Finding a Good RheumatologistPeople who have chronic health conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or axial spondyloarthritis might be advised by their regular doctor or primary care physician to see a specialist known as...
Yes, the Pain is That BadI'm naturally a highly empathic person. In my research of ankylosing spondylitis, I kept reading about the chronic pain but wanted to know more. How painful is it really? What...
Dry, Cracked, and Very ParchedA few years ago, I presented with blurry vision and a weird sensation of people moving away from me while I looked at them. The best way I can describe...
The Never Ending FlareI'm in another flare (again). How long will this one last? The days have passed so fast. I forget again what normal feels like. My days are high in pain,...
Three Reasons I Chose Not to Panic About (Another) DiagnosisAs I sat in that sterile conference room, awaiting confirmation from my genetic counselor, I couldn't help but feel detached from the situation. The alphabet soup of diagnoses I had...
The Strobe Light of Chronic Illness – How Others See Only Small SnapshotsI was watching a cop show the other day and one of those obligatory, “drug addled-club goers rave” scenes came on. You know, the one that shows what Hollywood thinks...
4 Ways to Overcome PainsomniaInsomnia, or the inability to get to sleep or stay asleep, affects millions of people worldwide. For many, chronic pain is a significant contributor to their insomnia. When you're in...
5 Signs A Flare Is ComingWhen a flare-up is about to happen, there are a few tell-tale signs I always experience. I’ve had axial spondyloarthritis for about 10 years, although it’s been really active for...
