I Did Everything Right and Still Got a DiseaseI was recently scrolling through Instagram when I saw a post from a self-proclaimed fitness coach. It said: “No disease is inherited! Laziness causes disease, treat your body right!” First...reactions5comments
If I Can Turn Back TimeEvery day, I wake up hoping today will be a different day. Hoping that today, will be a better day, then the day before. But once I open my eye...reactionscomments
My AS and Travel AnxietyBefore I had AS I loved to travel. I still absolutely love traveling, but now I get terrible anxiety before every trip. I get stomach aches, panic attacks, cry, and...reactionscomments
Adapting To the Disappearance Of Restful SleepIt feels like common knowledge that the right amount of sleep can help with productivity, brain functioning, and maybe even help you live longer. However, for those of us with...reactions6comments
My Husband's AS Flare SymptomsI've been part of the Ankylosing Spondylitis community now for a few months. Something that's stuck out to me from reading comments is how different flare-ups feel for each person...reactions13comments
Ask the Advocates (Part 2): Explaining ASSteff: I had never heard of AS or anything other than just “arthritis” before I was diagnosed. After I was diagnosed, my rheumatologist gave me a pamphlet about AS, and...reactions3comments
Post-Holiday Care for ASI don’t know about you, but the holidays exhaust me. I don’t even have a big family. We see my dad’s side for Christmas Eve, and then it’s just us...reactions3comments
I Am More Than My Diagnosis: A Year in ReviewAs this community and our sister communities grow, one universal truth is clear: people are more than just their diagnoses. As 2019 comes to a close and a new year...reactions1comment
My 2020 AS GoalsThe year 2019 is done for (thank god) and a new decade is upon us. I usually don’t get super excited for the new year, but 2019 was one of...reactions1comment
My Holiday Hibernation ChecklistI can't be the only one jealous that bears get to spend most of the holidays hibernating in caves. They go sauntering into their caves, easy as they please to nap...reactions1comment
New Year WishesI love Christmas. I love everything about it. The joy, the social gatherings, the music (come at me, Michael Buble!), the food, the movies. But it is madness. From panic...reactions6comments
My Recipe For Holiday HibernationDo you ever feel jealous that bears get to hibernate through the holidays? They go sauntering into their caves, easy as they please to nap through the lousy weather, shopping...reactionscomments
I Have A Chronic Illness And Chronic DepressionHaving a chronic illness like ankylosing spondylitis takes its toll on us physically, but it also takes a huge toll on us mentally, too. It’s no secret that a lot...reactions4comments
Dealing With Difficult Family Members Over The HolidaysI’m sure most of us have at least one (or more) family member that just doesn’t quite get what we go through. No matter how many times we try to...reactions3comments
Spondylitis Communication 104: Your Personal PolicyHave you ever seen a high drama press conference? They tend to follow a formula. Something big happened and we know that lots of uncomfortable and repetitive questions are about to fly...reactions4comments
Writing Poetry About AS: How and Why It HelpsI'm not sure if you know this, dear reader, but my background is in poetry! I got a Master's degree in writing (yes, I do have regrets), I've published several...reactions2comments
Realizing AS Changes EverythingGrowing up, I had heard of others in my family being diagnosed with serious and life-changing illnesses, but they were older. That's when life deals that card to us. It's...reactions5comments
What Bothers Us The Most About AS?Lately, I’ve been experiencing an SI joint flare-up. I’ve had the fatigue, the difficulty moving around, the all-over pain, and just about everything else. I started to wonder what other...reactions2comments
How To Get The Most Out Of Doctor AppointmentsMedical appointments seem simple enough: just book, show up, be seen, and follow up, right? Wrong! For many of us, patient care may as well be happening on the dark...reactions7comments
Weathering the Storm: Getting Through Joint Pain During Weather ChangesKeegan knows when a storm is coming, and often more accurately than what my iPhone weather app tells me. Changes in the weather, particularly large shift in temperature, pressure, and/or...reactions11comments