Kali J Desautels

The last Tuesday of the month is both my least favourite day and the day that I am the most grateful for.

Thanks to my brother’s diagnosis, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis after years of being told that I had fibromyalgia. The treatment for the chronic pain of AS is a biologic injection and I hate needles. (And don’t mention the fact that I have tattoos – I hate those needles, too.)

I spend the whole day anxiously anticipating the needle and wishing that I wasn’t going to have to be injected.

So why is it the day I am the most grateful for as well? I am incredibly thankful that I have a medication that works, because I have seen what happens when this is not the case. I am also grateful that my medication is 100% covered by my province and my work coverage, because each injection costs more than $1000. Without this medication, I would go back to regular flares and significant back and joint pain. I would go back to days of sleeping instead of being able to work. I would go back to feeling like a not present mom.

So yes – I hate the last Tuesday of the month, but I also am so grateful for it.

#ankylosingspondylitis #as #chronicpain #cosentyx #injections #ihateneedles #fibromyalgia #chronicpainwarrior