March 27, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Is MS Keeping Me from Smelling the Roses? For years, my wife and I have disagreed about smells. She smells something and I don’t. I tell her that her nose is too sensitive. She tells me to get out the air freshener. Over the 37 years since my MS diagnosis,Ā this conversation has happened thousands of times.
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)Ā 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,Ā and trouble concentrating. During that time, I completed many diagnostic tests, dealt…
March 26, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Stem Cells, Sense of Smell, Cannabis Guide Blood Stem Cell Transplants Improve RRMS Patientsā Disability, Phase 3 Trial Shows Here’s yet another study that shows the benefits ofĀ autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or AHSCT ā the procedure in which a patient’s own stem cells are harvested and used to rebuild the…
March 23, 2018 Columns by John Connor Keep Taking the Steroids! Six months ago, I was a reasonably svelte 14 and a half stone. I’m not sure how I managed it, but it was certainly before pitting edemaĀ wrapped itself around my shins and calves like bulbous sacks of wineskins. I managed to get on the scales a while…
March 23, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Get Our MS Medications I got a phone call from my MS One to One nurse, Lynn, today. One to One is the patient support service provided by Sanofi Genzyme for patients on the biotech company’s MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Aubagio (teriflunomide). Lynn called to ensure that all…
March 22, 2018 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Remyelination, RRMS, Quadrantanopia, and Other ‘Q’ and ‘R’ Terms Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the “MS alphabet” with this column referencing terms starting with the letters “Q” and “R.” Symptoms of MS Quadrantanopia This eye-related symptom of MS refers to the compromising of vision in one of the quarters of the visual field,…
March 22, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Navigating Ups and Downs with MS Today, I ate a dog treat. I was eating cookies from a nearby bowl when I broke a dog treat in half for Abby. Instead of putting the other half in my pocket, I put it in my mouth and chewed. Wondering how the brand could screw up so…
March 22, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Modafinil or Amantadine: Who Decides? 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 the hardiest person in their tracks. I know MS fatigue all too well because it affects me all the time. Combating MS…
March 21, 2018 Columns by Cathy Chester Teach Your Children Well As an advocate for the multiple sclerosis community, people often ask me what itās like being a mother while living with MS. My quick response is, “Joyous!” But I understand the questioner is looking for something more. They want to know how to…
March 20, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson ‘Iām Tired’ Does Not Mean ‘I Quit’ I made an unexpected appearance at the emergency room this week, which culminated in a short hospital stay. I have been ailing for weeks, making the conscious choice to live each day as best I can. Managing pain and combating emotions and illness in everyday life is difficult, as…
March 20, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias These Bills Could Help You Save Money on Prescription Medications As we all know, the cost of prescription medications can be outrageous. Disease-modifying therapies aside, even with insurance, the medications we get from a pharmacy can take quite a bite out of a budget. Though many people don’t know it, there are times when it can actually be…
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 “…
March 19, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: PPMS Treatments, Myelin Repair, the Blood-brain Barrier, Sunlight New Spherix Report Finds PPMS Treatment Increased Significantly in Past Year Primary progressive MS has, in some eyes, been the stepchild of the disease-modifying therapies. PPMS patients move steadily downhill, and some believe treatments haven’t kept pace with their disease. Now, the research company Spherix has news…
March 16, 2018 Columns by Jamie Hughes Just Do It Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, wrote a 1997 essayĀ aimed at graduates. In it, she shared many practical nuggets of wisdom such as āFloss,ā and thoughts like, āDonāt waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes youāre ahead, sometimes youāre behind. The race is long and, in the…
March 16, 2018 Columns by John Connor Into the Woods Well, I’m usually fairly upbeat, but this time, it’s going to be beyond me. We’ve all had relapses ā I think I’m in the fitting clichĆ© of being on my last legs. I can, on a good day, transfer on my own from the bed to my trusty…
March 16, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Too Much Buzz over that Study About Eating Fish and MS? I’m not a fish eater. I never have been. Unless the seafood is lobster, shrimp, clams, or crab cakes (pickin’ the crabs is too much work), I’m not interested. Is the fact that I eat very little fish one of the reasons why MS attacked me about 40 years…
March 15, 2018 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Scotoma, Spinal Tap, Steroids, and Other āSā Terms (Part 4) Ā Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her series on the “MS alphabet” with this column referencing terms starting with the letter “S.” Fourth in a series of five. Symptoms of MS Scotoma Scotoma describes a vision problem in which the presence of āblind spotsā or other partial vision…
March 15, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Adapting to MS: Modifying and Thriving I was throwing the ball for my golden retriever when it bounced onto an unreachable ledge. I watched her become antsy for a ball she could see but not reachĀ and wondered what she would do. Her frustration gave way to a solution as she jumped from…
March 15, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Earworms and Multiple Sclerosis Sometimes they are called “sticky songs,” better known by their common name āearworms.ā Earworms are those musical phrases that get stuck in our head that we hear over and over. Itās much like those worms underground that burrow and twist and turn, constantly finding new territory to inhabit.
