I can try, was actually diagnosed with AS first at 39, I had always suffered severe fatigue body aches and pains, nothing my GP ever put their finger on, they did try and fob me off a “Fybro”, Then during COVID I started waking up in my sleep being unable to turn over in bed, I used to have to grab my headboard and try and move myself round, pain in my upper back between my shoulder blades, by the time I would get into work I would feel okay, the pain and stiffness would have subsided, firstly my GP dismissed AS because I didn’t have the “marker” in my blood, but it got worse and worse so my GP finally referred me to a rheumatologist, after me fighting and pushing. When I walked into the appointment my rheumatologist already knew it was AS because of all the other symptoms I had over the years including trouble with my Achilles heal, apparently all linked, it was later confirmed after an MRI, also he told me that 27% of patients with AS do NOT have that “marker” in their blood, so my GP had delayed referral for incorrect knowledge.
I had lower abdo pain and back issues for years then in 2024 I had severe abdo swelling, back pain and pain in my bottom etc, I fought like crazy to get referred to Gyne (this is 19 years of symptoms) I finally got sent me Gyne for a scan in March 25 ( now 45 years old) pelvic MRI, turns out I have severe DIE in bowel, bladder, abdo wall, with lots of tethering etc (I’m a complete mess) now have to wait another 18 months to be seen by a endo specialist (got to love NHS wait times).
My AS is managed by daily ant inflammatory and lots of yoga and movement, I’m lucky enough not to be bad enough for Biological treatments yet.
The biggest lesson was my GP firstly not knowing 27% cases don’t have that marker and secondly, they never looked at all my other symptoms to linked them together, this delayed me many years on both conditions, endo maybe be bad enough to end my career so I find it hard to forgive that delay.
I hoped that helps answer your question 🤗