January 20th, 2024

 

Hello, my name is Ivy, and I am a 44-year-old Ankylosing Spondylitis patient. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis 10 years ago. I have created Uniquely Me & Loving It, My Journey With Ankylosing Spondylitis, to share my story from the beginning through now. I hope that my story can help others, educate, uplift, and inspire not just other Ankylosing Spondylitis patients but anyone with a challenging health condition, especially ones causing chronic pain, and ultimately even the healthcare providers who treat us. I have always believed knowledge is power, and through our actual experiences, we gain much knowledge. 

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I have been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis for almost a decade now. I first got sick in May of 2014. I had been remarried for a total of 6 months when I first got sick and worked in special education, so we just assumed I had hurt myself while ensuring a student didn't hurt themselves. It took many months to get a diagnosis, and much of these last ten years have been full of incredible highs and the darkest of lows. I have learned that this disease is different for everyone and will throw you curve balls when you least expect it and that it is absolutely ok not to be ok. I hope that by sharing my entire story, I can help and inspire others to keep taking it one day and even one step at a time. I will add blog posts regularly and tell my story in order from the beginning to the present day, and then it will shift to sharing inspiring quotes, tools, music, etc. I will also continue to update on my health often as well.

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I  love to hear other's experiences of their disease journey. We all have different life experiences with this disease and can learn from and support each other. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you need anything. This life is marvelous, and I cannot wait to experience it with even more friends as we help each other navigate the beast called Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic illness with chronic pain.

 

I hope to hear from you soon!

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💜 Ivy

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