Walker Spotlight – Carrie Moebus

Wednesday Walker Spotlight – by Chris Scott & Carrie Moebus
Hey Walkers!! I’m happy to see that this year’s walk is off to a huge start. Some of the numbers that I have seen posted are unbelievable to 2 day totals. Last year we started the Wednesday Walker Spotlight, to introduce you to folks that walk for our cause. I am continuing that this year.
I would like everyone to meet Carrie. This is Carrie’s story…
CarrieMoebusI am a 44 year old mother of 5, retired military wife, and current proud homemaker. I married the man of my dreams in 97, and have followed him all over the US while he served in the Navy. I started having autoimmune problems in summer of 2007 after I had Lasik eye surgery. First it affected my eyes with severe uveitis/iritis, which triggered spondylitis in my SI joint.
I am lucky, I was diagnosed with in a year of the first symptom arising.  After trying a few medications. having them not work, my Dr put me on Humira every other week. After about 5 months it was clear it was working, but I needed it every week. At year 3, I developed Drug Induced Lupus. Humira was still working, so we just treated the DIL. After 6 months, the Lupus was under control, but Humira was no longer effective in treating the spondylitis. I had failed my first biologic.
I quickly moved to Remicade, with weekly MTX injections in November of 2012. I quickly saw how ineffective the Humira had become when the Remicade started doing its magic.  Within 6 months of starting it, I was in “Medication induced remission”.  YAY ME!!
As the pain of spondylitis went away, new pains reared their ugly head. My hips were giving me problems. Most likely, I was always having hip pain, but it was hidden by the pain spondylitis can cause. After an x-ray , then an MRI, I was sent to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hips. I first saw him in late August. He gave me 3 options, hip replacement, open hip preservation surgery, or live with the pain. Well, 2 really, he said I was too young for a hip replacement.
November 1, 2013, I had Open Surgical Dislocation and Debridement, with greater trochanter fracture and bursactomy. NOT related to spondylitis, I had Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) combined (cam and pincer), and the hip labrum was shredded beyond repair.  Rehab for this surgery is pretty long, 6-12 months before I will even know if the surgery worked. In the mean time, physical therapy, 3xs a week, and lots of at home stretching for at least 5 months post op.
Now that you know my story, here is why I am walking… Because I CAN. I may limp, and waddle, but I am able to take one foot and put it in front of another.  I did a lot of walking last year, with a messed up hip, so this year, I’m going to push myself. I’m taking up the challenge. I’ve got a lot of recovery left, but I’m up for the work. I’m determined to get up and get moving.  I’m up for the million step challenge. I’m going to do my best, and walk my AS off this spring.  Remission does not mean I’m cured, but it does give me the chance to walk my AS off!
Carrie Moebus
 
 
ChrisScottIf you would like to be a Wednesday walker Spotlight or have a team member with an interesting story to tell, Contact Chris Scott at facebook.com/WalkYourASOff or facebook.com/MoCoChris
Chris Scott was diagnosed with Psoriatic Spondylitis in 1999 and he’s been waging a war on AS since. When Chris received the diagnosis, he went to work to find out everything he could about this AS & he works along side his Rheumatologist, hounding him about new drugs and therapies. AS finally forced Chris to leave his job as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 2009. Since that time, he’s come across many, many wonderful people and has had the pleasure of meeting several ASer’s at various AS Events around the Mid West and Canada. Chris writes our Wednesday Walker spotlight.
 
 
 

One thought on “Walker Spotlight – Carrie Moebus

Leave a Reply to JEAN MORTON Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *