing in Washington, D.C. or anywhere else in the US? (A chocolate massage didn't exactly do much for me, if you must know...)
Either post something or stay healthy forever. I'm listening...

Hey everyone.
Could anyone else living with ankylosing spondylitis tell me what actually works for you at the pool? Is just swimming enough—does it matter if I stick to breaststroke, freestyle, or backstroke—or should I be focusing more on stretching out...
I’ve combed through every single post on this thread, and it’s interesting how everyone seems to be hunting for answers that just don't seem to exist. Especially for those of us carrying that constant, dull ache in our spines and shoulders that this disease provides so generously. Sometimes it feels like we're dealing with some sort of mystery illness, and honestly, I get that same feeling after my appointments with my rheumatologist. Every website I click on online gives me the same vague, more or less detailed text—so theoretically, I "know" what's going on, but then I'm right back at square one.
So, for those of you dealing with this—has the pool actually made a difference for you?👍