LIFE AFTER DIAGNOSIS
SUPER: Noel Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient
NOEL: My first visit with a rheumatologist, as he was, he did suggest medications for treatment, and…
SUPER: There are many treatment options for AS
NOEL, continued: …I was a little scared at first to commit to anything, but as I did more research over the next probably week or so…
SUPER: Noel’s goal was to stay mobile
NOEL, continued: …I came to the conclusion that my best life is gonna be lived where I’m able to be mobile…
SUPER: He went with his rheumatologist’s recommendation...
NOEL, continued: …and to have my best chance at slowing the progression of the disease.
...and started a biologic treatment
NOEL, continued: It made the most sense to go ahead and start a biologic treatment, and I came back a week later, and decided to go ahead and start that.
SUPER (Fade in): Alex Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient
ALEX: Yeah, in my case I was diagnosed, and in the first moment and they prescribed me with traditional medicaments. And I was trying like for three months, and it doesn’t work. So…
SUPER: Discuss possible treatment side effects with your doctor...
ALEX, continued: …my rheumatologist decided to start with a biologic, and he explain me a couple things about it, a couple of side effects, about how it’s gonna work for me in my case. So, we decided to start it right away.
SUPER: ...as well as treatment risks and benefits
INTERTITLE: Have you made many lifestyle adjustments since you were diagnosed with AS?
SUPER: Noel stays active by modifying his exercise routine
NOEL: I’ve had to learn to trade off—substitute— for things like biking, stationary biking, things like that a lot more often.
SUPER: Your rheumatologist can often help with an exercise plan
ALEX: I’ve been active all of my life, but when I got the illness, I realized that I can’t do the same things that I used to. But, at the same time I discovered new things for me. New adventures for me.
INTERTITLE: What is something supportive you would say to someone who just got diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis?
ALEX:I would tell him to relax …
SUPER: Relax and be aware of your strengths as well as any limitations
ALEX, continued: …obviously, it is a disease, and you’re going to live with that kind of stuff for the rest of your life. But you can have a normal life. You just have to follow your body, and then you have to learn how to work with your body and with your mentality.
SUPER: It’s important to have a positive outlook
NOEL, continued: And I would also tell them to look for the opportunities, look for ways to build that mental resilience and that positivity. It can either drag you down or it can build your outlook on life.
ALEX: Yeah.
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