You've Got Some Nerves - A Column By Judy Lynn

You've Got Some Nerves

Judy has been living with MS for 13 years. She remains amazed at the array of symptoms that this chronic degenerative disease of the nervous system may cause. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is reported to have said, “The only thing constant is change.” Judy has found this to be particularly true living with MS. She will explore the varied MS symptoms and manifestations, and most importantly, the rainbow of creative adaptations, coping mechanisms, and remedies available for MS patients to try.

Interferon Hangovers: Managing Treatment Side Effects

Interferons (Beta and Alpha) are the oldest of the disease-modifying treatments, or DMTs, for people with MS. Interferons include Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif, and Plegridy. This column wonā€™t get into the pros and cons of each of these treatments. Instead, Iā€™d like to focus on one of the more…

Using the Outdoors to Recalibrate, Forget MS for a While

January 2017 has proven to be a bit of a cluster, if you know what I mean. Holiday recovery, out-of-town trips for work, budget cuts, extreme weather and, of course, the social and political “chaos climate” all conspired to make me itchy, twitchy and tense! This past Thursday, as…

Multitasking vs. Mindfulness

The glory days of multitasking may be fading. More and more research points to the fact that our brains actually cannot multitask. Rather, the brain shifts rapidly (itā€™s all relative) back and forth between tasks as we attempt to do multiple activities at once. Like many people with MS,…

Winter Is a Time to Recharge Amid Nature’s Quiet

Our daylight hours continue to get shorter, as we get closer and closer to the winter solstice. At 4:15 p.m. I close the curtains and blinds, uncomfortable sitting on display in my living room as I continue to work until 5:30Ā most evenings. Itā€™s difficult to motivate myself to leave…

Here’s What Kayak Lessons and MS Have in Common

Several weeks ago I wrote about theĀ benefits of time outdoorsĀ and my desire to learn to kayak properly, so Ā it can be an option when my legs wonā€™t carry me into nature. I recently completed the final of three indoor kayak lessons. The course was actually called ā€œKayak Roll.ā€…

Do MS Injectable Medications Need Refrigeration?

Traveling with multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging for a number of reasons. There are many symptoms a person may need to consider, such as accessibility, temperature control, and medication management, to name a few.Ā  While packing for a recent extended trip, I realized that my one-week pill box wasnā€™t…

Confronting the Future-Tripping Fear of MS

One presenting symptom of my multiple sclerosis (MS) was severely slowed and slurred speech. There were several other disturbing outcomes of my back-to-back, initial exacerbations, but it was the speech that was my greatest fear. After my second MRI, the neurologist explained that the dysarthria, or trouble speaking, was…

Shake, Rattle, and Spill? Tremors in MS

I live in a part of the country with beautiful green forests, mountains, abundant freshwater, and saltwater.Ā  If you have seven hours to spare, you can drive across the state and experience desert, orchard, mountain, alpine meadow, rainforest, and the Pacific Ocean. This beautiful land also comes with some…

An MS, Migraine, Marching Band Kind of Day!

I work full time in public health, and some days are spent ā€˜out in the fieldā€™ visiting clients in their homes. It requires careful planning to ensure that I have adequate water, food, medications, and layers of clothing for homes that are too hot or too cold.Ā  I research…

Icy Cold Fingers: MS Broke My Thermostat!

Itā€™s definitely autumn here in the Pacific Northwest. Misty, gray mornings give way to breezy sunshine in the afternoon ā€¦ for a couple of hours anyway, until the evening rain arrives. This is the time of year that the weather forecasters compete to see who can come up with…

MS Foot Drop and the Road to Physiatry

When I first heard about MS ā€œfoot drop,ā€ I assumed that the manifestation of this symptom would be a sudden and obvious inability to walk properly. Ā I knew many people with MS who used canes and walked with significant stiffness or a “dragging” limb. I filed ā€œfoot dropā€ away…

Barefoot Mindfulness: Mastering Stress and Change with MS

I often watched ā€œThe Brady Bunchā€ as a kid. Ā In one episode, Peterā€™s voice changes right before the talent show and he isnā€™t able to sing his chosen song. His replacement song has been playing on repeat in my head for two months! ā€œWhen itā€™s time to change, youā€™ve got…

MS Hugs Me, Hugs Me Not

In the two years following my diagnosis, I had many bouts of chest pain, breathing difficulties, and sharp stomach pains. I worried that some other terrible illness was right around the corner. Four EKGs, three ultrasounds, two pulmonary function tests, and one colonoscopy later I had a surprisingly good bill…

Bloom, Wherever You Fall! An MS Detour

Editor’s Note: MS Patient Specialist and Columnist Judy Lynn writes from her unique and engaging perspective as an MS patient reflecting on the challenges that the disease presents and how to cope with them in her daily life. In her debut article for her new Column “You’ve Got Some Nerves,”…