Living

A Cold Fish: Someone who lacks empathy and emotion I feel like I am taking a big risk coming out like this, but I feel I am taking one for...

After becoming incredibly ill and home bound, I not only lost my social life but also some friends along the way. This was devastating and heartbreaking because these were the...

Like 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...

You couldn’t pay me to relive 2021. It was the year that just wouldn’t quit. The worst parts were losing a dear friend by suicide, while my family and I...

One of the things I really dislike when I’m in an AxSpa flare is how messy my house can get. I’m definitely one of those “tidy house, tidy mind” people...

The thing about ankylosing spondylitis, like many immune-mediated diseases, is that no matter how much we've figured out how to manage/control/collaborate with/understand it, it is still a disease with a...

It's no secret that living with a chronic illness can be challenging—mentally and emotionally, as well as physically. I remember when I was first diagnosed, there was the mental stress...

I have read some wonderful posts on here about items our community members use to help them cope with their AxSpA symptoms. They inspired me to share a trio of...

I have once again switched my biologic medication! I’ve been on Inflectra, Humira, Cosentyx, and now, drumroll, please...Remicade! Remicade is chemically very similar to Inflectra, which is actually a biosimilar...

We all know that physical activity is essential for our health. Being physically active can support our brain health, strengthen our bones, and improve our ability to do everyday activities...

It’s that time of year again when most of us not only think about making changes to our daily lives, but we also resolve to do so. But adding more...

I titled this article “Symptoms of Negativity” but please do not think that this is going to be one of those, outward in, all you need is a smile on...

“Be sure to stretch” was one of the few pieces of advice I walked away with when I was told I had AS. The message got lost for a while...

Butterflies and baseball are 2 of my favorite things. Both combine simplicity, flashes of beauty, and long stretches of quiet and apparent inactivity to balance bursts of frenetic activity. I...

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of creative nonfiction essays during the process of designing an upper-level Creative Nonfiction writing course at the University where I teach and work. The...

What do I want to make sure to get out of 2023? Some common New Year's resolutions have to do with body management, such as exercising and eating a certain...

I'm a born orritor. Worked in radio, was a storyteller, provided voice over for different projects. I can speak in a voice that both comforts and excites. (I also might...

Having an autoimmune disease like AS, my body can be vulnerable to getting infections much easier. I am on biologics (I take Cosentyx) which makes me even more vulnerable to...

I remember reading an article in the NASS magazine about a young woman sharing her story entitled "Farming is my Therapy." I found that inspiring, and amazing to read that...

I threw away my old boots today. These were not just any old boots. These were boots I bought in August 1973. Yes, you got that right, 1973. Wow, I...