Columns

My nearly 20-year journey to get my diagnosis of MS

Hi! Iā€™m new ā€” not to having multiple sclerosis (MS), but to being a columnist. I’m a daughter, wife, mother of two young adults, dog mom, sister, aunt, friend, college professor, pharmacist, avid reader, nature lover, and an MS warrior. I was diagnosed with MS in 2014, although…

MS awareness events are an opportunity to build understanding

We’ve all heard comments from people who aren’t educated about multiple sclerosis (MS). Some that I’ve heard include “My friend had that and is fine now,” “Eating better will fix you,” and “Try a parasite cleanse.” I have to chuckle at these statements.Ā  With March not far away,…

How to ask for help ā€” and offer it

Just three years before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), I was on what was to be my last overseas tour with the U.S. Army. One day while dozing during a lull in a mission, I was awakened by the sensation of someone standing over me.

Celebrating the legacy of MS columnist Beth Shorthouse-Ullah

My name is Dave and I’m Beth Shorthouse-Ullah’s husband. We had spoken about the possibility of writing a column that looks at the experiences of partners of people who have multiple sclerosis (MS). But instead of sharing a thought-provoking piece from another perspective, today I sadly announce that Beth…

How good surveillance can help detect the early signs of MS

About four years before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), someone else inadvertently ā€œdiagnosedā€ me. This person wasn’t medically trained, probably had no personal knowledge of MS, and didn’t actually use the words ā€œmultiple sclerosis.ā€ Still, they gave me one of the best clues in my quest…

How I kept going after a discouraging diagnosis of MS

Let me introduce myself: I’m Mike, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to share my story. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in August 2022. Since then, a lot has changed, including the loss of a 20-year career, worsening mobility problems, and the start of…

MS news notes: Vumerity, herpes virus, caregivers

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereā€™s a look at some of whatā€™s been happening: A good report for Vumerity Final results are in from the EVOLVE-MS-1 clinical trial for patients with…

MS news notes: COVID-19, MS blood tests

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereā€™s a look at some of whatā€™s been happening. MS relapses and COVID-19 Since COVID-19 became a concern over three years ago, I’ve read many comments…