What People with MS Wish Others Could See

The invisible disease. The silent struggle. Unlike other diseases, Multiple Sclerosis can largely present only internally, mainly as pain and fatigue. This, in turn, creates an entirely new kind of pain—the pain of being alone in suffering. When others don’t know what is wrong, or can’t fully understand what it is like to live with MS day in and day out, most living with the diagnosis often forgo speaking up, and instead, learn to cope quietly.

But you don’t need to be quiet here. Continue reading

Share Button

All About You!

By Doug Ankerman

All About You - 60 Seconds to Make Yourself BetterAlmost a month into 2019 and thank God all the chatter about resolutions and fresh starts is winding down.

The reason my undies are in a bunch about this topic is because resolutions fail and fresh starts, though better, are often postponed. Continue reading

Share Button

The Final Countdown…

By Scott Cremeans

We are in the time of year that we hear many top ten countdowns. These top charts rank everything from music to cell phones and from movies to kitchen equipment. Here are some of my own top things in my life. Of course, I will not be saying goodbye to these items unless something better comes along. As for these irreplaceable items in my life, there is a bountiful list and here are seven.

Let me start with my wheeled chariot. Without this magical manual mechanism Continue reading

Share Button

Fresh Starts: Changing Self-Talk to Serve Me Better

By Stacie Prada

Sometimes we want to make changes, and sometimes we need to make changes.  We choose some, and some are thrust upon us. It doesn’t always mean we’re ready or able to make them. Making a fresh start can be exciting and intimidating.

I’m a big fan of trying to make these changes easier.  Like the placebo effect can help us feel better when we take sugar pills thinking they’re medication, I’m all for using how our brains work to – for lack of a better word – trick myself into doing things I want to do.

How we think, our opinions of ourselves, and the language we use can limit us and our personal growth.  I’m considering Continue reading

Share Button

How to Make Sustainable Dietary Changes

By Alene Brennan

As a nutrition coach for individuals living with multiple sclerosis, I walk each client through the changes they need to use diet and lifestyle to manage their symptoms.

It’s a process that I took myself through long before I was a nutrition coach. First, I overcame debilitating migraines through diet and lifestyle changes. Then when I was diagnosed with MS years later Continue reading

Share Button

Fresh Something

By Lauren Kovacs

We all have that New Year’s resolution bug. For MS folks a fresh start comes every day, really. We learn that even tying our shoes in two tries instead of three is a fresh start.

It can be hard for many to see joy in the simple things. Just getting my hair in a ponytail is worth celebrating, for example. If people would take joy in simple things, maybe Continue reading

Share Button

Hot Artichoke Dip – Recipe of the Month

Image

Hot Artichoke Dip - Recipe of the MonthIt is hard to believe that 2019 is here and soon we will be watching the Super Bowl. This artichoke dip recipe is a crowd-pleaser and requires very little effort. You can offer tortilla chips, pita chips and veggies to dip into this flavorful goodness. This dip can serve 6-8 people. Continue reading

Share Button

Hope in the New Year

Hello, 2019! You got here fast! And I hope you brought some good and positivity with you for the year ahead. Right before the New Year rang in my cell phone died for a period of time in the final hours of 2018. Because I tend to be a bit of a pessimist at times, my first thought was, “Oh great, is this a sign of what 2019 has in store? Because if it is I’m sleeping through it!” My husband, who is definitely a glass half-full type of personality, completely changed my way of thinking. Since I’ve been Continue reading

Share Button

So You Made a Resolution

Oh the New Year! Each January 1st millions of people make pacts, decisions and turn over new leaves as a shiny new year looms ahead of them. You may not be the resolutions type. Maybe you think “What’s the point? A majority of New Year’s resolutions go bust anyway.” And you are right. In fact, US News states that roughly 80% of all resolutions made, fail by just the second week of February. 80%, 6 weeks in! That’s nuts. Now there are lots of blogs and how-to lists Continue reading

Share Button

Health Insurance Changes – Live Webinar

New Health Insurance Webinar - Copay AccumulatorThere have been a number of updates and dramatic health insurance changes in the past year. Join MSAA, as we present a new webinar on one of these changes:

“What Happened to My Co-Pay Assistance? How Co-Pay Accumulators are Affecting You!”
Thursday, January 31, 2019
8:00 pm (Eastern)

Are you receiving rebates and subsidies to help pay down on your prescription medication? As a result of certain healthcare changes, this may now be in jeopardy. Continue reading

Share Button