living with MS

Problems with episodic memory, or the ability to remember personal experiences and events, among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be related to difficulties in interpreting emotions and understanding others — a known nonmotor symptom of the neurological disease. That’s the main takeaway from a small study in France…

A new U.S. study has found that use of the recombinant zoster vaccine effectively reduces the risk of herpes zoster — more commonly known as shingles — in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, in a retrospective analysis involving more than 14,000 vaccinated people with MS, receiving the recombinant…

Some lifestyle habits, such as engaging in physical activity and not smoking, may provide the greatest health benefits earlier in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), while others, such as eating a healthy diet, may be of more help to those who have been living with the disease for…

Following every training exercise and mission I was ever a part of in the military, participants gathered to conduct an After-Action Review (AAR). Although the process has been formalized in the U.S. military, soldiers have probably been doing something similar for millennia, and it’s certainly not limited to that profession.

People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to eat healthier diets and take more vitamin supplements than those without the chronic autoimmune disease, according to a new study in Egypt. “MS patients showed a different dietary pattern characterised by higher micronutrient and supplement intake, most likely reflecting post-diagnosis behavioural…

I didn’t see the movie “Aliens” when it came out in theaters 40 years ago because it was rated R and I was only 11. When I finally did see it, it became one of my favorite science fiction films, and I still occasionally watch it. With the plot, action,…

Dear multiple sclerosis (MS): I never asked for you. You arrived quietly, starting when I was 17. It wasn’t like a storm at first. You were more like a snowflake: small, unique, and almost easy to dismiss. They call you a “snowflake disease,” and my condition is definitely…

Many people tend to associate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with military service. While the military may provide ample opportunities for exposure to a traumatic event, it by no means has a monopoly on the disorder. Trauma can be caused by many other situations, including terrifying or stressful medical experiences. Examples…

Because multiple sclerosis (MS) is so unpredictable, many of us experience a silent battle of grieving what was, while simultaneously navigating what will become of our lives. It might seem to an outsider that the sorrow comes from mourning only the loss of major milestones, but we also deal…

A new report from the National MS Society reveals that despite major advances in treatments over the last few decades, people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) still face massive gaps in their care — particularly when it comes to managing crushing fatigue, stopping disease progression, and reversing nerve…

It’s taken me three months to have enough distance and perspective to tell you about my once-in-a-lifetime trip that didn’t happen. I was all set to visit a favorite relative in Rome, with plans to stay in the dormitory of a 17th-century church with nuns. It was my first trip…

During my sophomore year of high school, my class schedule was changed against my wishes, resulting in me having to enroll in a theater class for the semester. Although I had dabbled in choir during middle school, band was where my heart resided. I had no interest in pursuing other…

The understanding and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and cognitive difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) have advanced substantially, but there’s more progress to be made, said Anthony Feinstein, PhD, a neuropsychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Feinstein, who delivered the June Halper Memorial Lecture…

The first night after my husband, Rhead, moved into an assisted living facility, I stood in our kitchen and listened to how quiet the house was. Our six kids were asleep, the dog was asleep, and I was alone with a silence I hadn’t heard in years and didn’t know…

Urinary issues are a frequent and distressing reality for women with multiple sclerosis (MS), and new research suggests these symptoms may diminish quality of life, specifically by fueling feelings of loneliness. While the physical burden of bladder dysfunction is well-documented, this study highlights a critical emotional link, suggesting that…

I had the recent honor of attending our nephew’s graduation from Marine Corps basic training. The ceremony on the parade field, along with the events of the previous day, were as stirring as one might imagine, but I think what struck me most was the changes I saw in my…

More than 70% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving outpatient rehabilitation take at least five medications — often including vitamin supplements and drugs used to manage symptoms such as muscle stiffness, pain, and mental health issues — to treat their MS. That’s according to a real-world study in…

Not long ago, while the family was all together in the car, a squirrel ran into the road in front of us. It froze for a couple seconds, then darted one way, and then another, before finally choosing a direction. Fortunately, it turned out to be the right direction. Watching…

There’s a bin of laundry in my car. It’s been there for days, but I keep putting off carrying it upstairs. My dryer is broken. It’s not a crisis, but it’s certainly inconvenient. It means I have to make a weekly trip to do laundry instead of running a load…

About 1 million people in the U.S. live with multiple sclerosis (MS). When I first heard that number, it felt like a cold statistic; today, it feels like a community. While MS has redrawn the boundaries of my physical world, it has failed to shrink the borders of…

Growing up, athleticism was part of my identity. To a degree, I measured myself by what I was physically capable of doing. I was constantly driven to test my limits, always aiming for higher, stronger, and more daring. I’m still in awe at what the human body is capable of.

I don’t have any tattoos. I’ve never been opposed to the idea, but for most of my life, I’ve never found the perfect one to permanently put on my body. Since then, I’ve seen several things I consider tattoo-worthy, but two of them would be most appropriate on my back.

Several (OK, many) years ago, I was having lunch with a group of fellow Green Berets when a news story appeared on the TV. The report covered a recent tragedy, and during an interview with a survivor, it was mentioned that one of the victims had not survived because they…

Following specific diets may help reduce inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but more research is needed, according to a new review paper. Researchers analyzed data from 13 randomized clinical trials and found some evidence that certain diets, including modified Mediterranean-style and Paleolithic diets, were linked to…

Pain and I are well acquainted. I would not go so far as to say we are friends, but we do see each other every day. It isn’t always first thing in the morning; sometimes it’s midafternoon, right after I think to myself, “Wow, pain hasn’t shown up at my…

At 50, I’m realizing there are a lot of things I’ve stopped doing: nightclubs, late nights, obsessing over my hair, changing my outfit three times before leaving the house, staring at my phone waiting for a boy to call, and caring way too much about what other people think. That’s…

Self-care is often framed as something luxurious, such as spa days, vacations, quiet mornings with coffee, and a to-do list that magically completes itself. But self-care looks different for everyone, especially those who are navigating chronic stress, illness, or caregiving. Living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, I’ve learned that self-care…

Every year, January arrives with a familiar script as we are expected to embrace a new year with a clean slate. It’s the season for resolutions and sweeping promises we make to ourselves, as if our bodies have simply been quietly waiting for permission to cooperate. I’m not big on…

I wrote a few years ago about a snake we kept that temporarily went missing. It was a wild snake that we released back into the wild because that was the right thing to do. The kids were quite taken with it, however, so we obtained a captive-raised corn snake…

In the past two years, I’ve started listening to a number of podcasts. That this coincides with my becoming more sedentary is purely coincidental. That my first was the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast is less so for obvious reasons, but today I listen to podcasts about more than just…