Finding Balance in Managing My ASWhen it comes to life lessons, it would seem I prefer to learn them the hard way! This was certainly the case when I decided to try lifestyle strategies to...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A Cold FishA Cold Fish: Someone who lacks empathy and emotion I feel like I am taking a big risk coming out like this, but I feel I am taking one for...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Making Online Friends Changed My LifeAfter becoming incredibly ill and home bound, I not only lost my social life but also some friends along the way. This was devastating and heartbreaking because these were the...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Gene Testing My Children for ASLike the majority of people with ankylosing spondylitis, I tested positive for the gene HLA-B27. Following my diagnosis I often wondered about this genetic marker and the line it traced...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Women With Non-Radiographic Axial SpondyloarthritisAnkylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis are two types of the same disease. Diagnosis with one or the other depends on a person's symptoms. It also depends on how much...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
4 Questions To Jumpstart Your Self-CareYou couldn’t pay me to relive 2021. It was the year that just wouldn’t quit. The worst parts were losing a dear friend by suicide, while my family and I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Housework Hacks With Ankylosing SpondylitisOne of the things I really dislike when I’m in an AxSpa flare is how messy my house can get. I’m definitely one of those “tidy house, tidy mind” people...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Bursts of Denial: When AS Hits SuddenlyThe thing about ankylosing spondylitis, like many immune-mediated diseases, is that no matter how much we've figured out how to manage/control/collaborate with/understand it, it is still a disease with a...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
3 Tips for Managing Anxiety If You Have ASIt's no secret that living with a chronic illness can be challenging—mentally and emotionally, as well as physically. I remember when I was first diagnosed, there was the mental stress...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
My AxSpA AssistersI have read some wonderful posts on here about items our community members use to help them cope with their AxSpA symptoms. They inspired me to share a trio of...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Switching Biologics (Again)I have once again switched my biologic medication! I’ve been on Inflectra, Humira, Cosentyx, and now, drumroll, please...Remicade! Remicade is chemically very similar to Inflectra, which is actually a biosimilar...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
3 Types of Physical Activity to Consider With AxSpaWe all know that physical activity is essential for our health. Being physically active can support our brain health, strengthen our bones, and improve our ability to do everyday activities...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Four Low-Impact Exercises for SpondiesIt’s that time of year again when most of us not only think about making changes to our daily lives, but we also resolve to do so. But adding more...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Symptoms of NegativityI titled this article “Symptoms of Negativity” but please do not think that this is going to be one of those, outward in, all you need is a smile on...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
How Regular Stretching Relieves My AS Pain“Be sure to stretch” was one of the few pieces of advice I walked away with when I was told I had AS. The message got lost for a while...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The Other Side of ButterfliesButterflies and baseball are 2 of my favorite things. Both combine simplicity, flashes of beauty, and long stretches of quiet and apparent inactivity to balance bursts of frenetic activity. I...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Rating Pain and The Pain ScaleLately, I’ve been reading a lot of creative nonfiction essays during the process of designing an upper-level Creative Nonfiction writing course at the University where I teach and work. The...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
New Year, Same BodyWhat do I want to make sure to get out of 2023? Some common New Year's resolutions have to do with body management, such as exercising and eating a certain...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Communicating With Brain Fog, Fatigue, & Pain From Ankylosing SpondylitisI'm a born orritor. Worked in radio, was a storyteller, provided voice over for different projects. I can speak in a voice that both comforts and excites. (I also might...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
Biologic Medications and My Finger InfectionHaving an autoimmune disease like AS, my body can be vulnerable to getting infections much easier. I am on biologics (I take Cosentyx) which makes me even more vulnerable to...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments