Living

When I was first diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I was informed that it was a condition "mostly affecting men in their 20s." I remember it distinctly because it felt weirdly...

I've found over the last year that there are places to level up self-care in our house. My husband, Keegan, suffers from AS and chronic pain daily. We have 2...

Every one of us with AS knows how tough life can be. Every one of us must live with AS – even when asleep – even when having good days...

What energizes you? This is a question I enjoy asking my coaching clients and personal network. Our AS lives are full of activities, events, external triggers that require a lot...

I hate talking about weight. It doesn’t matter if it’s weight loss, weight gain, or keeping it off. It never feels good. It’s probably because these topics are proxies for...

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of being an ankylosing spondylitis patient, it’s how to tune out unwanted medical advice from others. It’s an extremely common occurrence...

Brain fog is hard to put into words. Today when I got home from work, I tried to unlock my house door with my car fob. I pushed the little...

I have seen countless physicians in four different states in the U.S. and my experience with heteronormativity is generally the same. Often, the idea that a patient may be part...

If there's something I've realized about living with a painful, often unpredictable chronic inflammatory disease, it's that sometimes the disease simply catches you off-guard. And the fact that it catches...

Where do I begin, as it feels for me my journey has been a long one. It has been what I like to call a big roller coaster. A big...

Thoughts that go over my head: Will I feel like this forever? Will I ever feel better? I feel like I am waiting for my life to be over soon...

I remember my diagnosis day vaguely. I had met with my rheumatologist once already. I was not expecting to have another appointment for a few months. My day started with a call from my rheumatologist asking could...

If you haven’t read any of my articles before, I’ll introduce myself. Hi! I’m Auldyn, wife, and caregiver go my husband, Keegan, who’s suffered from AS for over 10 years...

A popular topic amongst the chronic illness community is surgery. If you're like me, you either know someone who has gone under the knife to try to regain some control...

Many people experience symptoms of AxSpA for quite some time before being diagnosed. Some are misdiagnosed, while others are dismissed as having simply back pain. Here is my story… I...

You may have seen on social media posts, or you may be unaware: July is Disability Pride Month! It is a time for those who are disabled to share their...

I have always been interested in spirituality, mental health, and alternative methods of healing — even before I realized I was passionate about these topics, and well before I had...

My pain, like many other AxSpA warriors, dates back to before I can even remember. I didn't get an official diagnosis until I was nearing 30, and with other chronic...

Now that the warmer period finally has arrived in the northern hemisphere many of us experience less flares. Though I myself have never experienced an extreme difference with winter, I...

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