Gary Chester

My wife says I am very competitive. In tennis, in board games, and even when we watch "Jeopardy!" She’s right. My brother and I were both raised with an eye...

Ten data points from the 2022 Multiple Sclerosis in America Survey (completed by 4,478 people living with MS) were shared recently. While I am sure that MS patients will discuss...

It is one of life’s biggest decisions: to start a family or to remain a couple and do your own thing. Couples and individuals weigh many factors in choosing to...

Anyone who is health-conscious is typically aware of whether certain foods are heart-healthy. Are they nutritious? Low in fat? Low in salt? Those with MS, or caregivers who often shop...

When Mr. Big died on a Peloton bike in the Sex and the City redux, fans were outraged, and the manufacturer of the bike was put on the defensive. Peloton...

In a previous post, I discussed the possible connection between gut health and multiple sclerosis. Some researchers believe that a lack of certain helpful bacteria in the digestive tract can...

For years I suffered from an irritable bowel that couldn’t make up its mind between constipation and the opposite of constipation. I would occasionally tell my wife, also an MS...

Popeye the Sailor Man was a comic book and cartoon film icon for decades. One of his signature lines went along the lines of “I am what I am, and...

The role of a support partner to one suffering from a chronic condition such as MS is multi-faceted. Whether the patient suffers from relapsing-remitting or a more debilitating form of...

Children are more observant than many folks believe. They notice our behavior and often copy it. If one of their parents acts differently than other people, they are likely to...

My wife, who has MS, has been taking immunosuppressant medications for more than two decades. She was among the first in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are...

So, you’ve decided to take a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to try to keep your MS at bay. As a caregiver, I have been actively involved in researching and discussing therapeutic...

In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication for the treatment of relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis. It was the seventh FDA approval of an MS...

The role of caregiver or support partner is essential to any patient who relies on others for substantial assistance every day. An overlooked aspect of this relationship is the health...

It is completely understandable if my wife, or any MS patient, gets caught up in what is happening to her and forgets about my needs as a caregiver. But MS...

Given the state of the world, we do not need a Gallup poll to tell us that 100% of the population believes they need an escape. I am going to...

Some identify March as the most important month of the year. The bleakness of winter transitions to the promise of spring. Those of us who reside in cold weather states...

When MS rears its ugly head, patients can experience fatigue, depression, and helplessness. Caregivers, particularly spouses, can assist in a variety of ways. One of the more pleasant ways of...

As a caregiver who helps my wife navigate through a multitude of complex MS issues and decisions, it has become apparent that pinpointing the best diet is one of the...

MS patients commonly suffer from muscle spasms, which may involve sustained muscle contractions that are excruciatingly painful, or sudden, involuntary movements. The National MS Society advises that muscle spasms “must...