April 23, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Is the MRI Contrasting Agent Gadolinium Safe? (Part 1) When a doctor orders an MRI with contrast, gadolinium is usually the contrasting agent used. Gadolinium is injected into the patient’s vein after the radiologist takes the first round of MRI images. This helps the radiologist receive sharper, more readable images. In the case of multiple sclerosis (MS),…
April 16, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson When Did Showering Become Such a Thrill Ride? My morning ritual of showering for a fresh start to my day has progressed to a once-a-week occurrence. Like everything else that my multiple sclerosis (MS) affects, less shower time is not by choice. I take sponge baths daily of course, but actual showers are reserved for when I…
April 9, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Taking My MS on a Road Trip On Good Friday, my family and I took a three-day road trip to lay my husband to rest. Our goal was to honor his last wishes and set his ashes free in the wilderness that he so loved. My husband enjoyed going archery hunting almost every fall, until a…
April 2, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson What It’s Like Constantly Living with Primary Progressive MS My column last week was a recap of my journey to a primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) diagnosis. This week’s column continues that theme by showing a glimpse of what it is like to live with PPMS on a daily basis. To say that having a disability like…
March 26, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson My Unique Primary Progressive MS Diagnosis I have lived with the diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) for almost eight years. For many years prior to that diagnosis, I was confused by what could be causing my abnormal gait, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, and trouble concentrating. During that time, I completed many diagnostic tests, dealt…
March 19, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson What a Kids’ Movie Taught Me About Finding Happiness Having four grandchildren, I watch my fair share of kids’ movies. Most of them offer positive life lessons for growing minds while remaining entertaining. Recently, I watched the movie “…
February 26, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Improvements Needed for Better Accessibility for People with Disabilities So many of us are affected by disabilities, and day-to-day we strive to live our lives the best we can. The struggles due to these disabilities can consume a lot of our precious and sparse energy. Anything that can be modified in the home, at businesses, or anywhere we choose…
February 19, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson The Power of Resilience After taking a tumble this week, I am reminded of the power of resilience. Dictionary.com defines resilience as: “1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity. 2. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity,…
February 12, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson The 4 Stages of Metamorphosis: Honing My Reactions to Change At the end of each passing year, I like to give a theme name to the fresh new year. So last year when my sister Kathy asked me what I would dub 2018, I thought for a few moments and said, “The metamorphosis of change.” I previously didn’t have…
January 29, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Tips to Ease Anxiety, an Often Overlooked Effect of MS Since the onset of my MS, I have been acutely aware that stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on my body. Being anxious is not a comfortable feeling, whether you have a chronic illness or not. This past weekend was my husband’s celebration of life service. With his…
January 15, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson Grieving the Loss of a Loved One One year ago, I wrote “Grief, Self-preservation and Multiple Sclerosis.” My…
November 20, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Living a Grateful Life The road to living a grateful life is not always a smooth and paved one. There are curves and roadblocks that can send any thoughts of gratitude far off into the distance. Life is constantly changing…
October 30, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Life’s Curveballs Life is full of curveballs, with a mix of sliders, split-fingered fastballs, and sinkers thrown in. And, it is the curveballs that can be the hardest to take. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the major “curveballs” thrown into my life; I didn’t see it coming and it…
October 2, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Combating Muscle Weakness Associated with MS Sometimes walking, even with an assistance device, can be very challenging because of the extreme muscle weakness that I experience. The slow, off-balanced gait that has been my constant companion for many years prior to my 2010 multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis is definitely on the decline. Accepting the…
September 25, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Calming the Cranky Beast That’s Irritability Irritability can strike anyone at anytime, and pain, illness, depression — or just having a bad day — can all lead to feelings of anxiety and irritability. To those of us with multiple sclerosis (MS), being irritable can come from all of those causes, plus a whole lot more.
September 18, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson MS Patients Deserve the Best Care As patients, we deserve the best care for our MS and we should accept nothing less. I have had many years of difficulty trying to find adequate MS care since my diagnosis in 2010. I have gone from neurologist to neurologist, even before I knew my symptoms pointed to MS. My…
September 11, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson My Thoughts on Being a Grandparent with a Disability I had always envisioned that I would be an active and healthy grandparent when the time came — not one with a disability. I was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in the summer of 2010, which also happened to be the same year my first grandchild…
August 28, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson The Pinball Wizard of Nerve Pain Sometimes the nerve pain caused by MS reminds me of a pinball machine. With the slap of the paddles the ball surges, bouncing sporadically, bells ringing, lights flashing; then the ball quietly comes to a stop and all of the commotion is silenced until the next slap. The sharp…
August 21, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Humorous Moments Created by Life There are some pretty humorous things that can happen to me because I have multiple sclerosis (MS). Believe me, I understand living with MS and how difficult it can be to find the humor in anything about MS most days! But then, other times I can see the comical,…
August 14, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson How I Overcome My Challenges to Stay Active Believe me, I enjoy being active. As I’m sitting in a chair or a wheelchair, it may not appear that way, but I do. I have multiple sclerosis, and the fatigue and difficulty of moving can make it extremely laborious to be active. The thought of going on…
July 24, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson How MS Helped Me Embrace Living in the Present My multiple sclerosis (MS) brings fatigue, pain, and instability into my life, but surprisingly, it also makes me more aware of my life and surroundings. For me, that means being more aware in the present moment and focusing on the good in my life right now. Living in…
July 17, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Seeing First-hand the Effect of Vision Issues Linked to MS I was watching my son’s baseball game in the early 1990s when suddenly, my left eye went blurry and blocked my vision. It was a startling incident that lasted about two hours, and then it was gone. That was my introduction into the unpredictable world of multiple sclerosis…
July 10, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson How to Improve MS-Related Imbalance One of the earliest symptoms that appeared before my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis was imbalance. I remember turning my head to look at something and feeling slightly off-balance. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but that wobbly sensation gradually increased through the years. Occasionally, I…
July 5, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Another MS Symptom: Sciatic Nerve Pain at a Whole New Level Just when I thought I had experienced every multiple sclerosis (MS) symptom possible, another one emerges: sciatic nerve pain. It can happen to anyone, but it is also associated with MS. A couple of months ago, I woke up with a sharp knife-type pain on the upper back side…
June 19, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson My MS Speech Issues, and Why I Want to Head Off Any Swallowing Problems Many of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis feel random, and can be down right terrifying. I’ve recently been suffering from a scary MS symptom: slurred speech, also known as dysarthria. I open my mouth expecting the words I have chosen to appear. Instead, I slur and stutter…
June 12, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson A Glimpse at Jason, a Loving Dad with MS, as Father’s Day Nears Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18, in the U.S. There are a lot of good fathers out there, but one I wanted to tell you about is my friend Jason Clark. He is a caring husband to his wife, Jenny, and an amazing father to his four children.
June 5, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Transitioning from MS Patient to Cancer Caregiver I am making the transition from multiple sclerosis patient to cancer caregiver. On May 11 my family’s world turned upside down when my husband of 41 years was diagnosed with advanced  pancreatic cancer. My caring husband, who has always loved and protected me, is now the one in…
May 31, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson MS Burning Feet and Hands Could Be Erythromelalgia Erythromelalgia is a rare and painful multiple sclerosis (MS) symptom that I (and others with MS) experience. Almost every night my feet have a tight, swollen feeling accompanied by a terribly hot, burning sensation. It is usually cool to the touch but can feel hot at certain…
May 22, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson A Walk in the Park Reminds Me That I Am Not Alone My walk in the park usually consists of watching every one of my steps, while conserving my energy so I can finish the trek. In the midst of my walk, I remain acutely aware of how weak my legs are, and hope they don’t give out on me. For…
May 15, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Fear the Future? Change the Way You Think Fear of the future will likely rear its ugly head more often than you’d like when you have multiple sclerosis or any serious chronic disease. It can be difficult to keep your mind from wandering to a very dark place. Worries about how fast your disease is progressing,…