Anita Williams

After more than one year of actual time passing and what seemed like a couple more years, I was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. I received the newsletter from the...

I always called it 'sparky jaw.' Since I was a child I would have this incredible pain along my jaw. It felt like an electric cactus was stabbing my face...

I just got my second COVID-19 vaccine shot. I am not sure how I feel. It is not a lack of feeling. It is an overflow of emotions and thoughts...

I think I am past the stage of being an MS newbie. It has been 6 years since my official multiple sclerosis diagnosis. There is no written definition of "newbie,"...

There is one thing that us multiple sclerosis patients have in common. We get a lot of unsolicited advice. From the moment that we reveal our diagnosis, we are bombarded...

I am in the kitchen reaching for an onion when my arm freezes. I am holding a jar of body cream and my arm starts to drop. Whenever one of...

How many of you struggled with disclosing your diagnosis? Family, friends, coworkers, and other associates were all on the list for people with whom we could share the news. There...

I have written quite a bit about my multiple sclerosis symptoms. I have mentioned tinnitus, spasticity, gastrointestinal problems, muscle weakness, and muscle spasticity. I have shared far more about myself...

I joked that I was sheltering in place before it was cool. That is to say that before COVID-19, I was not someone who spent a lot of time socializing...

After I got over the shock of my multiple sclerosis diagnosis, one of the first things I wanted to do was volunteer. Giving back felt like a necessity and not...

You might know the old term: beggars can’t be choosy. The concept behind that idea is that when you have no power, you have no right to reject what is...

It's already the New Year - 2021. As long as I can remember, and I am 50 years old, there was always a big deal about the New Year’s resolution...

When your skin is dark, you miss out on an important multiple sclerosis symptom. Itchiness caused by a rash is not uncommon. There are many types of rashes with myriad...

In the multiple sclerosis community, asking for help is highly encouraged! We are generous with each other. We share our time. We share our wisdom. We share our tips. We...

“Don’t compare yourself to others. We are all unique.” This phrase is true. Multiple sclerosis by its nature affects each of us differently. We cannot even be sure of how...

Ever since my multiple sclerosis kicked in, I am suddenly the person who is late. I find myself running ragged trying to complete projects when I should be farther along...

Some medical professionals sometimes use the casual term “LP” as shorthand. It's shorthand for lumbar puncture, previously referred to as a spinal tap, which “is a procedure in which a...

If there is one thing that makes the multiple sclerosis community strong, it is our ability to empathize with one another. Our various struggles and triumphs can be shared with...

When you have other medical issues along with multiple sclerosis, you have a comorbidity. Comorbidity is a harsh word. Morbid is an even harsher one. It brings up images of...

Multiple sclerosis has been like a secret club at times. We have our own language and rituals. We can confab over disease-modifying drugs (DMD) or over our latest recurrence of...