My Post-Diagnosis Mixed Bag of EmotionsI’ve recently hit the five year anniversary of my axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis. For some reason, this otherwise random milestone has me reflecting on that winter five years ago, all the...reactions1comment
When "Just Be Positive" Goes Too FarIf you haven’t heard of the concept of toxic positivity or chronic positivity, maybe you’ve picked up on what it is without knowing it even has a name. When people...reactions1comment
Busting AxSpA Myths: Part 2This is part 2 to my Axial Spondyloarthritis Myths, Part 1 post. If you can think of other myths and misunderstandings, I'd love to hear in the comments! There are...reactionscomments
How Strong is the Mind?My journey with AS has taken me from an all-time low to an all-time high. From receiving two hip replacements and not being able to run for 20 years to...reactions4comments
Why Community MattersWhen it comes to finding community, the ankylosing spondylitis warriors online have it on lock. From Instagram hashtags to Facebook support groups – and even our websites, AnkylosingSpondylitis.net and AxialSpondyloarthritis.net...reactionscomments
Busting Axial Spondyloarthritis Myths: Part 1As a community moderator for Health Union (and as an AxSpA patient myself), I read dozens of posts from people living with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) every...reactionscomments
What Does Caregiving Look Like for an AS Patient?I never considered myself a caregiver to my husband, Keegan, until a couple of years ago. After all, the picture of caregiving is usually someone younger helping an older family...reactions3comments
I'm Not High Maintenance, I'm Chronically IllEveryone likes a “low-maintenance” girl — the girl who can tag along with friends at a moment’s notice, without worrying about the details, the girl who goes with the flow...reactions1comment
Being Around People Who Get ItI’ve had quite a few people come and go from my life ever since I got sick. I try my best to only see the people that get my illness...reactions2comments
Getting out of Bed with Spondyloarthritis, Part IIMotivation to begin exercising is a major problem for me. I'm just tired - mentally and physically - from family drama, a bad diet, a wonky-doodle work schedule, and yes...reactions3comments
Our AxialSpondyloarthritis.net Community is on Instagram!Did you know that you can find our AxialSpondyloarthritis.net community on Instagram? Give us a follow so you can engage in great community discussions around managing rheumatoid arthritis and make...reactionscomments
Thinking About Food I can’t imagine another time when food played a more central role in our society. We can watch cooking shows at any time of the day, make food appear on...reactionscomments
I’m On A DietMy doctor and I had The Talk, you know the one. We talked about the dreaded BMI, exercise, and carbs. She asked me to try a formalized version of the...reactions2comments
Why Working from Home is Best for my Ankylosing SpondylitisEver since I developed ankylosing spondylitis (AS), work has been a source of worry for me. Most jobs, from customer service to traditional office jobs, present challenges for me. Customer...reactions3comments
Mindfulness and ASWe all know that stress is the worst thing for an individual with AS. I know this, and for me having AS causes me stress! How do I control this?...reactions1comment
A Gem for My Axial Spondyloarthritis: Somatics!Before my diagnosis, every week I was going to the gym, playing squash, and badminton. I would not get any "side effects" from high impact activities apart from achy muscles...reactionscomments
I Used To Be The Person Who Didn't Understand Chronic IllnessBefore ankylosing spondylitis, before any strange symptoms, and well before I ever thought there could be something wrong, different, or sick about me, I didn't understand chronic illness. The fact...reactions3comments
Ankylosing Spondylitis Doesn't Give a Damn About College DeadlinesBeing a student is hard enough as it is. Being a student with a chronic illness is a whole new level of hard. I am in my final year of...reactions2comments
This Winter is Rough on the Joints!I like winter, with Christmas celebrations, the arrival of a New year and fresh perspectives. I feel efficient as the season evolves; these months are productive for me. Now the...reactions2comments
What My Days Look Like Living With AS: Part 2Editor's note: You can read about the first part of Katie's day with AS here. It’s now about 8 AM. I pull into the driveway and put the car in...reactions1comment