Year Two – 2013

Tiara's Tuesday Talk – There Is More Going On Here

Tiara’s Tuesday Talk – by Sara Sheibley Doctor’s bills? Yes we got ‘em. (To the tune of $695 and that’s only the bills I have.) Copays? They kill us. (I can’t even see some doctors because I don’t have the money for it.) Prescriptions? Cost us a small fortune. (Thank my lucky stars for insurance, I feel for those who don’t have it.) We jump through hoops for approvals for medicines, finding the ones that work best, affording appointments, affording physical therapy… The list goes on and on. What can we do? Not much because we need these things to… Read More »Tiara's Tuesday Talk – There Is More Going On Here

Musical Motivation Monday – Here Comes The Sun!

 Musical Motivation Monday – by Heather Stewart The last few weeks have been a bit sluggish as far as our steps. I don’t know how many times I have heard “sorry, not many steps this week…” I am told that weeks six and seven are the hardest to stay motivated. I admit that even I had a hard time. Who wants to go out and rock those steps and try to do more than what can be done inside? It is spring and the weather is supposed to be breaking but snow flurries still fall and frost still coats the… Read More »Musical Motivation Monday – Here Comes The Sun!

Finding Steps In All Kinds Of Places!

by Sabrina Diane Throughout this walk I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone to spread awareness and gather steps on a whole new level. AKA Harassing friends and family and now even strangers to join in and help us. The funny thing is with as awkward as I felt about asking these people they didn’t feel uncomfortable about it at all. They were open to listening and helping. Many of my friends and family were thrilled to have a way they could show support for me and my struggles with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Strangers felt inspired by our efforts and… Read More »Finding Steps In All Kinds Of Places!

Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Ricky White of Team ENDURANCE for A.S.

Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Ricky  by Chris Scott & Ricky White   Hello Walkers!!  This week’s Spotlight Walker is Team Endurance for AS, Ricky White. Ricky comes to us from the UK. Here is Ricky’s story… My AS journey started in the beginning of 2007. This was when I started to get my first symptoms. They typically manifested as ‘sciatica’ and lower back pain, which I was treated with the routine prescription of physiotherapy and NSAIDS. Initially the spells of pain were short lived and sporadic in frequency. Of course now I know that these were of course ‘flare-ups’ of my… Read More »Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Ricky White of Team ENDURANCE for A.S.

Tiara's Tuesday Talk – Attacking The "Why Me's"

Tiara’s Tuesday Talk – by Sara Sheibley   Why didn’t anyone tell us this crud? I’ve been sick for what? 5 years now? Okay, okay… 26 but who’s counting? (Me, that’s who.) At what point would it have been important to explain that the “heat” radiating off my body is inflammation? I think doctors forget we can’t read minds. However, since I can’t take nsaids, it’s a terrible situation and it’s one that more and more of us are going through. Drug intolerance, ulcers, allergies… these are just a few of the reasons why most of us have lost our 1st… Read More »Tiara's Tuesday Talk – Attacking The "Why Me's"

Musical Motivation Monday – April 8th

 Musical Motivation Monday – by Heather Stewart   Here we are again. I am sorry I wasn’t here last week. I have been in pain that has left me thinking about trying to stay motivated through the pain and how to keep mobile. I had intended to write about just that last week, staying motivated through the pain, but even I am having difficulty with that. I even asked some friends how they do it and the answers they gave me, at the time, didn’t seem to help. This week I went to physical therapy and we started talking about… Read More »Musical Motivation Monday – April 8th

Sunday On A Walk With Michael – Week 6

Today’s walk-ku by Michael Smith haiku #1: All of my efforts can be summed up by how I continue walking. haiku #2: As Spring emerges, crocuses and daffodils greet me while I stroll.     Michael Smith a.k.a. Spenser is the creator of Spondyville.com. Spondyville is a town where everyone has AS, so no-one ever has to feel alone in dealing with this disease. He has been raising AS awareness online for almost 20 years. Five years ago, he started the April is Spondylitis Awareness Month campaign and last year co-produced the Best Medicine Night of Comedy fundraiser to benefit the Spondylitis… Read More »Sunday On A Walk With Michael – Week 6

Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Jennifer Dye Visscher of The Blue Apples

Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Jenna  by Chris Scott  Hello Walkers!! Once again you folks have amazed us. The numbers that are coming in are OUTSTANDING!! We set a very lofty goal this year for Walk Your AS Off. and we are looking better each week.. Congratulations to each and every one of you!! Keep it up! This week I am spotlighting the gal who started all of this, Jennifer Dye Visscher. She is the burning force behind Walk Your AS Off. Last year she single-handedly brought together people from around the globe to join together and walk around the world in… Read More »Wednesday Walker Spotlight – Jennifer Dye Visscher of The Blue Apples

Tiara's Tuesday Talk – Our Daily Struggles With Exercise & Having A.S.

Tiara’s Tuesday Talk – by Sara Sheibley   This week I’m going to discuss exercise in a different manner. For most patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis exercising increaseS our mobility, flexibility and decreases pain and depressions. Many studies show this to be true however, the question is, what if we over do it? What if you set a goal but fail to meet it? Usually the side effect of this is feelings of inadequacy and depression which then increases our pain. Also, you can put yourself into a cycle of exercise, required rest, depression and then a lack of interest to restart… Read More »Tiara's Tuesday Talk – Our Daily Struggles With Exercise & Having A.S.

Grab Your Friends & Walk For A.S. Awareness Month!

Jennifer, the team captain of Going The Distance, contacted me yesterday to share with me some ideas she and her fellow team mates had about getting together to do some team walks. I loved her enthusiasm and excitement so I asked her to write a few paragraphs about her ideas and how they came about. Here is what Jennifer wrote:   “Easter Sunday I gathered with my family who are also part of my “Walk Your A.S. Off” Team.  While discussing the walk, a very innocent question was asked… “When can we do a GROUP Walk?” Seemed easy enough, but… Read More »Grab Your Friends & Walk For A.S. Awareness Month!