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
New City, New RheumatologistIn many ways, your quality of life with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) depends on your rheumatologist. That’s why it was nerve-wracking when I...reactions6comments
If I Can Turn Back TimeEvery day, I wake up hoping today will be a different day. Hoping that today, will be a better day, then the...reactionscomments
An Open Letter to Able-Bodied IndividualsDear able-bodied individuals, If you lived in my shoes for just one day, you would understand—the trauma, the sacrifices I have to...reactionscomments
Thinking About Food I can’t imagine another time when food played a more central role in our society. We can watch cooking shows at any...reactionscomments
I’m On A DietMy doctor and I had The Talk, you know the one. We talked about the dreaded BMI, exercise, and carbs. She asked...reactions2comments
Having a Good Rheumatologist AppointmentAs sad as it is, having a good doctors’ appointment is harder than it seems to achieve. Far too often, I’ve had...reactions1comment
The Rollercoaster of Living with Chronic PainBeing in pain 24 hours of the day, 7 days of the week is exhausting. Losing sleep because of it, waking up...reactionscomments
Life Lessons from 17 Years of IllnessI’ve had many different chapters in my life—I was diagnosed with AS when I was nine—and I was incredibly ill until I...reactionscomments
Being a Bloke of a Certain AgeEvery one of us with AS knows how tough life can be. Every one of us must live with AS – even...reactionscomments
Grieving The Self Of YesterdayOne of the hardest things about living with a chronic illness, particularly a degenerative one, is that you are always grieving for...reactions1comment
The Year of Living PainlesslyI’m firmly knocking on wood as a write this, but it’s been 12 months without a flare. Apart from two pregnancies, during...reactions5comments
Speaking A Shared Language of PainLately, I’ve been in an endless flare-up — one of those flare-ups that change shape every day. It's my neck or my...reactions6comments
Experimenting With CBNHere in Canada, Cannabis is legal. For a while now I have been using cannabis as a way to cope with my...reactions3comments
The Fear of Going Abroad With AxSpaAs I lie here in bed, listening to a Chili Peppers record, thoughts of worries fill my head. Since I became sick...reactions6comments
Stress, Grief, and Ankylosing SpondylitisIt doesn’t feel like a stretch to say that stress has always made my AS symptoms worse. Most medical professionals and the...reactions4comments
Fatigue...What I Wish I Knew When I Was DiagnosedFatigue is tricky, namely because it can impact so much. From your work, to relationships, social life and ability to just function...reactions6comments
Did Stress Lead To My Diagnosis?Eight years ago, I had my first big flare in my feet. It came from nowhere. It was Summer, I was enjoying...reactions6comments
Watching a Loved One Go Through a Flare-UpBefore we knew they were called "flare-ups," I knew my husband, Keegan, was experiencing something like I'd never seen before. Except for...reactions4comments
I Believe In ButterfliesButterflies are one of my favorite things in life. Their particular beauty and grace makes it impossible to look away. And they...reactions2comments
