Coming Out of the "Chronic Closet"To be frank - when I was first diagnosed with AS I was embarrassed. I didn’t know a single person with an...reactions14comments
A Piece of My HeartI woke this morning around 4:30 a.m. thinking of my father. When I was a child, he was up at the crack...reactions3comments
March Is the Worst Month (and the Best Month)I’m sitting here after a long day of work along with Keegan, my husband with AS, talking about how the weather wrecks...reactions1comment
Self-Care For Spoonies: More Than A BuzzwordThe National Institute on Mental Health says that self-care “means taking the time to do things that help you live well and...reactions4comments
Eye Irritation: My Journey With IritisHave you ever felt like you had a piece of dirt stuck in your eye, and no matter how many times you...reactions13comments
Chronic Illness And Sensory OverstimulationInspired by a post by The Unchargeables, an Instagram account dedicated to those of us with chronic illness, I was thinking about...reactions2comments
Creating Routines With Unpredictable SymptomsCultivating and sticking to a strict routine when your symptoms can change, worsen or arise quite suddenly can be challenging to say...reactions3comments
Finding a Hobby That Works With Your LimitationsIt’s heartbreaking watching your body slowly deteriorate and transform into something you don’t even recognize anymore. Many of us used to be...reactions6comments
3 Years Of AS: Reflecting On My Journey So FarThis January marks the third anniversary of my AS diagnosis. However, I can’t tell you the exact date. The previous January, a close...reactions2comments
Becoming ButterfliesThe idea of raising butterflies never crossed my mind until I spotted two mature Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars lazily munching away on...reactions4comments
Getting Ready for My Hip SurgerySoon I will undergo right hip surgery. After a more than a year of hip pain, trying every conservative measure possible (physio...reactions5comments
The Fear of My Symptoms Getting Bad AgainIf you live with AS or any chronic illness, I’m sure you know the feeling of what I’m about to talk about...reactions5comments
Living, Working, Experiencing DisabilityWhen you are someone who experiences disability, there are many barriers that you face in your everyday life. There is a lot...reactions4comments
Strengthening the Core Without Causing a Flare: Part OneEditor's note: Be sure to speak with your doctor before trying a new exercise program. Building a strong core can be difficult...reactions2comments
The Many Doctors Who Manage My Axial SpondyloarthritisOne question I get often is "who treats axial spondyloarthritis?" Typically, this question arises from individuals with some of the symptoms of...reactions11comments
Foam Roller Basics and StretchingEditor's note: Please speak with your doctor before starting any new exercise program. A foam roller is a wonderful piece of exercise...reactions1comment
Dry Eyes With BiologicsSoon after getting my diagnosis with AxSpa (after years of waiting for a diagnosis, though), and starting my first biologic treatment (Embrel)...reactions8comments
Enthesitis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Part 2"Centipede to the physician: Doc, when my feet hurt, I hurt all over." In Part 1 of this discussion, I talked about...reactions12comments
My Experience With Humira And LDNBefore being diagnosed with AS (and fibromyalgia), I was the type of person who would only take medication if I felt it...reactions1comment
My Symptom Tracking MethodI used to loathe the idea of symptom tracking. It stressed me out to think of making a list of all the...reactions13comments
