Living With MS Episodes

For some people, getting a headache means experiencing mild discomfort. For others, it can mean debilitating pain, compromised vision, and other serious effects. You don't have to be living with MS to experience a headache. But research has shown that people living with MS are more likely to experience headaches than people who don't have MS. And there's some evidence to suggest that headaches may be one of the earliest symptoms of MS. Meagan Adamson is a nurse practitioner who specializes in t...

We're four days into 2022 and, for a lot of us, that means that we're four days into a new diet, four days into a new exercise regimen, or four days into some other life-changing behavior. Making healthy lifestyle changes is good for everyone and there's plenty of evidence that shows these kinds of behavioral changes can be especially beneficial if you're living with MS. But too often, we see the well-intentioned resolutions that we make in January fade into distant memories by March. It doesn'...

Today, we're re-visiting my favorite conversation of the entire year and it seems that you and I agree! You've made it this year's most downloaded and listened-to episode. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice-President of Research at the National MS Society, briefs us about some of the most interesting and important research shared at ECTRIMS 2021, the largest MS research conference in the world. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Wishing you a happy ...

I've always believed that the holiday season is an ideal time for reflection. For looking back and looking ahead. And in that spirit, today we're re-visiting two of the most important conversations that we've had this year on RealTalk MS. When you consider the nearly one million people living with MS in the United States, you might conclude that MS doesn't discriminate – it impacts people of all ages, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds. However, when you drill down a bit further and l...

The 2021 holiday season is underway, and the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines means that this year, many of us are getting caught up in cooking, eating, drinking, shopping, and connecting face-to-face with family and friends. For some of us, it also means having that important but sometimes-awkward conversation about vaccine status. For too many people, 'tis the season....to feel stressed. Stress can feel overwhelming and make everyday life challenging for anyone, but it can be especially ...

If you're living with MS, you know by now that quitting smoking, getting exercise, and making smart food choices have all been shown to improve your physical health and your quality of life. There's one more tool that, when necessary, can be a game-changer. Joining me to talk about how assistive technology can help people living with MS maintain their independence and improve their quality of life are assistive technology experts Alex Burnham and Bill Binko. We'll also share one more reason wh...

Tamara Kaye Sellman is a poet, short story writer, journalist, and essayist. So, when she was diagnosed with MS in 2013, Tamara did what she does best -- she began writing about it. That writing turned into Intention Tremor, a book of poetry and prose written over the five years following Tamara's diagnosis. In this special episode, we'll talk with Tamara about how she chose to artistically interpret being diagnosed with MS. We'll discuss why she's quite literally invested in MS research. And T...

Eating well is an important part of a wellness plan. At first glance, making healthy food choices seems simple. But with so much conflicting information and opinion masquerading as fact on websites and in social media, what do you believe and where do you begin? Joining me to separate fact from fiction and share smart strategies that will get you started on solid nutritional footing is my guest, Mona Bostick. Mona is a registered dietician-nutritionist and a multiple sclerosis certified special...

Research shows that more than 50% of the people living with MS will experience another chronic health condition in their lifetime. These additional health conditions, known as comorbidities, have been shown to negatively affect disability progression and health-related quality of life. In other words, living with comorbidities makes living with MS more challenging than it has to be. Joining me to talk about living with MS while managing and even avoiding comorbidities is Dr. Alissa Willis, Chai...

Getting a good night's sleep is often easier said than done. About half of the people living with MS experience sleep disorders. Dr. Abbey Hughes is joining me to talk about how sleep and lack of sleep affects MS, and she'll share some specific strategies that you can use to better manage sleep difficulties and get the rest that your mind and body require. We're also sharing a very encouraging update on ATA 188, Atara Biotherapeutics experimental stem cell therapy. Investigator Dr. Anthony Tra...