Uninsured? Here's Where to Find Financial AssistanceShortly after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005 I lost my job and with it, my employer-sponsored health insurance. I enrolled in COBRA to maintain my employer’s insurance... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Where to Apply for MS Drug Copay Assistance in 2020Each year, MS patients can apply for copay assistance from a number of resources. These programs are needs-based but income cutoff is very generous. For example, patients whose income is as high... By Kim Dolce2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How MS and Aging Have Affected My SleepMultiple sclerosis meddles with our time, dreams, plans, love, self-esteem, form and function. For me, it can also interfere with sleep. Besides that, non-MS related problems such as allergies and... By Kim Dolce5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
Do you know you can request that a spinal tap be done in radiology using a fluoroscope?This procedure eliminates the pain and guesswork....Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 replies
Has anyone tested positive for the JC Virus during their treatment with Tysabri, Tecfidera, Gilenya, or Ocrevus?If so, did you continue on that treatment or switch to a drug that does not carry the PML risk?...Reactions 0 reactions Comments30 replies
The Challenge of Staying Cool, Calm and Alert in the Waning Days of SummerFor me, the challenge of staying cool is about staying cool enough. Enough to keep my head clear, to keep my limbs from weakening and foot drop from worsening so... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
A Book Review of Managing MS: Straight Talk from a Thirty-One Year SurvivorAuthor Debbie Petrina makes it clear from the start that she wrote this book to help others manage their MS by sharing both her own disease journey and information she’s... By Kim Dolce4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Why I'm Trying to be Kinder and Gentler with Others and MyselfBy now I’m sure y’all are about as fed up with being given unsolicited advice as I am. That said, there is an upside: It gives me a chance to... By Kim Dolce5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Heroes, Role Models, and the Difference Between ThemWe talk a lot about heroes within the MS population. For example, whenever a fellow patient takes up a challenge such as a walkathon fundraiser, we cheer them on and... By Kim Dolce4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
At Least 60 and Can't Clean Your House? Call the Department on Aging!Often we oldies are hard put to think of an upside to being in our dotage. The body is falling apart like an old car, just like with MS, only... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Sexual Healing: Why Masturbation is Good for Your HealthConstant readjustments of all kinds are necessary when we have a neurological condition. Multiple sclerosis seems to change how our bodies work on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
The Unexpected Consequences of Weight GainI’m frustrated and fit to be tied over media endlessly pushing misguided, mixed messages in my face about being overweight. For example, most health articles and television advertisements are aimed... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Art, Pain, Benefits, and Joy of Being a Good ListenerMy listening skills have been pretty good since childhood. It comes second nature (so many things do; ever wonder what comes first nature?). I acknowledge what someone says to me... By Kim Dolce4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
What Does "Be Positive" Mean?Sound like a silly question? Being positive means being, well, positive, everybody knows what that means. But I say, not necessarily. To my mind, we are living in a time... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Can You Really Not Care What People Think of You?I don’t care what people think. I’ve heard it plenty of times from plenty of people throughout my life. As a kid I said it myself when somebody was really... By Kim Dolce4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Foot Edema, What Causes It, and How I'm Treating MineAt first, I blamed my Sasquatch feet on prednisone. But two months after being totally off steroids, I still had bloated ankles and feet. I saw my PCP, and she... By Kim Dolce2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments12 comments
How Physical Therapy is Treating My Spasticity and PainI suffer from leg spasticity. The quads (front of my thighs) can get rock hard and hurt like the dickens, and the hamstrings (back of my thighs) are usually drawn... By Kim Dolce4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments20 comments
Where to Apply for MS Drug Copay AssistanceEach year, MS patients can apply for copay assistance from a number of resources. Although these programs are needs-based, the income cutoff is very generous. Patients whose income is as... By Kim Dolce2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Words MatterThose of us with chronic illness often lament the divide that separates us all. If only people would understand that suffering is going on right under their noses. It can... By Kim Dolce3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments