S1 E4 | The Third Swing

11:42pm July 11 2026

For years, doctors told me that managing my weight would help my ankylosing spondylitis. I believed them. What I didn't understand was just how much it would matter.

In this episode, I share the story of the three major weight swings I've experienced in my life and why the third one finally made everything click. After reaching nearly 370 pounds, ending up in the hospital on my 57th birthday, and deciding it was time to make a change, I lost more than 70 pounds. The difference in my AS symptoms has been nothing short of remarkable.

This isn't an episode about chasing a number on a scale, and it certainly isn't medical advice. It's one patient's honest experience with weight, pain, inflammation, remission, and getting part of his life back.

I also talk about what chronic illness does to the people we love, why our families live with this disease alongside us, and why food is going to become a much bigger part of the conversation on future episodes of AS: Living With It.

If you've ever wondered whether your weight is affecting your AS, or if you're feeling alone in your struggle, I hope you'll find something in this episode that speaks to you.

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