Hello all, it’s /u/ankylospankylo from Reddit. If you’re familiar with my injection day posts, you may know me as Leonard and Murphy’s mom. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in December 2022. It was a dark time leading up to diagnosis and until I started biologics. I was 23, terrified of my own body and struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally. During that time, I got my cat Leonard as an emotional support animal. Even on my hardest days, he brought me comfort and joy.
I started biologics in July 2023, a decision that changed my life. It also sparked my weekly injection day post ritual on Reddit. I now happily live with my boyfriend (Murphy’s dad), so Murphy gets in on the posts too.
Looking back, I knew something was wrong with my body long before I had a name for it. As a teenager, I was active and performed well in high school track & field and swimming, until the pain crept in. My shoulders, hips, and back started to slow me down. I went to various doctors and specialists seeking answers, only to be told I was a young athlete and to go to physical therapy. I couldn’t sleep at night from the pain, but pursuing the guidance of other doctors led to the same result. Eventually, despite knowing something was wrong, I gave up on the doctors for some time and dealt with it on my own. I was sick of being dismissed.
A few years later, in 2022, I found myself in the ER with excruciating eye pain, redness, and light sensitivity. The hospital ran test after test, only to come back with, “We don’t know what’s wrong with your eye.” After some phone calls, they requested I stay overnight as there was an eye specialist who was interested in my complicated case. In the morning, the specialist quickly diagnosed me with uveitis and asked me if I had any joint disorders. I explained that I had no diagnosis but that I had been dealing with significant joint pain for a while and looking for answers. He told me to see a rheumatologist as soon as possible. For the first time, someone was finally starting to put all the pieces together.
There were many more flares between then and diagnosis. Tests, scans, bloodwork, everything seemed to raise red flags. Between the uveitis, enthesitis, changes in my SI joints, and being HLA-B27 positive, I finally got an answer. Ankylosing spondylitis.
I joined r/ankylosingspondylitis and found support, answers, and people like me, people who understand the pain. To share the milestone in my journey, I posted my first Humira injection on Reddit, including photos of Leonard, my Humira pen, and the bandage covering my injection site. I received a ton of positive replies, some of my favorites recommending me to get fun, cute bandages.
At my next injection, I posted again with Leonard and my Humira pen, sporting a cool patterned bandage this time. I haven’t stopped making these posts since. Over time, Murphy joined the routine as well. These posts have opened doors to talk to others about diagnosis, answer questions, and provide support to each other.
Because living with AS can be so difficult, our community often holds a lot of heavy experiences. Pets offer something uncomplicated in the middle of that weight: routine, comfort, distraction, and joy on days when those things can feel out of reach. I love to see how pets like Leonard and Murphy can bring simple positivity to others. I am grateful for all of my AS friends who follow my posts and comment regularly, and also for my family who from the start has given me so much support and understanding throughout my diagnosis.
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