Recovering My Self-esteem After Adapting to MS-related Incontinence
Without hesitation, I would say that my bladder and bowel issues have been the hardest symptoms to manage and overcome following my MS…
Through the Looking Glass
— Beth Shorthouse-Ullah
Beth Shorthouse-Ullah was diagnosed with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS in 2016. Her passion for science, writing, and raising awareness of “the snowflake condition” and other chronic illnesses has been her cathartic way of coming to terms with the realties of living with it. While no two cases are the same, she hopes her column, “Through the Looking Glass,” provides a platform that others can relate to at any point in their MS journey, whether newly diagnosed or an MS veteran. Beth lives in the United Kingdom.
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Celebrating the legacy of MS columnist Beth Shorthouse-Ullah
My name is Dave and I’m Beth Shorthouse-Ullah’s husband. We had spoken about the possibility of writing a column that looks at the experiences of partners of people who have multiple sclerosis (MS).
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MS and Emotions: Pessimism vs. Realism in Life With Chronic Illness
There is an ongoing difference of opinion between my husband and me regarding my general outlook on life. I consider myself to be a realist, whereas he thinks I tend to err on the…
Pain and Positivity: My Experience With Plasmapheresis
“‘Cause I would never break your heart/ I would only rearrange/ All the other working parts will stay in place.” — Biffy Clyro, a Scottish rock band If you’ve spent any time in a…
The Building Blocks of Becoming a Busy Bee
“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.” — Lawrence Block When the world was…
The Visible and Invisible Reflections of MS
“Mirrors don’t lie. They only show a part of truth.” — Lara Biyuts I’ve written about how my reality feels jagged compared with actual reality. I wrote, “The woman looking back at me isn’t…
Lyrics and Loving Myself: Rediscovering My Lost Voice
“Most of the time, the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you’ll get everything you wish for. Maybe you’ll get more than you ever could have imagined.
The Double-edged Sword of Fatigue Medications
“I close my eyes/ Only for a moment then the moment’s gone/ All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity.” — Kansas, “Dust in the Wind” The dark cloud of fatigue first…
The Furious Fire of Heat Sensitivity
“In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix must first burn.” — Octavia E. Butler You know that feeling of waking up in a strange place, and it takes a second to…
The Jagged Edges of My Altered Reality
“You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming?” — James Matthew Barrie Being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis significantly changed my perception of myself and the…
The Trials and Tribulations of MS Medications
“Hey, man, I’m alive. I’m taking each day and night at a time/ I’m feeling like a Monday but someday I’ll be Saturday night.” — Bon Jovi Multiple sclerosis (MS) medications can generally be…
Recovering the Parts That MS Stole From Me
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that is the great puzzle.” — “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” by Lewis Carrol Jan. 9 was my 31st birthday. I remember looking outside, watching the low January…
Learning to Embrace My ‘Hot Wheels’
As I glance over at the lonesome wheelchair skulking in the shadows of my living room, I recall its arrival like it was yesterday, though it’s been more than four years. My husband, and…
I’m Climbing the Hills of Adversity, Just Not in Heels
“Shoes are the quickest way for women to achieve instant metamorphosis.” — Manolo Blahnik As the holidays approach, I’m reminded to be thankful for what I have. I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple…
MS and Fertility: Conflicts of the Heart and Mind
“Rock bottom is the end of what wasn’t true enough. Begin again and build something Truer.” — Glennon Doyle The first of our four pregnancy losses were our twin daughters in 2013, which happened…
MS Advocacy Gives Me Strength and Purpose
I want to help in any way I possibly can. My lonely confusion in the early days after being diagnosed with aggressive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis was mentally and physically paralyzing. However, this column…
Butterflies and Bridges: The Importance of Perspective and Perseverance With MS
The butterfly effect is an idea coined by mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz that is based on chaos theory. Lorenz pondered whether the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in one part of…
Falling Into Fall: How the Changing Seasons Affect My MS Symptoms
“You’re my summer that fades/ To these cold autumn days/ You’re my keepsake, my friend, and my fears/ You’re the strength that’s inside and I swear on my life/ I will always be there…
I’ve Had Both Good and Bad Outcomes With Methylprednisolone for Relapse
I am having an MS relapse, my first in three years. In the first two years after I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in early 2017, I relapsed every two or three months.
I Think, Therefore I Am More Than My Mental Fatigue
“A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” — James N. Watkins Fatigue is arguably the most disruptive symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). At…
Overcoming the Loneliness and Isolation of Aggressive MS
“Hurricane MS,” which is how I refer to the aggressive nature of my MS progression, happened quickly and mercilessly. I am aware that my case is particularly unusual, given how aggressive its onset was.
