Jessie is the host of the DISabled to ENabled podcast and author of the “ENabled Warriors Symptom Tracker” book. She’s also an illustrator working with MS charities and magazines worldwide. She’s interviewed paralympians, radio DJs, chronic illness bloggers, marathon runners, and more. Jessie, based in the U.K., was diagnosed with MS at 22 years old and was told by a doctor to “go home and Google it” to find out what MS was for herself. Her own experience of being newly diagnosed so young was negative and scary, so she fills the internet with positivity for other anxious MS Googlers to stumble upon.
It’s with a heavy heart that I write this. I don’t want to, but I have to do what’s right. This will be my last column. Lately, things have been crazy busy for me, with a mix of expected events, such as moving to a new home, and a few unexpected…
This year, I’ve been acutely aware that my body isn’t perfect. Sometimes it doesn’t move well. Sometimes it cuts off sensation in my limbs without notice. Sometimes it gets wiped out from fatigue. Sometimes it’s like MS shakes up my head so hard, like a can of soda, that I…
I have a weird secret. I’m sure it’s not the norm for someone with a chronic illness to enjoy this as much as I do, but it always occupies my free time: I love medical dramas. They leave me enthralled with their technical and medical jargon, and their portrayal of…
My obsession with numbers has continued since my latest MS relapses, but now I’ve taken it to a whole new level. A few months ago, I explained in a column that my husband had filled our house with clocks after reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, which…
Confusing people is my special skill. I’ll open my mouth, and no one will have a clue what I’m on about. It all started with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis eight years ago. Since then, I’ll often get, “MS? Oh my sister’s friend’s aunt’s nephew’s dog has that!” (Just kidding.)…
A numb, weak leg. Yay. Another thing to add to the list of crappy challenges I’ve had to face this year. If you ask me, it’s all been a bit too much, and I’d like to get off this ride and get my money back, please. I recently rang my…
“Sorry, the brakes are terrible!” my husband complained, grabbing the wheelchair’s handles as I slowly started rolling down the hill. He jammed his foot in front of the wheel in a desperate attempt to get the chair to stay in place. We recently got away for the weekend to Blackpool…
Something crazy happened: I felt the strength slowly run out of my leg. It was like it needed a serious charge, but the charging port was nonexistent. I’d received some bad news a few days before that, and I think the stress of the news caused a flare-up. My…
Three weeks into the Overcoming MS (OMS) diet, I’m pleased to have made the switch. The diet focuses on eating fish and seafood, and lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, it excludes dairy, and has minimal saturated fats. I’ve seen a difference…
Doctors recently told me that the medication I’ve been taking for the last seven years for MS hasn’t been working. This is news that no one wants to hear. When I first started Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), an oral tablet, I was…
The other night I was watching the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, my favorite film box set, and it occurred to me how similar life with multiple sclerosis feels to life on a pirate ship. A particular scene sparked this…
When I started hypnotherapy about five weeks ago, my therapist asked me questions about where I felt I was in my journey. He asked me to rate my anxiety on a scale of 1-10, and I said 9. Candidly, it was…
I challenged myself to run 10 miles in April. I didn’t know at the time how I would make it work, because I was numb from the neck down due to an MS flare. But I was eager to take back control…
After speaking about hypnotherapy recently with a few people I know, I realized that many of them didn’t know that hypnosis can be used to manage stress and anxiety. One person remarked, “What do I need to say to get you to quack like a duck?” Well, it’s not like…
I recently wrote about my decision to try hypnotherapy. I’d been feeling out of control over my mental state following a multiple sclerosis flare. I finally admitted that I needed help. I had an initial phone consultation with my…
Recently, I’ve been struggling through an MS flare. I have been numb, mostly from my neck down, which is reminiscent of my first relapse eight years ago. Numb and slightly weak hands make it extremely difficult to draw.
“Take a breath and give one away.” — Marisa Peer Recently, I started doing guided meditation by Marisa Peer, a rapid transformational therapy trainer and best-selling author. Her meditations are freely available on Spotify and cover a range of topics to…
Sunlight flooded my bedroom. My tired eyes slowly pulled apart. Realization set in: It was Saturday. Yes! I love Saturdays. As I got out of bed and glanced outside my window, a crazy thought crossed my mind. “I’m going running.” I hadn’t…
It’s nearly the end of MS Awareness Month. Previously, I spoke about helping out with the 31 Days of MS initiative by MS News Today and its parent company, Bionews, to help raise awareness of MS. As…
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” The other night I watched the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and seeing the portrayal of the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury as he faced an HIV/AIDS diagnosis brought my own MS diagnosis…
I glanced at the clock: 15:51. I was relieved. For some reason, I’ve been obsessed with time lately. I’m not sure if it’s due to lockdown anxiety or the ups and downs of my multiple sclerosis, but time has…
We often focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do. This doesn’t just apply to our relationships, but to everything: our carers, our careers, our children, our homes, our cars, etc. I often hear people wishing they had more: “I wish…
Recently, I was given the exceptional honor of finding stories for MS News Today‘s upcoming “31 days of MS“ initiative. I loved the challenge, and used it as an opportunity to catch up with friends I’ve met over the years while doing…
Tingling fluttered down my spine and into my butt. “What on earth was that?” I thought. I bent my head forward again, and the same thing happened. “OK, that’s weird.” I sat on our spare…
This week, I went to Tokyo, saw elephants up close in Africa, flew over New York, and watched a stage show, all in one day. How was it possible? Virtual reality (VR), of course! Being unable to play badminton in lockdown has forced…
“Open Circle Chat!” Have you seen the reality TV series “The Circle”? It was first shown in the U.K. on Channel 4, and there’s now a U.S. version on Netflix. It is well worth a watch. I started watching it because of the psychological…
I am confident. I am amazing. I am enough. Don’t worry, I’m not getting big-headed. I say these statements to myself every day. Why? It’s part of a routine I started a few years ago, and it’s safe to say…
I have a secret. You may roll your eyes at me when you hear this one. It’s how I juggle spending time with family and friends, running a business, and exercising while managing fatigue. If you know me, you know my secret. Or…
Can January March? No, but April May! OK, well, I thought it was funny. Nothing beats the January blues like bad puns, right? Let’s face it. For most people, January sucks. The end of the year is full of excitement. There are…
“Ooh, I found some of your artwork in the loft. Did you still want it?” My mum’s beautiful, melodic voice sang through the phone during our regular chat. “Heck yes! Can I pick it up tomorrow?” I replied. I didn’t know what had happened…
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