How To Manage The "Fat" TalkIf your BMI is 25+ you know all about The "Fat" Talk. Obesity heroes and villains morph over time, but the sentiment is relatively consistent. People gain weight by indulging... By Dawn Gibson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
My Traveling Survival Guide: What I'm Packing and WhyThis month, I will be going on my first long-distance road trip since I was diagnosed with AS. While I am completely overjoyed at the prospect of getting a much-needed... By Katie Saville2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Don't Compare Your Disease Experience to Celebs'When a celebrity is diagnosed with a chronic illness, there are usually articles splashed across every magazine and tabloid. Often, their diagnosis is used as clickbait, a cheap and careless... By Lisa Marie Basile2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Effects of Heteronormativity in Healthcare on LGBTQ+ PatientsFrom the start, I want to be clear that I do not intend to paint with a broad brush here. There are many wonderful, empathetic practitioners out there in the... By Jessica Gama4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Driving Difficulties With Ankylosing SpondylitisEver since I was a teenager, I had one goal, which was to learn how to drive and get my license as soon as possible. I’m sure you can relate... By Ali Long3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Grief, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and a Tragedy in IndianapolisEditor's note: this article has a mention of gun violence. As I write this, in Indianapolis, about 15 miles south of me, a mass shooting has occurred at a FedEx... By Lawrence Rick Phillips3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
A Letter to My Past SelfDear past Ali, You will never believe how much you have grown. You are so strong. You’ve been through a lot. This past year has been a tough one for you. You were bed... By Ali Long2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
To Biologic or Not to Biologic?"I'd recommend starting a biologic," Keegan's rheumatologist suggested at our first appointment. Keegan, my husband, and I were still wrapping our heads around the diagnosis he received only 6 months... By Auldyn Matthews2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
My Mobility AidsDuring my thirty years so far of living with ankylosing spondylitis I had to make use of multiple aids. Glad that I could make use of them, though at the... By Rene Agterhof2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Coming Out of Remission After 8 YearsIt wasn’t very often, if I even did at all, that I thought about what it would be like if I came out of remission. Transitioning into this new way... By Sarah Lee2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Build Your Own Flare ToolkitThere's no other way to say it: axial spondyloarthritis flare-ups are the worst. You might be having a good few days, and then seemingly out of nowhere, your muscles and... By Bridget Gawinowicz2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Reflecting on my University Experience with Chronic PainMany hours in the library later, the day is finally here — I have completed my undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Psychology. If there is any... By Cassia Pelton2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Hacking Arthritis Self-CareHave you noticed how much content is devoted to what seems like normal things people should already know how to do? I'm not talking about the trumped up lists with... By Dawn Gibson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
I’m Tired of Being Judged for my COVID ViewsI’m sure many of us in the chronic illness community can relate to what I’m about to say. It’s gotten to a point in the pandemic where everything is divided... By Steff Di Pardo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
4 Responses To Stigma Against DisabilityAs a 35-year-old, fairly active woman with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), I've come up against some pretty inaccurate and aggravatingly annoying ideas and questions about this disease over the years. I... By Lisa Marie Basile3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
A Year After My DiagnosisAs a medical student, you spend most of your time reading about all these rare diseases and learning how to recognize them on test days, and later on in future... By Gabriela Guadalupe3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Can Journaling Help Us Manage Chronic Illness?There's a lot of evidence for how helpful writing can be for people who experience the trauma and grief of illness — and chronic pain in particular. And, as a... By Lisa Marie Basile2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My 10-year Anniversary With AS – 10 Insights GainedWow! Just writing this title feels strange. Strange to think that it has now been 10 years since the onset of my AS symptoms and the beginning of a wild... By Lana Buettner2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
It's Time to Throw Away the Schober Test for ASThe journey to a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is riddled with challenges that prevent patients from receiving the diagnoses and treatment they need. In particular, misconceptions about AS can... By Cassia Pelton2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Degenerative Disc Disease and AxSpaAxial spondyloarthritis (AxSpa) and degenerative disc disease are both illnesses of the spine that share many of the same painful symptoms. Sometimes it is even hard for doctors to tell... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments