Things I No Longer Do With AxSpaIt has been almost two years since my axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis and this year has brought about many new and scary treatments. But, I can finally say I am happy...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
I Tried Tai Chi and Qi Gong For Ankylosing SpondylitisI'm always looking for ways to deepen communication with my body, increase my mobility, and quiet my mind. Enter Tai chi and Qi gong. Tai Chi (also known as T'ai...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
What Does Dynamic Disability Mean to Me?We’ve all heard of the word disability, but what is a dynamic disability? A dynamic disability is a disability that fluctuates in severity from one moment to the next. Ever...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
My Cup Runneth EmptyYou know that saying, "you can't pour from an empty cup"? Well, no one told me when I was diagnosed that ankylosing spondylitis would leave me with a perpetually empty...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Inconsistency of My Illness Causes Me FearWhen it comes to chronic illness, no two days are the same. The inconsistency and unpredictability that come with a chronic illness is what gets me the most. One day I could be out...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Self-Care: I Set Small Goals & Limit My ActivitiesWhether you realise it or not, you are dealing with everyday struggles and an unpredictability that comes with having AS. Pulling yourself out of bed, exercising, making your dinner or even just showering is 100 times more difficult...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
We Need To Talk About Mental HealthI recently ran a Twitter poll asking members of the chronic illness community to vote on the topics that were most compelling to them when it comes to chronic illness...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Axial SpondyloarthritisAfter my diagnosis of AxSpa, and once I was already taking Humira (one of the biologics), I experienced some gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Aside from the symptoms of AxSpa around my...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Rumble, Old Man, Rumble!A story of a boxing match that helped me learn to manage my AxSpA flares. October 1974. I am 16 years old. Outside the sun is yet to rise, and...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Where Are All The Men?When I was first diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I was informed that it was a condition "mostly affecting men in their 20s." I remember it distinctly because it felt weirdly...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
Leveling Up Your Self-CareI've found over the last year that there are places to level up self-care in our house. My husband, Keegan, suffers from AS and chronic pain daily. We have 2...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Transitioning Back to "Normal" After COVIDI’m not going to lie--I’m excited for a return to "normal" (or a new normal anyway) now that the outlook of the pandemic is looking up. I’m looking forward to...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Being a Bloke of a Certain AgeEvery one of us with AS knows how tough life can be. Every one of us must live with AS – even when asleep – even when having good days...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How I Recharge My Internal BatteriesWhat energizes you? This is a question I enjoy asking my coaching clients and personal network. Our AS lives are full of activities, events, external triggers that require a lot...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Doesn’t Weight Feel Heavy?I hate talking about weight. It doesn’t matter if it’s weight loss, weight gain, or keeping it off. It never feels good. It’s probably because these topics are proxies for...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
We Don't Want Your Medical Advice!If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of being an ankylosing spondylitis patient, it’s how to tune out unwanted medical advice from others. It’s an extremely common occurrence...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Trying To Explain My Brain FogBrain fog is hard to put into words. Today when I got home from work, I tried to unlock my house door with my car fob. I pushed the little...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Coming Out at the Doctor's OfficeI have seen countless physicians in four different states in the U.S. and my experience with heteronormativity is generally the same. Often, the idea that a patient may be part...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Mind and Body: Flare-Up Coping MethodsIf there's something I've realized about living with a painful, often unpredictable chronic inflammatory disease, it's that sometimes the disease simply catches you off-guard. And the fact that it catches...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Journey to Getting DiagnosedWhere do I begin, as it feels for me my journey has been a long one. It has been what I like to call a big roller coaster. A big...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments