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Cathy Chester

About Cathy Chester

Cathy Chester was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1987, but has lived with MS symptoms since 1981. Now in her fifties, her philosophy is life is precious and should be lived to the fullest each and every day. She views her MS as merely a small part of who she is as a person. Some days are better than others, but each day is a gift and one she cherishes dearly.

An Open Letter to Myself About My MS

By Cathy Chester - April 2, 2018

Dear Body, Why do you continue to disobey me? I don’t understand. Have I mistreated you so badly over the years that it’s time for revenge? Have I done something so dastardly,... READ MORE

Seven Gifts That Can Help You Enjoy the Holiday Season

By Cathy Chester - December 18, 2017

When December rolls around I find myself feeling joyful, anxious, happy and nervous. There’s so much to do that I’m sometimes overwhelmed. Let’s begin with birthdays. December I have the great joy... READ MORE

Five Ways to Help You Feel Good During the Holiday Season

By Cathy Chester - December 15, 2017

The holidays can be a time of great stress for many in the Multiple Sclerosis community. Difficult symptoms make us sad as we’re forced to sit back and watch others scurry about... READ MORE

How to Manage the Stress and Confusion About Health as We Age

By Cathy Chester - November 13, 2017

The older I get the more confused I become about my health. That sounds odd coming from this midlife woman because we’re supposed to get smarter as we age. But my health... READ MORE

Four Ways to Be Better Listeners for a Kinder World

By Cathy Chester - November 8, 2017

When I was a little girl I remember my mom driving me and my grandmother to visit my great-aunt in Brooklyn. The three of us would sit for hours with my great-aunt,... READ MORE

When You’re Down and Troubled and You Need Some Loving Care

By Cathy Chester - October 4, 2017

Sometimes it’d be easier to give into that black cloud of depression when our lives feel out of control. When MS plus all of life’s sorrows fill our plate it feels like... READ MORE

We May Have Multiple Sclerosis But We Are Never Invisible

By Cathy Chester - September 26, 2017

I have never been invisible. Not before my diagnosis or since. I have a voice and opinions. I want to use my voice to make a difference in the world, to illustrate... READ MORE

A New Video Series to Educate and Inspire the MS Community

By Cathy Chester - September 10, 2017

There’s strength in numbers when it comes to community. Shared stories and new ideas envelop us in love, hope, and support. Paying it forward – responding to a kindness by being kind... READ MORE

How Electronic Medical Records Could Save Valuable Time in an Emergency

By Cathy Chester - August 20, 2017

A few years ago I went back to school to earn a certificate in patient advocacy. I wanted to marry my experience of living with a chronic illness and my new degree... READ MORE

A New Study on Using Food as Medicine for People with MS

By Cathy Chester - August 6, 2017

There’s been a lot of buzz about a small clinical trial about diet and MS. Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, a neurologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is conducting a... READ MORE

Six Ways To Take Care of Your MS When Loved Ones Are Sick

By Cathy Chester - July 17, 2017

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they face the difficult task of watching a loved one suffer with illness. They see it spin its ugly web that sometimes becomes unbearable... READ MORE

Taking a Fresh Look at Exercise Training for Progressive MS

By Cathy Chester - July 10, 2017

We all know the benefits of exercise. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, improves our mood, strengthens our bones, reduces the risk of some diseases, helps control our weight and reduces... READ MORE

After 31 Years It’s Time to Re-Evaluate & Make Changes in My MS Care

By Cathy Chester - June 20, 2017

This week I spent a good deal of time leafing through news articles, perusing medical journals, and scouring the Internet for trends about MS. I don’t know why I’m so indecisive about... READ MORE

How to Hold Onto Hope in the Face of Darkness

By Cathy Chester - May 30, 2017

It’s amazing how much better I feel when I can go outdoors and breathe in all of nature. Even if I sit quietly listening to the sounds and smells of spring I... READ MORE

How I Manage My “Fairly Uncommon” Partial Complex Seizures

By Cathy Chester - May 27, 2017

It was a Saturday afternoon in 1995 and my husband and I were at a crowded, noisy tile store with our three-year-old son. We recently moved into the home we built and... READ MORE

What People SHOULD Say to Someone Living with Multiple Sclerosis

By Cathy Chester - May 17, 2017

There’s a marvelous piece written by Ashley Ringstaff called “MS & Things People Should Not Say.” It provides a solid list of statements people should never say to someone with MS. It... READ MORE

The Difficult Choices We Must Make While Living with MS

By Cathy Chester - May 17, 2017

It’s no secret I’ve been ill on and off for the past year. With four added diagnoses all having to do with my digestive system, my MS has flared more than once.... READ MORE

Let’s Talk About Aging and Multiple Sclerosis

By Cathy Chester - May 12, 2017

I was thrilled when I was invited to be a patient expert for the website LiveWise MS. Along with other experts (mainly nurse practitioners), LiveWise MS offers pertinent content for MS patients.... READ MORE

How I’m Taking Steps To Heal My Gut

By Cathy Chester - April 10, 2017

I received many comments on the posts I wrote about the importance of gut health, so I decided to write another. Before experiencing symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea this subject never... READ MORE

The Importance of Keeping Your Gut Healthy: Part Two

By Cathy Chester - March 7, 2017

If you read my last post for MultipleSclerosis.net you know I’ve been having stomach issues for several months. Pain and cramping in my abdomen, along with chronic diarrhea, have plagued me for... READ MORE