How do I know if I have ankylosing spondylitis?

It took about 10 years and 4 surgeries before anyone believed I might have AS. I am now ten years later and my docs still roll their eyes when we talk about it. Dude, look it's been three spinal surgeries and one-foot surgery in part to correct a shortened Achilles tendon issue. Enough was enough surely,

The Rheumatologist I have seen has suggested he thinks it’s AS and has drawn blood and done X-rays. So far he has seen OA at my lumbosacral joint, anemia, elevated add rate, and positive anti-ccp. The blood results were present back in August and again in January. He’s done the hlab27 test and it was negative. So I am supposed to see him again in February and I guess he will have more understanding or more test - or both then. My complaints were a broken finger joint from popping my knuckles, lots of joint issues like in my knees and hips, and upper and lower back, and neck. I’d never really heard of AS before so I have had no clue. He also suspects lupus due to my skin issues.

I had a debilitating lower backache that went down to my buttock and down to the legs at my early twenties. I wasn't able to walk anymore and for 25 days I battle against everyone to prove I wasn't crazy, that what I had was real and not product of my imagination or, as some doctors said, a "psychosomatic disorder". I was in a wheelchair for all those 25 days and after seeing nine different doctors I was finally diagnosed with AS!!
It was with alive that I received this diagnosis!! Until I realized that a "new life" was ahead of me and I would have to learn how to live with a debilitating condition!