What Happens When I Try to Be "Normal"Those of us with chronic illnesses know we have a different type of “normal” than people without them. But what happens when...reactions1comment
"Coming Out" As A Sick PersonMy first instinct as a newly diagnosed person with AS (a type of axial spondyloarthritis) was to hide it. I was confused...reactions1comment
How We've Created At-Home RelaxationWho doesn't love an evening of relaxation with candles, massage, and total relaxation? Creating an at-home spa experience is a key part...reactions1comment
Broken SpineI like to find used paperbacks for my ever-churning library of reading material. I usually have at least one book and one magazine...reactions3comments
Nature's Green Gifts To The Chronically IllInspired by an article about the healing power of nature over at PsoriaticArthritis.net by Diane T., I wanted to share a bit...reactions2comments
Am I Too Much for My Friends?Over the past 4 years of having AS, I’ve run into this problem over and over. I wonder if I’m too much...reactions5comments
Social Distancing Spurs Telehealth SurgeThe technology needed for virtual healthcare has been around for decades. But virtual care has not been widely used in the United...reactionscomments
Eyes on the Prize: Setting GoalsI was diagnosed with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in May 2019 after many years of chronic pain. I’m the type of person who...reactions2comments
A Journey to AcceptanceIn the early nineties, doctors diagnosed me with ankylosing spondylitis. With me being in my teens I couldn't really comprehend what kind...reactions12comments
How Technology Brings Both Convenience and Confusion: Results of the Connected Health SurveySometimes, it feels like we are surrounded by technology. Apps, devices, trackers, and gadgets are everywhere! In this digital age, though, everyone...reactionscomments
AxSpa and Medical GaslightingI had been struggling for a few years when I finally had enough of not having some sort of solution or treatment...reactions1comment
What My Days Look Like Living with AS: Part 1It’s 6:50 AM. The alarm is going off, but I don’t want to move. I didn’t sleep but probably 4-5 hours. I...reactions5comments
A Little Bit About Me and My ASThroughout my life I have always been tired, I thought this was "normal." I have suffered from mild back pain on and...reactions4comments
Hi, I’m “Just The Immunocompromised”As the COVID-19 pandemic drudges on, so does my frustration, as I watch people I once thought to be intelligent make brainless...reactions3comments
Our Winding Journey to Finding RheumatologistsSince I've started writing and moderating for AnkylosingSpondylitis.net, I read countless stories about how difficult it is for AS patients to find...reactions4comments
I Don’t Like Long Walks on the Beach: Dating and Chronic PainFor anyone, dating can be scary — putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, and hoping that the other person accepts you. Having...reactions3comments
Balancing School While Managing ASStarting school while living with the often-times debilitating symptoms of AS can be nerve-wracking. About six months ago I began my first...reactions1comment
Sharing the Good Days When You Have AxSpAAt the beginning of the holiday season, I was struggling through the start of a flare up. I knew that the holidays...reactions2comments
Support Group DoomscrollingWhen I was first diagnosis with nr-AxSpA, I was relieved. I finally knew what was “wrong” with me. There was an actual...reactions5comments
A Weekend Hike and the Painful AftermathI thoroughly enjoy hiking--it’s one of my favorite weekend and after-work activities. Hiking means my joints get some much-needed movement, my body...reactions3comments
