The Shadow of Ankylosing SpondylitisOne of the hardest aspects of my diagnosis was breaking the news to my mother. Having lived most of her adult life with ulcerative colitis, Mum knew firsthand the misery...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Being Chronically Ill During a Pandemic: Part 2I've previously spoken about the mental challenges of having AS and being immunosuppressed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, that was just the tip of the ice berg. Here are some more (of the many) aspects...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Dealing With Sleep ShameAnkylosing spondylitis has taught me something incredibly valuable — that one day will never be the same as the next. I used to think if I was on a streak...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Being a Mom and Trying to Build a Business With ASI've always been an active, outgoing person, so when I lost my job of 8 years, I became very depressed for a whole year. Then I realized there's still life...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
A Day In The Life of a Spondy TeacherThe start of a new school year is coming up quickly. Far more quickly than expected (wasn’t it just June?). And, that means getting back into a schedule. For many...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Just Let It OutSometimes, you just gotta let it out. That comes from a caregiver myself as well as seeing my husband go through so much frustration during diagnosis, treatment, and multiple surgeries...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My 3-Day Vacay in LA With SpondyloarthritisI recently returned from Los Angeles, a valid business trip, but my daughter and I also chose to see the sights as well. We flew in Sunday for Monday-morning business...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Summer Travels With ASSummer time for me always comes with a lot of traveling. Day trips, extended weekends trip, or a quick flight somewhere. Over the years living with AS, I have learned...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Dating With a DisabilityA few years back, I wrote about my dating experiences while having AS. Guess who’s back for another article on dating! Since identifying as a disabled person, my experiences with...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
How Heat Waves Affect MeI don’t know where you live, but recently, we’ve had a massive heat wave where I live in Canada. The humidity has been into the 40s Celcius (100s Fahrenheit), and...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Seeing the Funny Side of Brain FogBrain fog is definitely one of the more annoying symptoms of AS. It’s bad enough that this condition robs us of our mobility at times but stealing our brain power as...Reactions0reactionsComments15 comments
Finally Got 2 Weeks of HeavenThese past 2 weeks felt like heaven. For anyone suffering from a chronic illness, it's a wish come true to be able to get good days. I was one of...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
My (Not Quite) Guilty PleasuresAs a rule, guilty pleasures are things that we enjoy despite a certain amount of low regard by society or our specific peer group. It's usually embarrassing to admit our...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Pop Quiz #2: Learning More About Ankylosing SpondylitisWe're back with another pop quiz to test your knowledge! Let us know how you did in the comments below! Have a question or perspective you want to share with...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
I Was Okay Yesterday, But Today I'm NotIt's storytime. Are you ready? I’m out to dinner with some people — friends of a friend — who are casually talking about a work colleague. The colleague clearly has...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
My Double Jaw Surgery JourneyI remember the first time I was teased because of my jaw dysfunction. I was in middle school and this girl always used to make fun of me because my...Reactions0reactionsComments22 comments
I Was Medically Gaslit...AgainAbout a year ago, I switched family doctors because my last one was ableist and rude towards me. I thought that I had found a better doctor, things were good...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
Walking With Ankylosing Spondylitis and Jimmy BuffettI love playlists. I have a library of about 3,000 songs, mostly classic rock (I am an old guy, remember), pop, country, and some modern rock. I love putting music...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Dancing My AS OffAs a little girl I remember always dancing everywhere. It didn't matter where I was, or who was looking, I danced whenever I heard music come on. It's always been...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Saying Goodbye: An Open Letter to MyselfI know things haven’t been easy on you for quite some time. You feel lost in the world—holding a map with no compass. You constantly feel the shadow of your...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments