Posts by: Laura Kolaczkowski

Laura Kolaczkowski

Laura Kolaczkowski comes from Beavercreek, Ohio, and worked at the University of Dayton for over 25 years until MS challenged her enough to go onto full-time disability. She is active in the MS community on multiple levels, and writes for her own personal blog, InsideMyStory and as a patient expert for MultipleSclerosis.net. Laura is the Lead Patient Representative and co-principal investigator for iConquerMS™, a patient powered MS research network. Laura freely admits her Liberal Arts background fuels her interest in patient engagement and empowerment and she struggles with the science of MS.

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018

Ocrevus Shows Promise for Cognitive Function in Relapsing MS

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

One thing we’ve all hoped for with our disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is a treatment that will improve our multiple sclerosis (MS) and not just keep it ... Read more

April 26, 2018April 25, 2018

The Need for Follow-through with REAL MS

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I’m a great starter. How about you? I start projects but often lack the time or motivation to finish them. Hence, I have bins full of ... Read more

April 12, 2018April 11, 2018

An Ocrevus Update Has Me Cautiously Optimistic

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

After a delay in treatment in late December thanks to a nasty head cold, and the after-effects of contracting the flu in February necessitating another delay, ... Read more

April 5, 2018April 3, 2018

Doctor Connections

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Have you ever been touched by the actions of one of your doctors? I hope we all have experienced special moments with our care providers because ... Read more

March 22, 2018March 21, 2018

Modafinil or Amantadine: Who Decides?

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Fatigue. That No. 1 symptom that a large majority of people with multiple sclerosis are affected by. MS fatigue. It can be crushing, numbing, and stop ... Read more

March 15, 2018March 14, 2018

Earworms and Multiple Sclerosis

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Sometimes they are called “sticky songs,” better known by their common name “earworms.” Earworms are those musical phrases that get stuck in our head that we ... Read more

March 8, 2018March 6, 2018

Oscar the MS Monkey and His Buddies

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

While at the ACTRIMS Forum 2018 (which stands for Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS), I was surprised to see a colorful display of ... Read more

March 1, 2018February 28, 2018

MS Education and Advocacy Are as Important as Awareness

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I fell out of sight in February, thanks to a case of the flu. Influenza B and its lingering side effects took me out of action ... Read more

February 1, 2018January 31, 2018

Minority Engagement in MS Research

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Engaging all types of people for research isn’t just a nice thought. It is critical to obtaining research results that will be meaningful. Middle-aged white women ... Read more

January 18, 2018January 18, 2018

What We Can Learn from Longevity’s Link to Quality of Life

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Quality of life. These three words conjure different images for people, depending on their needs. Quality of life could mean having improved health, good relationships with ... Read more

January 11, 2018January 10, 2018

My Ocrevus Treatments: The Next Round Is Delayed

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

  By now, I had planned to give you an update on my current multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). But one thing living with multiple sclerosis ... Read more

December 21, 2017December 20, 2017

My Holiday Gift Wish

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

It’s that time of year when everyone is asking: What would you like for Christmas? Shopping for the perfect gift for me is a challenge because ... Read more

December 7, 2017December 6, 2017

Advances in MRI Readings

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

My neurologist orders an annual MRI to see if any major changes have occurred, and last year my imaging included NeuroQuant software. NeuroQuant is still relatively ... Read more

November 16, 2017November 15, 2017

A JC Virus Primer

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

There is often alarm and confusion about the JC virus, how we get it, and what it means to people with multiple sclerosis. This is my ... Read more

November 9, 2017November 8, 2017

Ocrevus Q&A, Part 2

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on readers’ comments about Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). Read part one here. Last week, I responded to a ... Read more

November 2, 2017November 1, 2017

Ocrevus Q&A, Part 1

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Editor’s Note: First in a two-part series on readers’ comments about Ocrevus (ocrelizumab). I switched disease-modifying therapies and began treatment with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in June. I previously ... Read more

October 19, 2017October 18, 2017

How Doctors’ Gender Can Influence Opinions on Healthcare Quality

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

There are two doctors. Here’s your choice: One has a patient-centered approach to care, spends more time with you during appointments, and is more empathetic with ... Read more

October 12, 2017October 11, 2017

Did You Wash Your Hands?

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I’ve been at a conference the last few days where scholars from around the world are discussing health literacy. It’s a subject much more complicated than ... Read more

October 5, 2017October 4, 2017

Discovering MS Research

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

When talking about MS research, we tend to focus on drug development because improved therapies, and even the cure for MS, will come from pharmaceuticals. But ... Read more

September 28, 2017September 27, 2017

A Look Inside MS Marketplace Projections

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Do you ever stop and ponder the value of MS drugs? I’m not talking about if they work and the ways they improve our lives. I’m ... Read more

September 14, 2017September 13, 2017

There’s an App (Maybe Too Many) for That!

