What Next?: Feeling Lost Immediately After DiagnosisI remember the moment when the doctor's office called Keegan, my husband, to tell him of his AxSpA diagnosis. I remember it was rainy that day, and I had just... By Auldyn Matthews3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
When It Comes to Treatment, When Do You Leave Well Enough Alone?Finding an effective medication for any chronic disease can be a challenge for both patient and doctor. Before I got sick myself, it seemed simple enough: Just match up the... By Diana Castaldini4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
How AS Affects the People Around Us: An InterviewI wanted to interview my two closest friends to see how my AS affects them. How do they feel when I’m in a flare-up? I know how I feel, but... By Steff Di Pardo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Finding a New Normal with AS2020 has been an interesting year, to say the least. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a global response and altered the day-to-day lives of people across the world. One thing I’ve... By Jessica Gama2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Is Chronic Illness My Entire Identity Now?When I got seriously sick and diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis in 2017 — I mean, I'd had symptoms (uveitis, fatigue, stomach issues, light back pain) for a decade but we... By Lisa Marie Basile4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Exercise is Medicine!This saying is not from me. I heard it during the presentation of a rheumatologist specialised in AxSpa. I thought this was a strong message delivered by a specialist. I... By Julie Vallortigara3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Cultivating Resilience In Hard Times 102: Structure, Commitments, And OpportunitiesThe iconic Hills Are Alive scene from The Sound of Music has been reborn a thousand times over in memes. Generally, a picture of Maria, arms outstretched, with the Alps... By Dawn Gibson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
The Second Wave of COVID-19 is HereIt’s not a huge surprise. We all knew it was coming. School has started back up and here we are. I live in Canada, so the numbers aren’t as staggering... By Steff Di Pardo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My Spine is Like a Roller CoasterI like roller coasters. I have not been on one for several years as my arthritis issues generally do not allow me to stand and walk freely around a large park... By Lawrence Rick Phillips3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Doing Halloween Safe At Home!When I wrote Halloween Rescue Plan last year it never occurred to me that in 2020 our flares would be happening inside a worldwide flare. 2020 is a flare dipped... By Dawn Gibson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
What My Rheumatologist Suggested For FatigueFatigue is my worst enemy. I almost never stop talking about how tired I am, and I’m sorry if you’ve ever had to experience it. It’s not my fault, though!... By Steff Di Pardo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Learning Adult Lessons Through Having ASPerhaps a silly title, finding out how to go from a teenager to an adult was quite a journey for Keegan, my husband with AS. We started dating at 17... By Auldyn Matthews3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My Illness Through My Children's Eyes: An InterviewWhen I was first diagnosed with AS, my number one worry was how my illness was going to impact the lives of my children. I have two young boys, and... By Katie Saville2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What Happens When I Overdo ItEver since COVID hit, I haven’t really been active. I wasn’t the most active person before, but I’ve barely even done yoga since March. I know I should be, I... By Steff Di Pardo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
"It’s Not the Blender": Being Pro-Active vs. Reactive to my ASIt was December last year, as I slumped on our bedroom floor, having my suddenly burst into tears about having to carry a blender home (stick with me, there’s a... By Fiona Olegasegarem2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Fibromyalgia, the Unannounced Passenger…Once my axial spondyloarthritis was under control with a prescription of biologics and physiotherapy, on paper I was sorted. Yet, pain and fatigue were there. At that time, I was... By Julie Vallortigara3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
My Top 5 Comfort Must-Haves For ASWhen I started experiencing symptoms of AS, comfort suddenly became the forefront of my life. If you suffer from AS, then you probably know the struggle of always trying to... By Katie Saville2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments15 comments
Getting Hygge On Flare-Up DaysI've taken a very intentional approach to how I use my space when I'm in a flare-up. If I'm going to be sleepy or in pain, I may as well... By Lisa Marie Basile3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Letting Go of What You Can't ControlThe easiest and most logical thing in theory, and for me, incredibly difficult to put in practice. I found the concept a bit tricky before I had AS. I found... By Fiona Olegasegarem3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Yoga is a Safe and Cheerful Companion to my AxSpAI came across yoga a few years back now. I think I was looking for something a little spiritual and slow pace, which would help me to reconnect with my... By Julie Vallortigara3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments