@Melinda: I am so very sorry for your loss! My heart is breaking for you. We are here if you need to chat! Will gladly give my mobile nr to you as well.
A cute idea to announce to friends that I saw was having buns in the oven all showing the month & year.
@bellyhearts: I used meds in the beginning (anti-inflammatories & prescribed steroids, e.g. cortisone) & lost of physio. I also went for some procedures where they work through tiny holes along your spine & major affected areas where they remove the calcium & bone deposits that started forming. This should be done every 2 yrs + depending on the pain. After the initial procedure I was pain free for 6 years. I should've gone back 4yrs ago, but it is costly. Planned to go this year, but will have to postpone until 2019. I actually lead a pretty normal, healthy life. I've been trail running, gymming (mostly @ home) & mountain biking up until a year ago when I started having issues with Asthma & my lungs. Got the all clear to become active again, but found I was pregnant. Other than that you get used to it. Many people have it without even knowing as it is very often misdiagnosed. I got my diagnosis when I was about 25.My hubby says I'm secretly becoming the female version of Wolverine... :oD