Mental Health and Ankylosing SpondylitisI’ve said from the start of this disease that I personally believe therapy is key in managing this disease. I had mental illnesses prior to being diagnosed with AS, but...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Impact of AS on SchoolI am currently a university student but first started experiencing AS symptoms during high school. Being a student is hard enough, but when you mix in having a chronic illness...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Applying For Disability AllowanceBefore I start writing about my experience with disability allowance/payment, I want to say that I know how much harder it is for others to get approved for disability. It seems...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Opening Up About Cannabis for AxSpa TreatmentFor most of us, we have grown up in a world where cannabis was illegal, or at least society frowned upon it. There’s a lot of subconscious ideas that we...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Recovering from Holiday HangoverDo you suffer from holiday hangover? I always do, and I don’t even have AS! (My husband, Keegan, is the one with AS.) Now that Keegan and I have 2...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The Value of a Getting a DiagnosisGetting told I had axial spondyloarthritis filled me with two big emotions: fear and relief. I didn’t want to be told I had an incurable, progressive disease. If I’m honest...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
An Appointment Of DisappointmentI had high hopes for my rheumatologist appointment on Monday. It was my first face to face consultation in over 2 years and I felt weirdly excited. The night before...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
The Difficulties of Remote Work with AxSpaIt’s my third week on my new job, as I am still in training. As I am writing this article, I have tears in my eyes from the tiredness. I...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Keeping Faith for Better DaysWhen you’re down in the dumps for so long, sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Or any light at all. Waking up and...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Riding the Wave of OverwhelmSo much about living with a chronic illness leads to feelings of overwhelm. Whether it’s worrying about coverage for medication, struggling with the responsibilities of everyday life, or dealing with...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Postponing My Third Covid VaccineOn Monday the 4th of October I received a text saying that my rheumatologist had referred me for a third dose of the Covid vaccine. My appointment was that Saturday...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Winter Is Here—How I’m Prepping for the ColdThe colder months are by far my least favourite time of the year. Sure, the snow is beautiful and it means I have an excuse to stop shaving my legs...Reactions0reactionsComments19 comments
A Weekend Away With My BoyfriendGoing away for a weekend break or a holiday is one of my favorite things to do with my boyfriend. It still is even though our holidays have changed since I became...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Fatigue Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have ToIn my opinion, fatigue is the worst arthritis symptom. My fatigue is unsurpassed in deactivation powers. Arthritis is always there, ticking away in the background, sometimes so quietly that I...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
The 3 Biggest Shocks of Becoming a CaregiverSome days, I don't really feel much like a caregiver to my husband, Keegan, who's suffered from AS for more than 10 years. The routine of getting up at 5:30...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
My Journey to Yoga for ASGrowing up as a competitive skateboarder, the pain I experienced from the age of 15 in my “hips” (actually SI joints) was considered some sort of injury. This pain fluctuated...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Writing An Article For the Spondylitis AssociationEditor's note: This article discusses weight and dieting. Have you ever heard of the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA)? I have been a passive member for about three years, and...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Combating Chronic Fatigue: 3 Different Types of RestAs we all know, chronic fatigue is without a doubt one of the most challenging symptoms. It will outright stop you in your tracks and cause whatever balance you have...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
My Gradual Biologic JourneyI started on biologics about a year and a half ago. I was prescribed Humira on a bi-weekly cycle, meaning one injection every 14 days. I was told at the...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Trying to Move When You Don’t Want ToMovement. Something we all know helps us with AS. Movement is medicine. Have you heard that before? I know I have. But what if we don’t want to move? I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments