Boise, Idaho
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Upcoming Meeting(s)
Next meeting:
Thursday, February 2, 2012
6pm - 8pm
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Meeting Location
St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center
Paiute Room
520 S. Eagle Road
Meridian, ID 83642
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Contact Information
Group Leader:
Debbie Westervelt
(208) 573-9153
irishdeb@clear.net
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Note: Use the Eagle Road Entrance; the Meeting Rooms are on the Lower Level.
campus map
Additional Meeting & Group Information:
Please RSVP to Debbie
There’s also an online Google Group for members of this support group. Visit the group’s Google Group “Living with Spondylitis” Click here
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About Debbie Westervelt, Boise's Support Group Leader
My name is Debbie and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn’s Disease. I came across the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) website by accident one night, while surfing the internet. I was hoping to find something that would help me deal with the pain in my neck.
When I came to the message boards, I immediately started reading the posts by others, who like me, had one or more of the spondyloarthiritic diseases. It was an emotional experience. I finally found a place where I was “normal”.
When I was first diagnosed back in 1973, they knew very little about AS. The doctors told me that AS affected 90% of men and 10 % of women. Why was I one of the 10%? They knew that the HLA-B27 gene played a role in AS. Years later, I discovered that I carried the gene, however, no one else in my family has AS.
Years ago, we did not have the internet. In the beginning, I was told to take 20 aspirin a day and deal with it. Not knowing what to expect, I had to learn as I went along. I learned to make adjustments to my daily routine. Some days, I was not able to even get out of bed. I needed someone to talk to about what I was going through. I felt so very much alone.
I didn’t meet anyone else with AS until 1987, and he was a guy. It was not until 2009, that I would actually talk with another female with AS. I had been told that I was the only female in Idaho, let alone Boise. So imagine my surprise when I found that there were others right here in the Treasure Valley who had AS. I sent a message to the support group leader and the rest is history.
I wanted to become involved with this group for a number of reasons. Some of the members had been recently diagnosed with AS, or have had it for a short period of time compared to my 38 years. I did not want others to feel alone, like I did. You are not alone, and you will get through this. It will not always be easy, but you can survive. I like knowing that there is a place where you can come and listen to others tell their stories, get the latest information and a place to cry and/or vent if needed. Best of all, to know there is others just like you….who know what you are going through.
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Want to start a new support group?
We know that an active role in managing spondylitis, backed by a sound knowledge base, will positively influence its outcome. The people who lead Spondylitis Educational Support Groups play a vital role by providing a forum for those with spondylitis to take an active role in taking charge of spondylitis. Click here to learn more
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