MS is messy

On this episode, our eldest Erin and I discuss how my MS has impacted her both positively and negatively. As with all these conversations with my close family I have learned so much about their fears, frustrations and feelings from dealing with a family member who is sick. These conversations are long overdue and probably should've been discussed in a therapist's office years ago but better late t...

Nature or nurture? I've always wondered how my MS has impacted my family and my children in particular. In this episode, I interview our youngest son Matthew who has never known me without this damn disease as I was diagnosed shortly after he was born. He is one of the most empathetic, caring and responsible young men I have ever known. I would like to believe that he was born with all those trait...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Eileen who was diagnosed with MS just a few months after I was 23 years ago. Eileen was one of the very first people to join my MS support group all that time ago and we became instant friends having so much in common including being diagnosed right after giving birth to our 3rd child. We both have a positive attitude despite all the trials and errors of...

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of a positive attitude when dealing with a life-changing disease like MS. Although we have every right to, I have never met another person with MS who didn't make the most out of a bad situation. I am proud of my fellow MSers who are both resilient and resourceful, staying positive in the face of immense challenges. Maybe it was my destiny to get MS all al...

My husband Bruce is the definition of " for better or for worse " because for the last 23 years since my MS diagnosis, he's had to cope with the worst on a daily basis. I really appreciate how he handles everything thrown at him with grace, humor and a determination to keep our lives running smoothly. I am not sure what I would do without his love and support and are beyond thankful for his quiet...

MSFamilyAffair was the name of the blog i just finished up last January because having raised our kids, I finally had time to reflect back on my life with MS more objectively. It dawned on me that my illness had shaped my whole family's life but not always in a negative way. With the blog and now with the podcast, I wanted to share my experiences in hopes of helping others going through MS or any...

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about what circumstances led up to my eventual diagnosis and wonder if there's anything I could've done to prevent MS. No one knows if MS is caused by genetic or environmental factors or both or neither but when I look back at my childhood and early adult life, there are definitely many varied reasons for why I could've contracted MS. I can't go back a...

I have been taking disease modifying medications off and on for the last 23 years since I was diagnosed. It has been a roller coaster of trial and error trying to find something that I could tolerate because of all of the side effects these strong medications can bring with them. I think I have hopefully found something I can live with until there's a CURE which better come before I run out of opt...

Here it is summer again and here I am complaining about the heat and humidity as usual. There are too many fun things to do in the summer to miss out on just because  I have MS so I've learned a few tricks of the trade to keep me cool when it gets hot and humid. Air conditioning is not a luxury when you have MS,,,it's a necessity but when you want to get out to enjoy the summer months, you ha...

Every five or six years, my Mom's birthday and Father's Day coincide and today is one of those special days. I'm stuck at home and feeling left out of what would've been my whole family gathering to celebrate my Mom's BIG 80 and we would've had the celebration in one of our deceased Dad's favorite places in Colorado. My parents always wanted the best for me never wanting me to suffer with this dam...

Welcome to the 3rd broadcast of the MS is Messy podcast where I discuss the importance of staying mobile when your legs don't work. Whether it's on a horse, in a car or on my scooter, it's crucial that I keep moving forward in life. The biggest hindrance to my independence and mobility is and always has been an aversion to using aids but now that I do, the world has gotten so much bigger for me. N...

I started this podcast to help others with MS to not feel so alone in their day to day struggles with this disease. Every day is a new adventure but togrther we will all make it through this challenge just like we do everything else...with humor and hope. Thanks for listening.

This is my first foray into podcasting so I don't even know what I don't know yet. What I do know is how to live my best life with Multiple Sclerosis and my hope is that my experience will help others navigate this baffling disease. Thanks for listening.