The Beginner's Guide to Walking - a Column by Jennifer V.

When eye shadow and fingernail polish are types of treatment

Some days I feel like I’m made of symptoms. Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) means navigating a body that’s constantly shifting beneath me, unpredictable in ways that defy preparation. Speaking of symptoms: One moment, my spine burns with relentless pain. The next day I’m ravenous, only…

How I’m processing ongoing trauma by creating space for myself

It’s been some time since my last neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) attack, and lately, I’ve started to realize just how traumatic the previous year was for me. I recognize that I’m holding in this trauma and still fear another attack, and it’s adversely affecting my life. With more…

The importance of routines in managing my NMOSD

Before I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I never gave much thought to routine. I’d sleep when I felt tired, exercise when I had the motivation, and take life as it came. But after NMOSD entered my world, I quickly learned that unpredictability was no longer…

Telehealth is a useful supplement to in-person appointments

When my neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was stable, I dreaded having annual medical checkups. They felt like an unnecessary hassle that required me to take time off work, fight downtown traffic, hunt for parking, and wait for an hour to see my specialist, only to learn that nothing…