March 14, 2018 Columns by Mike Knight Effortless: How Occupational Therapy Is Making Life with MS Easier āToday weāre going to talk about the Four Ps,ā Stephanie says. āYou’ve probably heard of these already, but letās go through them anyway.ā I look at her the way a dog tilts its head when it hears a high-pitched whistle.Ā Like…
March 14, 2018 Columns by Judy Lynn Why I Climb Trees In March 2003, I found myself suddenly unable to drive or even walk a straight line through the house. MS had arrived with several active lesions in my brain, including one in the brainstem, which affected my balance and speech and created significant limitations in my usual activities. One…
March 13, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Living Just for Today Last week, I wrote about the incessant emotions of MS and chronic illness. This week, I will focus on living in the present moment. Remaining on a quest to continue the depiction of real life with MS for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month 2018, this weekās column will…
March 13, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS Can Be a Kids’ Disease, Too (Part 2) After I wrote about pediatric MS earlier this month, a reader commented: “I think it would behoove your editorship to follow up to address to audiences…symptoms that typify the early-age demographic.” That’s a good point. So, I drilled deeper into how MS is handled in people younger than…
March 12, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Zinbryta, Fish Oil, MS Associate Certification, Blood-brain Barrier Biogen and AbbVie Voluntarily Withdraw Marketing Authorizations for MS Therapy Zinbryta You may have heard about this already, so forgive me if it’s not new to you, but it’s important information. A dozen cases ofĀ encephalitis or meningoencephalitis have been reported in patients using Zinbryta, and…
March 9, 2018 Columns by John Connor Out of the Woods? It’s been a grueling three weeks. Birds ate myĀ breadcrumb trail long ago. I was too tired to follow it anyway. Stumbling about has definitely been beyond me! I’ve just shaved what had become a beard and showered, which, mixing my stories, made me feel like I’d been living on…
March 9, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias Getting Cash Back for Choosing Medical Services You know about credit cards that offer you cash back for the items you buy. How about getting cash back for selecting specific healthcare service providers for things like medical tests and lab work? Go to your insurance company’s website, then enter your zip code and the service…
March 8, 2018 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Symmetrel, Subcutaneous, Sensory Problems, and Other āSā Terms (Part 3 of 5) Editorās note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the “MS alphabet” with this column referencing terms starting with the letter “S.” Third in a series of five. Symptoms of MS Sensory problems Many people with MS experience a wide array of sensory problems caused by nerve damage…
March 8, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Emotions Run High I am a sensitive individual by nature. Good, bad, or insignificant, that is part of my genetic makeup. I cry when the dog gets hurt in the movie, at every episode of “This Is Us,” and every time I hear “O Holy Night” at Christmas Eve services. While sometimes endearing,…
March 8, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Oscar the MS Monkey and His Buddies 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 orange-and-teal colored sock monkeys mixed in with the pharmaceutical company and advocacy organization displays. It was the display booth for Oscar…
March 6, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Ride Doesn’t Stop: MS-related Emotions Revisited āWhat is wrong with you?” I have been asked this question numerous times by significant people in my life. The most recent was a few days ago. The question usually occurs during the times I have an emotional āmeltdown.ā Whenever I hear it, I get defensive, thinking that I…