Showering With Ankylosing SpondylitisOne of the things I struggle most with due to ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia is taking a shower. What used to be a refreshing and calming part of my daily...Reactions0reactionsComments33 comments
"But You Don't Look Sick"If I had a dollar for every time I've been told "but you don't look sick" I would be rich by now! I mean, what does a sick person look...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
My Experience With an Ankylosing Spondylitis Self-Management CourseBack in the freedom of our pre-Covid world I was lucky enough to attend a specialist self-management course for ankylosing spondylitis at a community hospital here in Melbourne. The course...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Journal: Now More Than EverAugust 9, 2022 Woke up early today - my eyes just popped open. Looked at the clock - 5:32 am staring at me. My pelvis is aching a bit; the...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
I Had a Beach Weekend - Here’s How it Went!Traveling has looked very different for a lot of us over the past 2 years. For me, I haven’t gone anywhere that requires a flight. I’m just not ready for...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Remission is Reversing My Acceptance of My Chronic IllnessChronic illness doesn’t come into a person’s life in a convenient, ready-made package. It arrives in a series of disjointed boxes that appear on your doorstep on separate days, without...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Patient Experiences: Applying for Disability BenefitsAre you in the process of applying for disability? Maybe you have some experience with the process? In the recording below, team member Bridget sits down with patient leaders Rick...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Self-Care In Stressful TimesWe’re probably living in a time of peak opinion, opining, emoting, and hot takes. The feelings seem to fly out of our fingers and mouths faster than we can say...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
It's Been One Year on CosentyxIt's been one year on Cosentyx. How does time just fly by? It feels like yesterday that I got my diagnosis with AxSpa--but it almost been 3 years. Cosentyx has...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Getting Back in the Driver’s Seat With Axial SpondyloarthritisLike many people my age, I grew up with parents and grandparents who saw doctors as the ultimate authority. It never entered their heads to question anything a medical professional...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Keegan’s Experience With the Mediterranean DietMy husband Keegan finally hit the point where his AS was stable. The last few years brought lots of challenges that impacted his AS: 2 babies, 2 total hip replacements...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Inflammatory Arthritis and Intermittent FastingDisclaimer: I am not a doctor, so you should not take health advice from me. I am a chronic illness advocate and a health journalist, which means I turn to...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
I’m Experiencing Writer’s Block and Brain Fog CombinedI’m going through a lot this year, and that means my work ethic has sort of gone out the window. I’m experiencing some of the most brain fog I ever...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Learnings From My Recent Hip SurgerySix months ago I had to undergo hip surgery to fix some long-term issues which caused me a lot of pain and limitations in my movement and exercise routine. You...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
How I Prevent Fatigue from Derailing My Exercise RoutineI used to be one who could quickly work out for an hour or more every day and never feel tired. I could also go out on long runs without...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Long COVID: Mental Health EditionThere has been a lot of talk about long Covid and the lasting physical effects of the virus. I really feel for anyone out there experiencing long Covid and it got me wondering if this pandemic...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Flare-Ups and How to CopeFlare-ups are not only common but can be a real pain in the butt. Whether it hits me when I first wake up or later in the day, the swelling...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
7 Questions For Emergency PrepOur routines have the habit of taking on lives of their own. Sometimes they function explicitly, out in the open for all to see, but they’re just as powerful quietly...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Starting Physical TherapySince February 2022, I have been going to physiotherapy (physical therapy) once a week or every two weeks. My family doctor recommended physiotherapy so that I could become more active...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
5 Ways Minimalism Helps Keep My AS Symptoms in RemissionIn 2016, I was overworked, underpaid, and burning the candle at all ends. Every day, I’d wake up before 5am for my job as an AP English teacher. After work...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments