The MS Wire – A Column by Ed Tobias

Ed Tobias is a retired broadcast journalist.  Most of his 40+ year career was spent as a manager with the Associated Press in Washington, DC.  Tobias was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1980 but he continued to work, full-time, meeting interesting people and traveling to interesting places, until retiring at the end of 2012.

In his weekly column The MS Wire, Ed covers a wide range of topics related to the disease, seeking to bring to light patient perspectives on the latest science, research and disease management news, as well as connecting with fellow MS patients about their own personal experiences in coping with the disease.

June 24, 2019June 24, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Plant Medication Trial, B-cell Depletion Study, MS App Award, DMTs’ Cancer Risk

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Cyxone Launches Phase 1 Trial Assessing T20K for MS This trial caught my eye because even though it’s a small, early trial, T20K is a medication derived from a ... Read more

June 21, 2019June 19, 2019

Scooters, Walkers, and Canes Should Trump Ego

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I’ve used an electric scooter for nearly 20 years. At first, I only used it when I knew I’d be walking a lot. Now, it’s every day. I used ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

Some Neuros Make DMT Choice Harder than It Should Be

Alexa, Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

More than 15 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available in most high-income countries to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). DMTs come in the form of injectables, infusions, and pills. Some are ... Read more

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: DMT Strategy Study, MS and Genetic Mutations, MS Art Project, AI Helps Neuros Read MRIs

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

DELIVER-MS Trial Recruiting RRMS Patients to Help Improve Treatment Decision-making What’s the best way to attack multiple sclerosis when it’s first diagnosed? Do you hit it hard and fast ... Read more

June 14, 2019June 12, 2019

Tony Awards ‘Cain’t Say No’ to Ali Stroker

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Rather than hiding from the storm, it’s better to learn to dance in the rain, as I like to say. Ali Stroker, who plays Ado Annie in the Broadway ... Read more

June 11, 2019June 6, 2019

Making Invisible Patients Visible

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

You may have felt what Bethanee Epifani Bryant has felt in a doctor’s office. I think many patients have, but most of us can’t paint the picture of our ... Read more

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Ozanimod for RRMS, MS Monitoring App, Video Series

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

FDA and EMA to Review Ozanimod as Possible Oral Therapy for Relapsing MS Another disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is a step closer to gaining approval for use both in the ... Read more

June 7, 2019June 4, 2019

My MS Has Been No Sweat. Has Yours, Too?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I worked up a little sweat when I was exercising the other day. It was just a tiny bit on my forehead, but it was something I hadn’t felt ... Read more

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Preventive MS Treatment, Clinical Trial Guidelines for Kids, Stress, and Gut Bacteria

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Cyxone Nears First-in-human Trial for Investigational Preventive MS Treatment T20K Multiple sclerosis can be treated but it can’t be prevented — at least not yet. But these researchers hope ... Read more

May 31, 2019May 29, 2019

Walmart Is Putting Quality of Employee MRIs Before Cost

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Did you know that not all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams are of equal quality? Walmart officials know this, and they are concerned that poor exams given to their ... Read more

May 28, 2019May 23, 2019

To Handle MS, Sometimes We Need a Little Attitude

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

The other day, a young woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) shared her worry in a Facebook group that her disease would prevent her from playing with her grandchildren someday. ... Read more

May 24, 2019May 23, 2019

Why I Take My MS to the Gym

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I rode a recumbent bike for 15 minutes today. That’s a record for me, and it felt great. The bike ride was part of an overall exercise routine that ... Read more

May 21, 2019May 17, 2019

Humpty Dumpty and My MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I’ve met Humpty Dumpty, and he is me. I made that discovery the other night when I had a bad fall. It wasn’t off a wall; it was just ... Read more

May 20, 2019May 20, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: MS Biomarker, Best RRMS Early Treatment, Ocrevus Study, Out-of-Pocket Costs

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

#AANAM – Biogen Offers Update on Development Plans for MS Therapies The pharma company that brought you Tysabri (natalizumab) is investigating a new process for treating multiple sclerosis. The ... Read more

May 17, 2019May 16, 2019

MS Is a Pain, and Doctors Should Know It

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Dear Doctor, Why is it that you, or at least some of your colleagues, think that multiple sclerosis isn’t painful? Did you skip the med school class where they ... Read more

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Lemtrada Satisfaction, Limiting Tysabri’s PML Risk, MS and Pregnancy, Infusions Vs. Pills

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

#AANAM – RRMS Patients Switching to Lemtrada Report Greater Satisfaction with Treatment and Improvements in Quality of Life I’m a self-proclaimed secondary progressive, rather than a remitting, multiple sclerosis ... Read more

May 10, 2019May 8, 2019

Diets and Supplements: Do They Really Help Your MS?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

When I read online posts from people who treat their multiple sclerosis (MS) with vitamins and supplements, I wonder how many of us do that. And if these supplements ... Read more

May 7, 2019May 3, 2019

MS Meds Lead the Pack as Costs of Neuro Medications Rise

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Ouch! The out-of-pocket cash that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) lay out for their medications increased 20-fold between 2004 and 2016. That information comes from a study recently published ... Read more

May 6, 2019June 18, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Sexual Problems in Women with MS; Aubagio Satisfaction; Cellular Aging and PPMS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Women with MS Have Higher Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction, Study Reveals I’m surprised that someone felt it necessary to conduct a formal study of this. A glance at multiple ... Read more

