Living

When I was 18 years old, I developed ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a genetic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the spine. The main symptoms of AS include joint pain and...

For years at the end of the day, I'd sit down on the couch exhausted. I'd look over to my husband, Keegan, who was diagnosed with AS 5 years ago...

For the past month and a half, I've been on a health journey provoked by an intense flare-up (see part 1 of this story) that caused my worst-ever flare-up and...

I went to Europe for Christmas (as I've done for the past seven years) to be with my partner's family, and it was — to put it 100 percent honestly...

With all of the panic going around surrounding the COVID-19 virus, I’m sure you’ve noticed how helpful a good support system is. But with good support always comes some not-so-good...

As the terms “immunocompromised” and “suppressed immune system” flow through social media and news outlets linked to conversations surrounding COVID-19, I have found myself feeling more inclined than ever to...

Have you ever had uninvited guests gate crash your holiday gathering? I like to think of myself as warm and welcoming, but people barging in on my carefully planned dinner...

The last week has really turned in Philly: schools are closing, offices are encouraging workers to work from home, and the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. In the midst...

I just got off the phone with a reporter from TheLos Angeles Times. They were asking people in the disability and chronic illness communities if people were having a hard...

I know I’m considered to be one of the lucky ones. From the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, it took one full year. Kudos to those of you that dealt...

I was recently scrolling through Instagram when I saw a post from a self-proclaimed fitness coach. It said: “No disease is inherited! Laziness causes disease, treat your body right!” First...

Every day, I wake up hoping today will be a different day. Hoping that today, will be a better day, then the day before. But once I open my eye...

Before I had AS I loved to travel. I still absolutely love traveling, but now I get terrible anxiety before every trip. I get stomach aches, panic attacks, cry, and...

It feels like common knowledge that the right amount of sleep can help with productivity, brain functioning, and maybe even help you live longer. However, for those of us with...

Let my words go forth from this day and place. We, the people living with ankylosing spondylitis, are extra(ordinary)! (Meaning, our “ordinary” is way more than a little “extra.") We...

I've been part of the Ankylosing Spondylitis community now for a few months. Something that's stuck out to me from reading comments is how different flare-ups feel for each person...

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with AnkylosingSpondylitis.net contributor Jed Finley for the podcast Living With, which explores what it's like to live with a chronic condition. In this...

Steff: I had never heard of AS or anything other than just “arthritis” before I was diagnosed. After I was diagnosed, my rheumatologist gave me a pamphlet about AS, and...

I don’t know about you, but the holidays exhaust me. I don’t even have a big family. We see my dad’s side for Christmas Eve, and then it’s just us...

As this community and our sister communities grow, one universal truth is clear: people are more than just their diagnoses. As 2019 comes to a close and a new year...