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When I began receiving infusion treatments for Ankylosing Spondylitis I had no idea how to prepare for my appointments. What do I bring? What do I wear? Do I need a ride?

Now, well over a year of regular infusions later, I often tell people that infusions are my favorite appointments because I actually feel like a patient. All I have to do is show up and be treated; I don’t have to steel myself for a consultation, review medical records ahead of time or expect to receive a new diagnosis or a change in medication. I just show up, get poked with a needle and catch up on emails or Facebook until I fall asleep. Minus the awkward IV pole, it’s the perfect SpA treatment (all you Spondyloarthritis folks got that joke, right?).

Here is my list for infusion days:

Continue reading 16 Things I Take to My Infusions for Ankylosing Spondylitis →

FYI: if you purchase something through a link in this post I may receive a small commission, but it will not change the amount you pay for the item. Note: links to products sold on Amazon are not (currently) linked to an affiliate program.

While gift-giving is common for special occasions and during the holiday season, people living with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) could use a little extra love year-round. Here’s a long list of items I use almost daily (I really have used all these items recently)! The prices I included are as of the date this was written:

Hot or cold?

1. A heated mattress pad – this is my fall-through-spring bed staple item, and my cats love it too.

2. A moist heat heating pad. My favorite brand is Battle Creek, but be aware that their products get super hot!

3. A simple bean or rice microwave heating pad or sock. You can even make these at home using – you guessed it – a (clean) sock and a couple cups of rice. Please research this before making!

Things to wear

Continue reading 27 Gifts for Someone with Ankylosing Spondylitis →

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