Living with MS

When you have a chronic illness like MS, sex can involve a complicated mix of feelings, emotions, and practical considerations. A diagnosis can turn your entire world upside down –...

I have HATED my body for the majority of my life - from head to toe. I hated it all, and I struggled with my developing body. All the curves...

Throughout my life, I have always strived to be a very honest person (if you’ve read much of my writing, you might even say I’m a bit too honest). However...

Dark grey walls. No pictures. Outdated pamphlets on an aged corner table. Nothing has changed in the two years since I have been seeing this neurologist. The receptionist called my...

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...

Who doesn’t like a challenge? I’m facing one of the toughest yet and I hope by sharing this someone else will not make the same mistakes as I have. Last year...

My last deep tissue massage occurred 15 months ago, a few weeks before Washington state went into pandemic lockdown. While others have lamented being unable to safely get a haircut...

“One step and then the next gets you where you’re going” is an often-repeated quote from the character Sister in one of my favorite books (Swan Song by Robert R...

Many people with MS experience some form of vision-related issue, if not multiple issues. These issues can include blind spots, uncontrolled eye movements, double vision, and more. As you can...

I call my disease a poltergeist because it felt as though this entity, with enormous power, engulfed me, controlling my every thought, need, want, and desire. I had spent decades...

My MS flips the script and tolerates heat much better than cold. I, therefore, spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer months, and this year was no different...

Oh boy, am I having a fun time these days. I have a new game I get to play every day now. It starts in the morning and ends at...

You might remember Mariah Carey's song about moving on from a failed relationship. She soulfully sang that she was striving to "Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it off..." And there...

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is MS that develops slowly and steadily worsens over time. PPMS does not go through periods of relapse or remission like other forms of MS...

Ever since I was a young child, one of my most enduring passions has been reading. Even after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, reading was an integral part of...

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...

When it comes to leaving my house and engaging in various activities, whether it be meeting friends, running errands, or going to a doctor's appointment, I find my success can...

When first diagnosed with MS, my first big question was which disease-modifying therapy (DMT) I would start. My neurologist gave me a list of options: injectables (the interferon class and...

I was an athlete and knew how to grind through a lot of pain during training. When I began to experience all these insane abnormalities and rapid decline in body...

This article is one in a series about the positives of saying 'yes' to sex after a devastating MS diagnosis. My approach will continue to be explicit, frank, and heartfelt...