News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis
I’ve used an electric scooter for nearly 20 years. At first, I only used it when I knew I’d be walking a lot. Now, it’s every day. I used a cane for several years before the scooter. I resisted using both, however, and I’ll bet that many of you who are reading this are putting up your own stiff fight right now. I’ve tried to sell the benefits of mobility…Continue Reading
More than 15 MS medications, or disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), are available in most countries to treat MS. DMTs come in the form of injectables, infusions, and pills. Some are new, others have been around for more than 20 years. Some have a greater possibility of serious side effects than others. Some DMTs are highly effective at slowing or stopping disease progression; others, not so much. It’s a difficult choice to…Continue Reading
You may have felt what Bethanee Epifani Bryant has felt in a doctor’s office. I think many patients have, but most of us can’t paint the picture of an invisible patient that Bryant can paint. And she paints it using words. Bryant is a poet. “I sit on the examination table vulnerable, openly allowing him to dissect my body and fix what had been broken I tell him where it…Continue Reading
The other day, a young woman with MS shared her worry in a Facebook group that her disease would prevent her from playing with her grandchildren someday. Her concern got me thinking about how I’ve handled my MS around my grandchildren. My granddaughter is almost 5 and will start kindergarten in the fall. My grandson is 3. They’ve never known me as a person who walks normally, without two canes…Continue Reading
I rode a recumbent bike for 15 minutes today. That’s a record for me, and it felt great. The bike ride was part of an overall workout routine that I’ve set up for myself at the gym. The workout mirrors what I was doing about 15 years ago, when I was still working full-time. That routine was set up with the help of a personal trainer, and it includes upper-body…Continue Reading
I’ve met Humpty Dumpty, and he is me. I made that discovery the other night when I had a bad fall. It wasn’t off a wall; it was just off a chair, but it felt like I’d tumbled off Humpty’s high ledge. It shouldn’t have happened. I’ve lived with MS for nearly 40 years and I’ve had my share of trips, stumbles, and falls. I’ve even written a post about…Continue Reading
There’s been a lot of risk versus rewards chatter on social media following the recent decision by the European Medicines Agency to initiate a safety review of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab). The EMA has restricted use of the medication within the European Union while that review is underway. That’s worrying some people who are using Lemtrada or who are about to start. For me, it’s really a question of risks versus rewards. The EMA…Continue Reading
Robert Scola Jr. is a federal judge in Miami and he’s just recused himself from a case involving the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) insurance company. The case is one of two filed in Miami over the last two months claiming that UHC has improperly denied coverage for a specific cancer treatment. Scola calls that denial “immoral and barbaric.” He put those words on paper in his recusal order. In his order, Scola…Continue Reading
Former Vice President Joe Biden has been in some hot water recently because of his habit of hugging some of the people he meets. More generally, in today’s society, some of the casual social touching that once went on, particularly in the workplace, has become out of bounds. So, is it OK for your doctor to give you a hug? I spotted that subject on Twitter the other day. Rhea…Continue Reading
People who cover medical issues often write about mouse studies. These stories can regularly be found on traditional news outlets, both broadcast and print, as well as online platforms. I’m one of the people writing about mouse studies, though I try to be selective and limit my reporting to studies that seem very significant or unusual. Concerns about mouse study reporting has now generated a Twitter feed: @justsaysinmice. James Heathers,…Continue Reading