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 […]
Mason, my oldest son, overheard me and my brother talking about my aunt Loretta and MS. When he asked why he had never met her, we told him that she passed away due to complications of multiple sclerosis. He became very emotional over this, not wanting to lose me the same way my cousins lost […]
Many of you who have read my blog over the years, know how I went blind in my right eye due to optic neuritis or my struggles before and after my anterior cervical fusion. During my rehabilitation from these events, I worked extensively with an occupational therapist (OT) to help regain the activities of daily […]
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on MSAA Conversations on 4-20-2015 at http://blog.mymsaa.org/worth-fighting-for/** Photo Citation: Wash, B. (2011, December 11). Never Never Give Up, art show 2011, MBW. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from https://flic.kr/p/b4vjd8 There was a touching moment at my last neurology appointment. You see, I have been with my same neurologist since moving to Arizona […]
Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005, the veins in my arms have been stuck well over a hundred times. My monthly Tysabri infusion alone has equaled 108 vein piercing injections once every 28 days dating back to February of 2007. Each time has been without incident. My nurses remark how I have big […]
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on MSAA Conversations on 2-11-2015 at http://blog.mymsaa.org/hard-family-conversations-and-ms/** Me and my Aunt Angie, Loretta’s older sister, December 2015 During my initial hospital stay and subsequent diagnosis of MS, one of the biggest challenges that I faced was talking to my family. We had a history of multiple sclerosis in my family. My […]
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on MSAA Conversations on 2-27-2015 at http://blog.mymsaa.org/runaway-ms-train/** Photo Caption: Deviant Art. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from http://dakann.deviantart.com/art/Runaway-Train-53676298 I remember as if it were yesterday: January, 2007. I was sitting in my neurologist’s office after suffering my third relapse in eighteen months. At that moment, I felt that my MS was […]
Matt Cavallo as heard on KTAR, about why participating in iConquerMS is so important: I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in June of 2005. My symptoms came on in a fast, dramatic fashion. I lost feeling from the waist down and couldn’t walk or go to the bathroom on my own. I was afraid at that moment that […]
When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, there were limited treatment options available to slow the progression of the disease. For me, those treatment options didn’t work. My first eighteen months living with the disease I faced relapse after damaging relapse wondering if my quality of life would ever find some kind […]
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on MFNBLOG on 12-15-2014** One of the activities my wife and I used to really enjoy doing together was going to the gym. We had a personal trainer named Eric. Eric was funny, knowledgeable and understood how to maximize the workout for both me and my wife. Having a personal trainer […]