I ended up quitting my job with no backup plan because I found it to be overwhelming for a number of reasons (not a good fit for my skills, company having financial troubles, etc.) But one of the main reasons is because I was routinely having constant fatigue and anxiety that I was having to medicate with strong coffee and alcohol to feel like myself and get through the day, and didn't want to perpetuate that unhealthy cycle.
I assumed the fatigue and anxiety were due to the job as well as my seasonal affective disorder, but I wonder how much of that fatigue and anxiety are actually due to ankylosing spondylitis? It had not really occurred to me originally because I don't have much arthritis pain, but even now that I am off work and the weather is getting better, I still have the same fatigue, anxiety, clouded thinking, feeling uncharacteristically emotional, etc.
As of this morning I decided to start up celebrex again. Celebrex is something I associate with arthritis pain and since I have only minor physical pain I never take celebrex, but this time I'm taking it to see if it might help my mental state. Perhaps even a biologic could help?
So far no one on this forum seems to have a similar experience to me so it continues to be a bit of a mystery what is at the root of my health troubles, and doctors don't seem to know. GP says he's stumped, rheumatologist says bc I have minimal physical pain my BASDI score is low and therefore I'm in remission, and psychologist suggests doing yoga and getting a low-stress job. They mean well but not that helpful!
I did come across this study about how most AS folks that have work interruption or go on disability do so because of the fatigue, not the arthritis or lack of mobility as is commonly assumed:
https://ankylosingspondylitisnews.com/20...ty-study-shows/
