By Penelope Conway
Every week when the nurse comes to my house I’m always asked the same questions. Am I experiencing any pain? What kind of pain? How does it feel? How’s my appetite? Bowel movements? Swallowing troubles? Breathing? It takes the entire visit to explain everything. Pain shifts moment by moment from Continue reading
Those secret symptoms wreak havoc and party hard in our body. They high five each other as they go to torture some part of us. I swear there is some kind of party in my left arm involving fire.
It is not a calm “kumbaya” bonfire. It is more like a concert with pyrotechnics and lava. Every night the burning visits me, like a ghost. It sneaks up on me. It lights my Continue reading
Many health conditions and symptoms are never seen by others and remain unknown to the people in our lives until we talk about them. Even then, what our friends and family members see and what we tell them don’t match. The disparity between how we look and how we feel makes it hard for others to believe it’s as much of an issue as we say.
Some of my invisible symptoms are widely shared by many people with multiple sclerosis. There’s fatigue, Continue reading
It’s been four years since I was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting MS.
I remember the doctor asking me if I had a sensitivity to heat in that appointment.
YES!
Finally, I got validation for Continue reading
MSAA strives to be a leading resource for the MS community by improving lives today through vital services and support – and we could not accomplish this without the help of our volunteer board members. MSAA’s Board of Directors is comprised of accomplished professionals from across the country who volunteer their time to further MSAA’s mission. With our ongoing series, Meet the Board, we hope to introduce you to our wonderful volunteer board members!
This month, MSAA is proud to highlight our newest board member Michael Lubben. Continue reading
What can I say? Summertime is hot, muggy, sweltering, and sweaty. It used to be my favorite time of year for concerts in the park, trips to Six Flags to enjoy water rides and death defying trams that sent you into another universe altogether, cookouts, vacations, open windows with cool breezes blowing, family time, and relaxing by the pool. Continue reading
As summer hits and pandemic-closed businesses open up in my area, it’s exciting to have my local drive-in theater open again. I hadn’t been to a drive-in movie in decades, because staying up late and watching from my car didn’t hold a lot of appeal for me. I’m now a convert. The ability to get out of the house and do something social and special boosted my mood immensely.
Everyone has different preferences and needs, but Continue reading
Ah, the double-edged sword of summer. We welcome the sun and curse the heat. Just the change of season can wake the MS dragon. The MS dragon is fierce. Just do your best and always be prepared.
That can mean very different things for each individual. I have found some tactics for the summer battle. Aside from Continue reading
I don’t seem to have problems keeping busy. There is always something that needs to get done around the house. It’s trying to find the energy to get things done that seems to hinder me. Having physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy appointments each week at home has this way of Continue reading
If you are a homebody like me, the current stay at home directives are no big deal. Keep busy on the other hand can at times be as challenging as finding a pen that works when needing to take a message. That’s why I offer you these “10 DOs and DON’Ts of Keeping Busy.” Continue reading