symptoms

People who develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at an older age are more likely to experience spinal cord inflammation and less likely to have eye nerve involvement, not only in the first attack but also in subsequent relapses, a study has found. In addition, data show “different relapse…

My health situation has become incredibly trying recently. I’m hesitant to shed any tears because I fear they won’t stop. When I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I was told I might face one or more additional autoimmune diseases in my lifetime. Initially, this warning seemed…

Dear Reader, It’s me, Jennifer, hoping you don’t mind if I occupy the tiniest space in your mind for the shortest amount of your time. This request is because I feel insignificant right now. When people point out that I’m sick, when they comment on visible symptoms of my…

The human body is a fascinating and mysterious thing both to understand and to listen to. Personally, I think hiccups are one of the most annoying things our bodies do. They seem to come at the worst time and last longer than we’d prefer. Growing up, my siblings and…

Ad Scientiam is developing new digital biomarkers of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) that may allow continuous and remote monitoring of patients’ symptoms over time. The Paris-based software company announced the program launch along with a similar one for people with generalized myasthenia gravis, another rare autoimmune…

Undergoing plasma exchange, a blood-cleaning procedure, within 10 days after a relapse of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) may help ease symptoms in children positive for antibodies against AQP4 and who do not respond well to corticosteroids. That’s according to a small study that assessed the safety and efficacy…

I have this recurring dream where I’m trapped in a room. I can hear voices on the other side of the door, so I call out, except my voice feels heavy. The words are caught in my mouth, so no one can hear me. I try to get up. I’m…

Everyone knows that how we treat our bodies affects our health. Our habits, behaviors, and self-care — which include sleep, stress management, a healthy diet, and exercise — all play a role. Yet, somehow we often tend to overlook our skin. Particularly as patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), why…

One of the most important jobs new parents have is to protect their children from pain. I am a mother of three, and every time one of my kids gets hurt, I want to take on the pain myself. When my youngest daughter, Bella, was hospitalized with neuromyelitis…

In my early 20s, I decided to drop everything and travel across Europe with my close friend Phil. Our trip was memorable for many reasons, including the fact that it was in Italy when I first felt unwell. It was a hot summer, and 14 years ago, most of Europe…