Jennifer V.,  —

Last week, I was fired from my job. I’m still disappointed and angry but mostly confused. I can’t talk about the specifics, but I can share that major life stressors — particularly situations that can’t be undone, such as losing a job, enduring a divorce, or grieving the death of…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with acupuncture for pain management. Not everyone will have the same response to the practice. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. It’d been 14 years since I lay on a table, acupuncture needles gently placed along meridians meant to…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various medication side effects. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) feels like navigating a series of trade-offs. One of the most…

Volcán de Fuego, a volcano in Guatemala, has been struck by lightning while it erupts. Just think about that for a second — a volcano already spewing lava and ash getting electrified by the sky. It’s one of Mother Nature’s most breathtaking and fearsome displays of power. Some brave souls…

Did you know that, particularly in the U.S. and some other countries, many medications have two names — a generic name and a brand name — that can sound completely different? If, like me, you’re managing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), you might recognize some of the following:…

In the last year, I’ve gone from battle to battle, surviving one attack after another of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). I didn’t have time to figure out how all of this made me feel. Instead, I focused on work, the closest thing I have to normal, and put…

This is part of a series about neuromyelitis optica for NMO Awareness Month. Go here to read more.  All relationships require care, attention, and communication. But when living with a rare autoimmune disease like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), voicing your needs becomes even more vital for maintaining…

There’s a lot of things that people don’t see about me. I deal with fatigue, pain, and other unpredictable symptoms that come with having neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Even the simplest tasks can require monumental effort to complete. That’s why “bed rotting,” as it’s called, has become an…

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is largely known for its effect on the central nervous system, but the associated skin issues are often overlooked. For those of us living with NMOSD, the skin can become a silent messenger, reflecting the internal battle happening within our body. From goose…

This article is part of a series about neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder for NMO Awareness Month. Go here to read more. Advocates are not chosen; circumstances force people into standing up for their rights. That’s how many people living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) become patient advocates.