Life with MS is Not a RaceLast week, my husband and I went cycling on local trails. Since the weather had been cold this spring and because we stayed home most of the time to avoid...reactions4comments
The Domino Effect: Summer Heat and MS Symptom Flare-UpsYou would think that living with MS for going on 10 years that I would be used to the challenges that it brings. In a way, I am used to...reactions41comments
Pain and Sleep Disorders: Two MS Early Warning Signs?Whether you’ve lived with MS for a couple of decades or have been diagnosed recently, there’s one question you’ve probably attempted to answer: “When did my MS begin?” It’s the...reactions4comments
Easy, Healthy Ways to Prevent Muscle SpasmsMS 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...reactions17comments
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): What It is and How It Affects MeAround the time I started learning how to better control the misery of MS, I discovered that misery loves company. It came in the form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)...reactions20comments
I Get by With a Little Help From My FriendsInternational Friendship Day has fallen at the end of July for over 60 years. It always coincides with the week following an annual writers conference I attend. At that event...reactionscomments
MS Comic: I May Not Always...It’s hard to have to cancel plans last minute or opt out of plans that you know will drain you (like a barbecue in 90-degree weather!). Saying “no” because MS...reactions2comments
The Connection Between Pneumonia During Adolescence and MSAs someone who has almost lived longer with multiple sclerosis than without it, I rarely have given much thought to how I got this disease. To me, focusing on the...reactions10comments
Taking Time to Rest During an MS Relapse Isn't as Easy as It SoundsWhen anyone, regardless of whether they have a chronic illness or not, isn’t feeling very well, what is one of the most common things people will tell them? “Get some...reactions13comments
Dealing with the Never-Ending Unknowns of MS is Such a Pain for Me - LiterallyI’d be a liar if I said I didn’t think about ending it all a little over 6 years ago. I was so scared and anxious. I also was exhausted...reactions33comments
When Something Feels Wrong, I Round Up the Usual SuspectsManaging a chronic illness is like solving a series of crimes. Day after week after month after year, we are assaulted by small-time thugs that pilfer our stash of energy...reactions6comments
At Home With MS"...Can't do is like don't care meaning neither one of them have a home…" – Maya Angelou, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings What is the commonality between how...reactions2comments
Mistreatment or Abuse by a CaregiverIt is estimated that 1 in 4 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience disability that is significant enough to warrant formal caregiving. Most of this caregiving is performed by family...reactionscomments
The Challenge of Consistency and EmploymentGoing to work. Preparing and cooking meals. Cleaning your residence. Exercising. Showering. Taking medication. These are all common activities in our day to day lives and they all have something...reactions8comments
I Am Feeling the ItchSometimes, I feel the itch to do things I used to do before MS, like travel, hike, golf, and stand up to pee. Recently, I've felt the itch to socialize...reactions10comments
Pamper Yourself on the Good Days, TooWe all want to feel good, right? We want MS to stay in the background and get no where near centerstage. It’s wonderful to be able to ignore MS at...reactions7comments
MRI: How They are Useful, Problems They Can Cause, and Why I Don't Have Them AnymoreIf you have been diagnosed with MS or have been tested for it, you’ve had at least a couple of magnetic resonance imaging scans, or MRIs, that can reveal lesions...reactions47comments
Wait, Who is Making My Medical Decisions?I’m not going to pretend to be anywhere near close to fully educated on how health insurance works. However, as someone who has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) since...reactions10comments
Why Aren't We Treating with the Most Effective Medications Early On?When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over 20 years ago, I started treatment as soon as I could. My original disease-modifying therapy was Avonex. Over the years, I...reactions16comments
Adventures in Grocery Shopping with MSI’ve always loved going to the store. At least up until my MS worsened enough that I could no longer ignore it. Then, my trips to the local supermarket became...reactions29comments
