Investing in Tools That Help Make Life Easier With ASSomeone once told me to never skimp when buying the tools you’ll use the most. This has taken on a new meaning for me thanks to my axial spondyloarthritis. I’ve... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Symptoms of AS Your Doctor Probably Doesn’t Talk AboutAxial spondyloarthritis impacts my life in a lot of different ways. Not all of the symptoms I experience are obvious to others. Many of them never get mentioned at my... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
How I Use NSAIDs to Manage AS SymptomsLike most people, the first medication I was prescribed when first diagnosed with AS was a course of anti-inflammatories. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs) have been the first stage medication... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Re-Thinking a Career That Works for ASFinding a job that works for AS can be hard. I recently had a coaching client who realized the job he once loved was making life with AS worse. It... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
When Friendships Don’t Survive Your Chronic IllnessLil and I met at work in our early 20s. She was hilarious and outrageous and we clicked instantly. Going anywhere with her was an adventure. Something spontaneous would always... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Why I’m Not on a BiologicThere’s a conversation my rheumatologist and I have on replay at every appointment I attend. It starts with my doctor sharing the results of my blood tests and imaging reports... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Discovering a Different Version of Myself With ASDeveloping AS changed my life in in all kinds of ways. Things I had enjoyed were now off-limits. Plans I’d made were cancelled. People I had felt connected to grew... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How to Organize Your Medical RecordsOne aspect of self-management we don’t often hear about is how to store and organize the information we receive in relation to our health. Lab tests, x-rays, prescription paperwork, referral... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My First Time Attending an AS Support GroupThis month I attended an online meet-up of my local AS support group. It was the first time I’ve ever done something like this, even though I’ve known these groups... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Making Camping Trips Doable With ASOne of our family’s favorite pastimes has always been going away camping. I’ve missed quite a few of those trips over the years thanks to AS. It always tugs at... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
How Goal Setting Can Help Us Self-Manage Chronic IllnessAs a health coach most of my time is spent working with people on making positive behavior change. Following a diagnosis like AS, a lot of people look to improve... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Tips for Managing at Work With AxSpaSome of the biggest challenges with AxSpa can present themselves in the workplace. Only a small percentage of people are financially independent, and disability support is increasingly hard to obtain... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Getting Back to Walking With ASI can remember a time when I took walking for granted. I didn’t give my legs a second thought throughout childhood, or as a young adult when I lived in... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Using Fasting to Help With My AxSpaEditor's note: Fasting should not be used by certain people, such as those who have diabetes, a history of disordered eating, or who need to take medications with food. Be... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
The Powerful Synergy of Lifestyle Change and Medical TreatmentThere often seem to be two opposing camps in managing AS: adopt a healthy lifestyle or take the conventional medical approach. As a Functional Health Coach I see value in... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Downside of Covering Up How I FeelI don’t like looking sick. On days when I’m battling the pain or fatigue of AS it makes me feel better to try and look presentable. I’ll wear bright colours... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Preparing for Imaging Appointments With Ankylosing SpondylitisPart of life with ankylosing spondylitis includes scans to check for bone change and progression. My disease activity over recent years has been low so my rheumatologist is happy to... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
Another Winter With AxSpaHere in Australia we’re leaving the cold weather behind and enjoying the spring. At this time I’m once again conscious of all my friends in the northern hemisphere living through... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Finding Balance in Managing My ASWhen it comes to life lessons, it would seem I prefer to learn them the hard way! This was certainly the case when I decided to try lifestyle strategies to... By Anne-Marie Raymond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Gene Testing My Children for ASLike the majority of people with ankylosing spondylitis, I tested positive for the gene HLA-B27. Following my diagnosis I often wondered about this genetic marker and the line it traced... By Anne-Marie Raymond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments