Living

I'm a teacher. When I was on summer break this year, I missed a few things. My students, my co-workers, a steady salary.. But what I miss the most is...

When I try to tell my friends and family that I'm vulnerable to getting sick, they act like I'm whining and complaining again. Sometimes they say: "Everyone gets sick in...

“Winter is coming. We know what is coming with it.” -Jon Snow As Mr. Snow says, winter is coming, and with it, a lot of challenges for individuals living with...

It has taken over two years, but I am finally growing comfortable with my self-administered injections. In June 2020, I began using adalimumab as my primary treatment. It was the...

In the common sides effects of Humira, you can find a long list of things. I think I have Sicca syndrome, including dry eyes and dry mouth. In fact, when...

Doing things can be difficult when you’ve got axial spondyloarthritis and fibromyalgia. Motivation is nothing compared to pain and fatigue. No matter how much I wanted to do things and...

Lil and I met at work in our early 20s. She was hilarious and outrageous and we clicked instantly. Going anywhere with her was an adventure. Something spontaneous would always...

Newsflash - people with chronic illnesses and disabilities enjoy sex too! You wouldn’t think it as a lot of the time in society we are kind of desexualised by society...

When I was growing up, my family reserved hospital visits for emergencies that couldn't wait until the doctor's office opened in the morning. During that first year of my diagnosis...

Before I was diagnosed with ankylosis spondylitis, I’d never heard of it. I spent a lot of time researching my condition, then explaining to friends and family what AS is...

Self-care makes up a substantial portion of our quality of life, but like good food, safe shelter, and a healthy environment it often gets less attention than our social life...

There’s a conversation my rheumatologist and I have on replay at every appointment I attend. It starts with my doctor sharing the results of my blood tests and imaging reports...

After my diagnosis I visited doctors to seek advice, discuss treatment recommendations, and find ways to cope with AxSpa symptoms. From the start, I have always had in mind to...

I have been an athlete most of my life. I discovered the sport of tennis when I lived in France at the age of 7. The beginning of a beautiful...

I get inflixmab infusions (under the brand name Inflectra) every four weeks. Inflectra is a biosimilar of Remicade. I get 6 vials of 100mg infused and have been at this...

Developing AS changed my life in in all kinds of ways. Things I had enjoyed were now off-limits. Plans I’d made were cancelled. People I had felt connected to grew...

Two facts about me: If a kid has any questions, I am going to find the best way to answer them. But, that is not always easy. Axial spondyloarthritis is...

You would think getting a diagnosis would have answered all the questions about what was going on in my body. The answers to questions like: What led me to be...

Nearly two years ago, I decided to try a plant-based diet in hopes that it would reduce inflammation and improve symptoms I experience related to axial spondyloarthritis. Let me preface...

The most troublesome spondylitis symptoms line up perfectly with crucial aspects of living life on our own terms. Pain, fatigue, stiffness, and reduced range of motion pose formidable challenges to...