Living

I’ve loved journaling since I was a kid. Whether it was a secret diary stored in that special hiding spot or a notepad filled with letters, quotes and scattered doodles...

My whole life I’ve been skinny. With comments as a child like “you’re a twig!” and “you’re so bony”, I got used to that being a part of who I...

Since I received my diagnosis, I kind of let go on making goals that I really want to achieve. I would like to change that, as a New year is...

As sad as it is, having a good doctors’ appointment is harder than it seems to achieve. Far too often, I’ve had a not-so-great experience with a doctor, and I’m...

Mobility aids should be seen as a blessing for people like us with conditions that can affect our mobility. Surely it’s a no-brainer to leave the house on crutches or...

Behind that smile of mine, hides many things, that I decide who to open up to and tell. Would you be able to tell that I have an invisible illness?...

After a diagnosis of a chronic condition that degrades your joints over time, it isn’t surprising you may eventually need surgery. But grappling with surgery and recovery with a condition...

I’ll be honest, I’ve always had some trouble sleeping. As a kid it would take me several hours to fall asleep, but once I was asleep I’d be out like...

Do you remember the first question you asked when you were told you had AS? For me it was immediate - “Is there a cure?” I remember the kindly face...

You can read my article "Driving Difficulties with Ankylosing Spondylitis" to see the difficulties I had driving my Mini. My Mini Cooper was my first car, and oh I loved...

No matter how many times I’ve seen my rheumatologist, I always find these appointments a daunting experience. I feel nervous. Many thoughts run through my head: What if my condition...

I have never been a good breakfast eater. I am not a morning person and to be able to have a meal in the morning has always been a challenge...

Having AS has been one of the hardest things that has been placed on my path. I have come to believe that finding the lessons can make the pain hurt...

There. I’ve said it. Not out loud, of course, but on the page. Sex. It’s a great word when you think about it. It’s short (which can be a good...

I am sure other people worry about body image. It’s normal to worry just a little bit, right? But I wonder if others worry as much as I do. Is...

It’s been an anxious wait, since seeing my rheumatologist mid-July. I felt so confident leaving his office. Finally, felt listened to, that my pains needed some help. My pains had...

It has been more than a year since I started treating my ankylosing spondylitis with Humira. This treatment has been life-changing. Even though I still might get some rigidity or...

When I’m really down, I tend to turn toward writing. There’s something about putting pen to page, or fingers to keyboard, that alchemizes the experience of emotion. It gives it...

I started biologics in July of 2020, a nerve-wracking experience for me. I was on Cimzia for 3 months, I did not have a pleasant experience with Cimzia. I wrote articles about this that you can read. I...

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to get my third Pfizer vaccination to protect me from this pesky coronavirus that doesn’t seem to be leaving us anytime soon. This COVID...