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
Finding Support & Acceptance Sometimes Takes TimeThoughts that go over my head: Will I feel like this forever? Will I ever feel better? I feel like I am waiting for my life to be over soon...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
My Diagnosis DayI remember my diagnosis day vaguely. I had met with my rheumatologist once already. I was not expecting to have another appointment for a few months. My day started with a call from my rheumatologist asking could...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Toxic PositivityI would consider myself quite a positive person. I always try and stay positive. When I'm feeling sad or down, I think ok I just need to be positive. I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Finding My Inner SuperheroIf you haven’t read any of my articles before, I’ll introduce myself. Hi! I’m Auldyn, wife, and caregiver go my husband, Keegan, who’s suffered from AS for over 10 years...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Experience with Surgery and the Autoimmune ResponseA popular topic amongst the chronic illness community is surgery. If you're like me, you either know someone who has gone under the knife to try to regain some control...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
7 Years in "No Diagnosis Land," Part 1Many people experience symptoms of AxSpA for quite some time before being diagnosed. Some are misdiagnosed, while others are dismissed as having simply back pain. Here is my story… I...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Disability Pride Month: What Disability Pride Means to the AS CommunityYou may have seen on social media posts, or you may be unaware: July is Disability Pride Month! It is a time for those who are disabled to share their...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Alternative Therapies and Ankylosing Spondylitis TreatmentI have always been interested in spirituality, mental health, and alternative methods of healing — even before I realized I was passionate about these topics, and well before I had...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
How I Decided to Use Cannabis as MedicineMy pain, like many other AxSpA warriors, dates back to before I can even remember. I didn't get an official diagnosis until I was nearing 30, and with other chronic...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Switch to Summer and Ankylosing Spondylitis SymptomsNow that the warmer period finally has arrived in the northern hemisphere many of us experience less flares. Though I myself have never experienced an extreme difference with winter, I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments