How long did it take for you to be diagnosed?

Ali Long

Let me know below how long it took between your symptoms starting and getting your diagnosis?

I feel very lucky that I was diagnosed within a year of my symptoms starting.

Susan H Member

10+ years
1. Latoya.Juniel Community Admin
  
  Wow, 10 years! That's such a long time to be searching for answers. What was the biggest challenge for you during those years before your diagnosis? -Latoya (Team Member)
2. Susan H Member
  
  My biggest problem was the constant pain and not being able to get any relief. My doctors treated me like I was a hypochondriac or like I didn’t really have any pain. They tested me for RA and every test came back negative- no one ever mentioned Ankylosing Spondylitis! By switching PCPs the new one finally referred me to a doctor to treat my chronic pain but I didn’t get a diagnosis until 2023. I had C5&C6 fused the year before and the doctor who referred me to the neurosurgeon gave me the name of a rheumatologist who gave me the diagnoses of seronegative RA and AS (based on HLA B27). Thanks for your interest!
CommunityMember61cdd3 Member

7 years
1. Doreen H Community Admin
  
  ,
  Thanks for chiming in.
  I wish it weren't, but that seems all too common in this community.
  How are things going today?
  ~Doreen (Team Member)
CMPete Member

Waiting - should be done in 6 weeks
1. Doreen H Community Admin
  
  ,
  We'll be thinking of you.
  Please keep us updated.
  ~Doreen (Team Member)
CommunityMembere580fd Member

22 years
1. Doreen H Community Admin
  
  ,
  That is frustrating to hear.
  Do you feel your symptoms were ignored or were you originally misdiagnosed?
  ~Doreen (Team Member)
2. Rebecca C Member
  
  - That's quite a long time. I understand as it took many decades to discover I had spondyloarthritis. I hope you are doing well currently. Rebecca (Team member)