When I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) at 16, it was loud. My symptoms were significant; the fatigue ended my athletic drive, the searing nerve pain left me grinding my teeth constantly, and I experienced a period of being legally blind. MS didn’t politely…
MS symptoms
Now that the holiday season, with all its decadent meals, is over, I wanted to share an update on the diet I mentioned in a column last September. At the time, I was still in the elimination phase of a FODMAP diet (which stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides,…
Years before a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), people who later develop the disease have more doctor visits and hospitalizations for sensory, nervous system, and muscle problems than people in the general population, according to a recent study. The findings support the idea of an early phase of MS,…
Over the years, I haven’t always followed the same advice I’ve given others. For instance, when I was in the military, I’d tell soldiers preparing for a Veterans Affairs examination that it wasn’t the time to act tough — they should report their pain honestly and accurately. This initial exam…