finally on the verge of a diagnosis

hello! i've been dealing with chronic pain and spinal issues for about 20yrs now. when i started experiencing a notable degeneration in my joints in 2020, i was referred to a rheumatologist who insisted there was nothing wrong with me-- naturally all of my labs and scans were normal, and he said he could prescribe celebrex if i "really want it." needless to say i didn't, and i was super discouraged. then earlier this year, after going through so many serious episodes and finally getting diagnosed with IBS-C, i felt ready to make an aggressive go at figuring out what has been going on with my body. and i found a new rheumatologist who is not only taking me seriously, but she is convinced that my symptoms are all telling of nr-axspa. honestly, i'm so excited to be told that it's not just all in my head or that "some people just live with pain" that i'm not sure what's going to happen if i actually get a formal, confirmed diagnosis. feeling a lot of emotions, and actually feeling pretty isolated. i've tried to explain this condition to my family and friends, and for the most part i've gotten two responses-- no one has ever heard of axspa, and people just feel sorry for me. my therapist suggested i find community support, and so here i am! this may be a silly question, but can anyone relate?