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...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Extra(ordinary): ASers Can Do It AllLet my words go forth from this day and place. We, the people living with ankylosing spondylitis, are extra(ordinary)! (Meaning, our “ordinary” is way more than a little “extra.") We...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Living With AS: An Interview With Jed FinleyI recently had the pleasure of speaking with AnkylosingSpondylitis.net contributor Jed Finley for the podcast Living With, which explores what it's like to live with a chronic condition. In this...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
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...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments