Covid-19

My Review of 2 New MS Apps: icompanion and BelongMS

A couple new mobile apps for people with MS have caught my attention. Icompanion is among the best symptom and treatment trackers I’ve found. BelongMS combines patient forums with the ability to ask questions of healthcare specialists. Icompanion Several mobile apps allow users to enter information about how…

Aubagio Safely Used by 5 MS Patients With Active COVID-19 Infection

Five people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who tested positive for COVID-19Ā whileĀ being treated with Aubagio (teriflunomide)Ā Ā all developed a mild infection, had good outcomes, and experienced no disease relapses, a case study reported. These findings suggest that use of Aubagio, a disease-modifying therapy that acts on the immune system,…

When Roses Change, Color Me Surprised

Right now, itā€™s tempting to feel hopeless. COVID-19 is still out there with no vaccine in sight. Millions of people are out of work. And regardless of how you feel about the protests taking place in all 50 U.S. states (and around the world), all of us can admit…

Another Medication, Zeposia, Joins the MS Treatment Arsenal

By my unofficial count, disease-modifying therapy No. 19 has just become available to people with multiple sclerosis in the U.S. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zeposia (ozanimod) in late March. While pharmaceutical companies usually rush to make newly approved medications available to patients, with COVID-19 raging,…

World MS Day, May 30, Goes On … But Online

Despite the COVID-19Ā pandemic, there are many ways to participate inĀ World MS Day 2020Ā on May 30, set aside to raise awareness about the neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 2.3 million people globally. Organized by the MS International Federation (MSIF), the event brings together the global…

Short and Sharp

This column will be short as I am quite ill. That’s nothing too unusual for those of us with MS. Oh, the joys of a relapse. A while back, it stopped me from walking. Now itā€™s stopped me from standing! Transferring anywhere is now a nightmare. I have to use…

Giving My Laptop the Weekend Off

My favorite line in the “Downton Abbey” TV series, uttered by the dowager played by Maggie Smith, is “What’s a weekend?” When you’re retired, if you’re working as a freelancer, or if like me you’re doing both, it’s easy to forget what day of the week it is. There are…

The Importance of Connecting with Family

ā€œYou canā€™t say that!ā€ Screams erupted over our Zoom chat resulting in infectious laughter. Admittedly, it was rude, too rude to mention, especially considering the unexpectedness of who said it.Ā  Fun and laughter are whatā€™s keeping us all going right now.

Putting Down the Ritz

My stomach is grumbling. Iā€™ve just had the worst weekend ever. And that includes when I had my first sclerosis and smashed my shoulder to pieces on a tennis court. I mentioned last week that I didnā€™t want to write about C. diff., but this appalling infectious bacteria…

Need to Know: The Value of an MS Nurse

Editorā€™s note: ā€œNeed to Knowā€ is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit ourĀ forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum post, “Life Is Better with a Local MS Nurse?” published on August 24, 2019.

NurOwn May Curb Damaging Neuroinflammation in MS, Study Finds

NurOwn, believed to haveĀ neuroprotective and repairing effects,Ā may also be able to curb the damaging immune responses that contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, a recent study found. This newly identified potential may extend the benefits of this cell-based therapy, its researchers believe. The findings were to be presented…

Keeping It All in the Family

Iā€™ve never done this before, but Iā€™m dictating this column to my wife. She has many attributes, among them being trained as a secretary many years ago. We went to the same further-education college when we were both in our late teens, but never met while there. I think she…

How Has COVID-19 Affected Your MS Life?

I canceled my April blood draw. The protocol for Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) requires lab work each month because the treatment can have serious side effects. But I spoke with my neurologist and we decided that I could skip it. Blame it on COVID-19. My legs are stiffer than they were two…

MS Society of Canada Launches Virtual Fundraising Campaign

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is launching a virtual effort that seeks to connect multiple sclerosis (MS) communities across the country and raise funds for research in observance of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Canada. As part of the initiative, called #WeChallengeMS, Canadian…

CMSC 2020 Meeting Will Be Free and Online May 26-29

To ensure the safety of its participants during the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual MeetingĀ will be a free virtual conference on May 26ā€“29. This meeting is considered the largest educational conference in North America for healthcare professionals working in multiple sclerosis…

XRHealth Raises $7M for Telehealth Expansion

XRHealth has raised $7 million to expand its telehealth platform, with the goal of providing clinicians and patients with virtual and augmented reality therapy. The funding will also increase access to virtual support groups for people with multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Telehealth broadly refers to the…

COVID-19, Joey Cocker, and Me

It’s comforting to have this guy, with his floppy ears, stretched out next to me as I sit here writing. I don’t know why, but the fact that Joey, who is really my wife Laura’s cocker spaniel, has chosen to nap next to me is special. I’m not usually a…