May 3, 2019June 18, 2019

A Judge Takes a Swing at an Insurance Company’s Denials

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Robert Scola Jr. is a federal judge in Miami, and he’s just recused himself from a case involving the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) insurance company. The case is one of two ... Read more

April 30, 2019April 29, 2019

Lemtrada Risks Vs. Rewards: Putting the Latest Side Effect Concerns into Perspective

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

There’s been a lot of social media chatter following the recent decision by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to initiate a safety review of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab). The EMA has restricted use of ... Read more

April 29, 2019April 29, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Tai Chi Study, Lemtrada Safety Review, Personalized Treatment, Online Depression Therapy

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Study Will Explore Benefits of Tai Chi, Meditation on MS Patients’ Balance I’ve tried yoga to help with my balance and flexibility and found it useful. But tai chi ... Read more

April 26, 2019June 3, 2019

Is It OK for Your Doctor to Hug You?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Former Vice President Joe Biden has been in some hot water recently because of his habit of hugging some of the people he meets. More generally, in today’s society, ... Read more

April 23, 2019June 3, 2019

Are Medical Mouse Studies Worth Reporting?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

People who cover medical issues often write about mouse studies. These stories can regularly be found on traditional news outlets, both broadcast and print, as well as online platforms. ... Read more

April 16, 2019April 17, 2019

Cancer Medication Shows Promise in Treating Dangerous Brain Infection PML, Small-scale Study Finds

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, more commonly referred to as PML, is a brain infection that’s frequently fatal. PML is particularly dangerous to people with MS, which is why I’m interested in ... Read more

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: MS Misdiagnoses, Mineral Intake Risk Study, Hormonal Changes, Rituximab and Vitamin D

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

MS Misdiagnosis Too Common, Puts Patients in Unnecessary Peril from Therapies, Study Reveals Many people who have multiple sclerosis (MS) report that it’s taken doctors years to come up ... Read more

April 12, 2019April 11, 2019

Immunocompromised? Watch Out for the C. Auris Fungus.

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Most healthy people probably don’t have to worry about a fungus called Candida auris, or simply C. auris. But if your immune system is compromised, it’s a different story. ... Read more

April 9, 2019April 5, 2019

3 Strategies for Dealing with the High Costs of Medications

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

  It’s tough paying for medications. Whether they’re for multiple sclerosis (MS) or another illness, Americans are having a hard time coming up with the cash needed to cover ... Read more

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Mayzent Approval Surprises, Myelin Repair, Monitoring Nerve Inflammation

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Cleveland Clinic Neurologist Applauds Mayzent’s FDA Approval, But Surprised by Those It May Not Treat When I wrote my “MS Wire” column a few days after Mayzent’s approval, I ... Read more

April 2, 2019March 29, 2019

Mayzent Joins the MS Medication Arsenal, But I Have Questions

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

As you might have heard, a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for patients with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) was approved a few days ago. That’s great news. A medication ... Read more

April 1, 2019April 1, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Reaction to SPMS DMT Approval, Ozanimod’s FDA Application, Caregiving Partnerships, a New Preventive Medication?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

MS Patient Groups React Favorably to Mayzent Approval, But Question Therapy’s Price Tag The approval of this medication is very good news. However, as the headline indicates, it comes ... Read more

March 29, 2019April 4, 2019

Some Thoughts About Controlling Your MS Bladder

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

There are two types of people with MS: Those who have bladder problems and those who will have them. That may be an oversimplification but I’d be willing to ... Read more

March 25, 2019March 25, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Walking Med Trial Recruiting, DMT Risk Tolerance, Sex and MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 Recruiting Participants of All MS Types This medication is similar to Ampyra (dalfampridine) because its goal is to improve walking in those with MS. ... Read more

March 22, 2019March 26, 2019

Things to Know If You’re Thinking About Leaving Your Neurologist

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

If you’re a member of the baby boomer generation, or if you just like the music of the 1960s and ’70s, you probably know Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave ... Read more

March 19, 2019March 22, 2019

DMT Choice for Your MS Is Your Decision

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

About 15 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available to treat MS these days. So, choosing which to use can be daunting. I’ve been treated with four DMTs since I was ... Read more

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Non-contrast MRIs, Stem Cell Study Seeks Subjects, Postpartum Relapses, Which DMT?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Non-contrast MRI Effective in Monitoring Progression of MS, Study Shows There’s been increased interest in the risks versus the benefits of using gadolinium to make lesions more visible on ... Read more

March 15, 2019March 20, 2019

Pediatric MS Can Be ‘Diagnostic Odyssey’

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

A post in one of the MS social media groups I follow recently asked whether kids can have MS. The writer was worried about her 3-year-old. One commenter replied ... Read more

March 12, 2019March 15, 2019

Are MS Patients Using Too Many Medications?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Have you ever heard of the word “polypharmacy”? I saw the word for the first time today. It’s generally defined as taking many medications together. There’s been debate over ... Read more

March 11, 2019March 12, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: A Cure for MS?, MS App, Robot for Balance, Botox for Spasticity

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

All of the stories in this week’s column come from the recently held Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) forum, held Feb. 28 to March 2 ... Read more

March 8, 2019March 12, 2019

Things Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Living with MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

A recent article in The New York Times hit the nail on the head when it comes to describing the world we live in with MS. But the article ... Read more