July 22, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Reflecting on my weekly battle with multiple sclerosis-related migraines Searing pain and tears characterized my life for years because of multiple sclerosis-associated migraines. I remember those feelings as clearly as day because they diminished my quality of life. One radiant morning, my mom, friend, and I went to a coffee festival in our hometown. It was…
July 15, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama This life hack made living with MS a little easier for me A disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) is a form of treatment that alters how the diseaseĀ develops over time. DMTs have the potential to impede the progression of MS and decrease the number of relapses a patient experiences. In MS, the immune system is…
July 8, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Handling an abundance of emotions is part of life with multiple sclerosis Let me paint you a picture of a scenario that has stuck with me for years. It was my sophomore year at the University of Texas at Austin and I was having lunch with my best friend at the time. We were discussing my journey with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis…
July 1, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Switching to new medications brings challenges in life with MS Note: This column describes the authorās own experiences with sleep medications and antidepressants. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Many years ago, it was brought to my attention that I suffer from insomnia and chronic fatigue.
June 24, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama A letter to a younger me newly diagnosed with MS Dear younger self, As I sit down to write this letter, I canāt help but tear up at the thought of you. First and foremost, you’re an amazing soul, full of life and with a bright future ahead of you. But you’ve just received life-changing news, and it feels…
June 17, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama My little brother is my hero in life with multiple sclerosis My mom always wished for a son and a daughter. Ten years after I was born, her dream became a reality with the arrival of my baby brother, Michael. Because I was the only child for so long, I had never considered becoming a big sister, nor did I understand…
June 3, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama My graduate studies help me better understand the effects of ableism In previous columns, I’ve shared that I’m a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, but what exactly does that entail? Almost every time I tell someone I’m pursuing a doctorate in educational psychology, I’m met with the question, āWhat do you do?ā Letās unpack the answer.
May 27, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Weak hands are a problematic MS symptom for a graduate student As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, I’m now pursuing a doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Given that work, 99.9% of my day revolves around typing, despite my multiple sclerosis (MS). My journey as a typist began in high school, when I enrolled…
May 20, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Reflections on the meaning of authenticity while living with MS Recognizing and valuing authenticity is an aspect of life I began to grasp only a few years ago. During the peak of quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19, I was forced to move back home to San Antonio from my on-campus dormitory at the University of Texas at Austin. Like many…
May 13, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Learning to say no takes practice, but it’s essential in life with MS Many of my personal breakthroughs and discoveries occurred during college, when I was living in a new city as a young adult with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). One of those “aha!” moments was understanding that saying no takes practice, but it’s a necessary aspect of life. A few…
April 22, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Learning to manage cognitive impairment with multiple sclerosis Upon commencing my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, I pursued a major in prehealth neuroscience. I had decided to pursue this degree shortly after my diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ in 2016, during my senior year of high school. My hope in choosing the…
April 8, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama How a support system helps me persevere on my MS journey My graduation ceremony at the University of Texas at Austin had just ended, and there were swarms of people everywhere I looked. I was sweating profusely in the summer heat and overstimulated by the large crowds. Thankfully, my mom called to tell me where my family was waiting for me.
March 25, 2024 Columns by Desiree Lama Unraveling my ‘authentically human’ multiple sclerosis story My adolescent years can be characterized by a series of naps, long-lasting migraines, always being sick, and never being able to donate blood, which my family and I never understood. My journey with multiple sclerosis (MS) started long before my diagnosis in 2016. Let me set the…