hospitalization

About 1 in 10 people who are hospitalized for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, or about one month after discharge, a U.S. study found. Older patients — specifically those in the age range of 65 to 74 — and individuals who…

The phrase “fake it till you make it” is meant to encourage self-confidence. During many tough moments in my life, like learning to walk again, I’ve relied on this phrase. There are moments when I don’t feel good, but I’ll fake it and say I feel fine. Sometimes saying how…

Let’s talk about sleep. Sleep is essential for everyone, as it allows our bodies to rest and recharge, especially after a long day. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults need seven or more hours of sleep each night, while the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers like my 14-year-old…

It rained the day before and after, but on the day we buried Dad, the overcast weather parted for a picturesque blue sky, complete with rolling white clouds. For mid-April, it could’ve been a cold, miserable day, matching our mood. Instead, the sun warmed us, so we didn’t need…

People say that dogs are man’s best friend. In our family, Roxy, our 3-year-old Australian ridgeback rescue, is my 13-year-old daughter Bella’s best friend. Bella has always loved animals, which thankfully runs in the family. When she was hospitalized in 2017 due to a major neuromyelitis optica attack, she…

At first glance, many might say that our family appears totally healthy. However, my daughter Bella, 13, fights neuromyelitis optica (NMO) every day, and despite being her caregiver, I have health issues of my own. When Bella got sick in August 2017, I was almost done with the classes…

During the six weeks that my daughter Bella, 13, was hospitalized at Children’s Hospital Colorado for a neuromyelitis optica (NMO) attack in 2017, my husband and I kept vigil at her bedside. Too worried to sleep, we prayed for a miracle every night. As soon as we received Bella’s…

I will always love the feeling of a good bass line, the way the sound escapes concert speakers and vibrates through my entire body. It’s poetic justice that this feeling can now trigger painful spasms, a symptom of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). My husband (then fiancé) and I had…

When I was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and five years later, properly diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), I was told that a hallmark symptom of each disease was optic neuritis. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the optic nerve, causing inflammation, which can lead to…

Almost half of U.S. patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) experienced relapses over a period of two years, according to an analysis of a large healthcare claims database. Such relapses — which lasted on average nearly 13 days — were treated more often with outpatient rather than hospital…