Columns

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…

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…

Note: This column describes the author’s early experiences with Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) and refers to past therapies she’s tried. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I find myself whispering silent prayers throughout the day, pleading for my neuromyelitis…

Selecting healthcare practitioners is a daunting task, especially when you’re diagnosed with a rare disease like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). I visited several physiotherapists, massage therapists, and dietitians before settling on my current team. Through my experiences, I’ve discovered the key questions to ask up front to determine…

When I felt the familiar heaviness in my body, I bravely faced it. “It’s OK,” I told myself. “I’ve been here before and recovered. I can do this.” As I lay in the hospital bed, a prisoner to the many doctors and specialists who checked on me throughout the day…