Multiple sclerosis has been compared to an iceberg because 90 percent of the disease activity may be hiding under the surface and not visible to the naked eye. This is especially true with cognition and fatigue. If your energy levels are low or your memory becomes foggy, doing even simple daily chores and activities can […]
Streamline Your Daily Activities with MS Read More »
Many of you have read my previous article about how a denied insurance authorization led me to an MS relapse, rendering me nonfunctional on my right side. As it turned out, MRI studies revealed that I had two new active lesions on my brain and one on the right side of my cervical spine that
Utilizing Rehabilitation Professionals in Recovery of an MS Relapse Read More »
Last year at this time I wrote about how small changes can make a big difference in the New Year. Some of the advice from that post included: developing a financial plan, changing eating habits, exercising, getting back on your schedule and setting attainable goals. I used this advice to make major changes in my
2016 – A Work-in-Progress Read More »
In September of 2010, I was faced with a devastating decision. I was experiencing severe spinal stenosis and a fractured C6 vertebra, which my doctors believed was a result of complications due to my initial onset of transverse myelitis five years earlier. My decision was to have an emergency cervical fusion to address the problem
Finding the Strength to Fight MS for the Holidays Read More »
Having a chronic illness, like multiple sclerosis, can be lonely and isolating. Sometimes it is hard to talk to your loved ones because, try as they might, they just don’t understand what you are going through. Before the internet, in order to find other people with similar circumstances, one would have to go out and
Catching a Robot Catfish in Social Media Support Groups Read More »
Some of us are born to do certain things in life. James Frederic “Jimmie” Heuga was born to ski. Jimmie began competitive skiing at age five and appeared in a Warren Miller film at age nine. In 1958, Jimmie became the youngest man ever to make the US Ski Team. In 1963, he won the
Remembering Olympian Jimmie Heuga and his Can Do Spirit Read More »
Last year, Angela Haupt of US News and World Report, shared the story of ten people living their best despite having a chronic illness. I was humbled to be featured in this article. Here is what Angela wrote: Cavallo, 38, of Chandler, Arizona, was fully functioning and healthy when he went numb from the waist down
10 Lessons From Empowered Patients By Angela Haupt Read More »
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on MSAA Conversations on 7-24-2015 at http://blog.mymsaa.org/worth-fighting-for/** In July of 2005, I was in a deep depression. I had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in June of 2005 and I was in the midst of an internal struggle trying to come to terms with being newly diagnosed. I have a
Journaling My Story (MS) – MSAA Reblog Read More »
June 10th, 2005, I remember it like it was yesterday. This was the day that I had my follow-up visit with my neurologist. During the previous month, I had lost my ability to walk, been hospitalized and had been seeing a physical therapist to learn how to walk again all due to an acute onset
Clinically Isolated Syndrome versus MS Read More »
On this day back in 1976, the Declaration of Independence was signed into law. Today, let’s look at a declaration of independence from five common symptoms of multiple sclerosis that I experienced and what it meant to me: Vision Problems Vision Problems are one of the most common symptoms associated with MS. I have had
Independence and MS Read More »