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

How many hours do the pharmaceutical companies think we have in our day? I ask because almost all of them have come up with very slick ... Read more

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017

#Sleeptember is Here!

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

What better time of year to talk about getting good sleep than heading into the fall season, which is followed by the dark days of winter? ... Read more

August 31, 2017April 25, 2018

Ocrevus and Sweating Out MS

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Many of you are considering making the switch to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) as your disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis. This is a switch I made recently. There ... Read more

August 24, 2017August 23, 2017

MS Advocacy Resources are Many

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Advocacy comes in many forms, and recently I wrote about what advocacy by individuals might look like. The other type of advocacy we have going for ... Read more

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017

Digging Deeper for a Cure

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I stood at the front door of my house and could only shake my head as I watched the backhoe digging a deep trench in my ... Read more

August 10, 2017August 9, 2017

Faces of MS Advocacy

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Do you ever stop to wonder about the people who write these great columns for Multiple Sclerosis News Today? I have the honor of knowing several ... Read more

August 3, 2017August 2, 2017

The Importance of Patients Having a Voice in MS Research

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I recently spent time at the annual meeting of the Drug Information Association (DIA), listening to presentations and talking with industry representatives about the multiple sclerosis community’s needs. ... Read more

July 27, 2017July 27, 2017

Got Questions? iConquerMS Seeks Answers

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

If you’ve followed my writing, you already know I am committed to advancing patient-centered research and care. I am the lead patient representative and co-principal investigator ... Read more

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017

Ocrevus and Me, Part 2: Infusion Time and Side Effects

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Editor’s note: This column is second in a series. Read the first part here. Just you wait! How many times have we heard those words or ... Read more

July 6, 2017July 5, 2017

Ocrevus and Me

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I’ve done it! I made the treatment switch that so many people with multiple sclerosis are talking about: I said goodbye to Tysabri (natalizumab) and am ... Read more

June 15, 2017June 14, 2017

The late Dr. John N. Whitaker was a world-famous researcher in multiple sclerosis. His work inspired many scientists to enter the field of MS and develop their skills and talents. Each year, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers honors Dr. Whitaker’s memory by presenting one award for innovative research by a young investigator. — CMSC Annual Meeting Program

Read more

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017

CMSC Revises Recommendations for Gadolinium Use in MRIs

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Editor’s note: Patient columnist Laura Kolaczkowski attended the 31st annual Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers conference in New Orleans. The information in this article was taken ... Read more

June 1, 2017June 1, 2017

MS Comprehensive Care: What My Clinic Teammates are Doing

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw “MS Comprehensive Care: A Team Sport“ listed as the title of the John F. Kurtzke Memorial Lecture at the ... Read more

May 18, 2017May 18, 2017

Defining Resiliency in MS and Ideas on Bouncing Back

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

How well do you bounce back when MS gets you down? An article called “Bouncing back again, and again: a qualitative study of resilience in people ... Read more

May 11, 2017May 11, 2017

The Importance of Caring for Caregivers

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

“Coping with Caregiver Burnout When Caring for A Person with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Guide for Caregivers,” published in the April 2017 issue of the Archives for ... Read more

April 27, 2017April 27, 2017

Crossing MS PATHS — and Taking a Stand for Patient Rights

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I knew it was only a matter of time before my MS neurologist would have MS PATHS available to collect clinical data from people who have ... Read more

April 20, 2017April 19, 2017

Canadian Neurologist Traboulsee Reflects on Today’s MS Options

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

The American Academy of Neurology‘s (AAN) 2017 annual meeting will bring together physicians who practice in all areas of neurology, including our own multiple sclerosis (MS) specialists. ... Read more

April 12, 2017April 12, 2017

RMS Patient Using Ocrevus in Trial: ‘I Feel Great’

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Pamela Arterbridge is one of 70 people at Ohio State University’s Multiple Sclerosis Center taking part in the open-label part of a clinical trial for ocrelizumab, now best ... Read more

April 6, 2017June 19, 2017

Ohio State Neurologist Shares Insight About MS B-Cell Therapy Ocrevus

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

A prominent neurologist, who was involved in early research into B-cell therapy, tells Multiple Sclerosis News Today about his positive experience of using ocrelizumab, now branded Ocrevus, ... Read more

March 30, 2017March 30, 2017

Making Some Valid Points About Acupuncture and MS

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Have you ever used acupuncture?  I have a number of times and would do so more often if it were a medical service covered by my insurance. ... Read more