Living with MS

FOMO stands for fear of missing out. FOMO can trigger emotions like loneliness or guilt for anyone. But for someone with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain, it can quickly become...

Last week marked the 20-year anniversary of my MS diagnosis. As a society, we place extra emphasis on round-number anniversaries like the 20th. But for me, this one is significant...

Multiple sclerosis treatment commercials. We've all seen them. In addition to their standard language and repetitive phrases, they just can't seem to depict MS for what it truly is. A...

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, my world, as I had known it for 37 years, suddenly changed. Now, there was an actual reason for my fatigue, physical weakness...

I recently wrote an article sharing my struggle with a depressive episode that lasted longer than usual. Thankfully, I am in a better headspace now. Many have asked me what...

One day my mom called me a girly girl. In response, I swiveled my head and asked her exactly what she was talking about. To me, a girly girl was...

As I read the paper "Experiences of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis" I caught myself nodding in agreement with most of the findings. As an African American woman living...

I am not a fan of spiders. I lose it when they creep into my personal space. All of their eight legs strutting into my business. Of course, I realize...

Way over two decades ago, I was at an early morning hockey practice and kept falling down. Not in the course of any plays or drills, not even with anyone...

Most of the people I encounter from day-to-day in my life only ever get to see the mask I put on to hide the toll multiple sclerosis (MS) is taking...

MS is so unpredictable. This chronic disease often presents mysteries that are quite unsolicited, such as, how I will feel on any given morning. I can retire to bed feeling...

That's right. The title of this article reflects my Body Mass Index or BMI. A BMI of 32, well, that means I am obese. Such an ugly-sounding word. Oh-beese. Hear...

I recently went on a camping trip to the coast—Cape Disappointment in southwest Washington state. Among its many beautiful features stands North Jetty, a 2.5-mile-long “rubble mound” along the north...

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in my early twenties. It didn’t take long for me to realize that a lot of people, particularly in my own age group, had...

If you have progressive multiple sclerosis, either primary (PPMS) or secondary (SPMS), you may be interested in hearing about this hopeful new effort by scientists to repair ongoing MS damage...

Even having a good support system doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes feel like we are fighting this MS battle alone. It can be challenging when friends and family members who...

It was a hot day in July 2007 when I sat registered, signed in, and anxiously awaiting my turn in the spacious, bright lobby of a local neurology office. This...

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...

I remember in childhood seeing the word “cure” used in all kinds of fundraising efforts, including sponsorships and telethons. While raising lots of money, these charities — even the most...

The process of being diagnosed with MS can shatter one’s world. This condition takes up so much of one's thoughts and reality. What starts as a diagnosis doesn't take long...