In Remission, Out of the Community?This community – the one you’re visiting right now via this website – has done so much for me. It’s where I learned what ankylosing spondylitis was in the first...reactions10comments
Dating While Young and DisabledWhen I think of dating in my 20s, it looks different than I expected in a lot of ways. So much of dating is debriefing friends and overthinking signals, these...reactions1comment
No, Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Not Rheumatoid Arthritis"I have ankylosing spondylitis or AS," I tell the busy-body woman who I know through friends and family. She's asking me how I'm doing — "and what is it you...reactions2comments
Preparing for Imaging Appointments With Ankylosing SpondylitisPart of life with ankylosing spondylitis includes scans to check for bone change and progression. My disease activity over recent years has been low so my rheumatologist is happy to...reactions7comments
Chronic Illness: What Have You Done for Yourself?I am tired frequently, meandering through the days, dragging my impaired body from room to room, the fatigue so overwhelming. Forget exercise and nutrition to any meaningful capacity. The pain...reactions3comments
Preparing For My First Trip Post Diagnosis and PandemicEditor's note: Read how James' trip went in his follow up article, "Going on My First Trip Post Diagnosis and Pandemic." Prior to my diagnosis, I was most definitely a frequent...reactions2comments
How We Talk to Our Young Kids About AxSpaBecoming a parent brings so many unanticipated joys and challenges, but one my husband and I never thought about before was how we would talk to the kids about AxSpa...reactions4comments
My 5 Necessary ConveniencesI can’t be the only one battling the unfortunate notion that there’s something lazy, inferior, or otherwise wrong about seeking the easiest ways to do things for myself. Years of...reactions4comments
6 Steps For Self-Care SuccessAuthentic self-care is grounded in the actions required to align our needs, desires, and commitments with our actions. It’s a deep process, especially when we aren’t used to spending so...reactions3comments
Baby Steps Are a Big Deal For a BabyI have a hate-love relationship for the term “baby steps.” Maybe this is because of my perspective as a parent (and the hard work it takes to teaching the basics...reactions4comments
Signs Throughout My Life That It Was More Than Just TirednessGrowing up, I went through stages of depression, anxiety, and always not feeling well for long periods of time. I thought it was maybe just my body going through another...reactions1comment
Discussing and Disclosing AS At WorkYou’re sitting at your desk with a heat pad plugged in, on high, and strapped to your lower back. A co-worker walks by, notices your setup, and stops to ask...reactions7comments
Researching Axial Spondyloarthritis For MyselfOne of the most critical issues I think we've all been facing in the past few years is the regularity of disinformation. We have seen it during political elections and...reactions5comments
Allowing New Medications Adjust to Your BodyI’ve recently started a few different medications. My doctors and I are still trying to figure out what works best for all my conditions: depression, anxiety, AS, fibromyalgia, and colitis...reactions3comments
Another Winter With AxSpaHere in Australia we’re leaving the cold weather behind and enjoying the spring. At this time I’m once again conscious of all my friends in the northern hemisphere living through...reactions1comment
Being Kind to Others When I'm Having a Bad DayI used to remind myself that I'm not the only one going through things in life. Sometimes my expectations of others wasn't fair. I expected everyone to check on me...reactions3comments
Losing Friends and Finding Community: Living With ASIt’s no secret that getting diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can be a life-changing experience. It is an inflammatory disease that can cause pain, stiffness, and immobility in the spine...reactions4comments
Right Now, I Need to Put Me FirstI know today you are having a hard time. Last night, you went to bed thinking tomorrow would be a better day. You went to bed thinking tomorrow would be...reactions1comment
3 Tips for Accessing AccommodationsNot long after I was diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis, I spoke to my doctor about accommodations at college. My pain and brain fog add a difficult layer to learning, and...reactions3comments
Thinking About SnowOh, I so dislike Winter. I mean, I really do. I hate it. I like warmth. My joints and mood are much better in Spring and Summer. So much better...reactions4comments