Being a podcaster can be a lonely life. So what better way to begin the holiday celebrations than getting some of your favorite MSers together to talk about our plans for the season? 

Alongside my guests, we talk about some of the things that can play on our minds during this time of year, particularly when combined with having a chronic illness like MS. 

Dan & Jennifer Digmann talk about how to handle the stresses of maintaining relationships. Ardra Shephard is here to talk about staying fashionable and feeling good about yourself. Then Kathy Chester covers the different ways that you can maintain your fitness and movement schedule, while Alene Brennan talks about the essential stuff - food choices and cooking!

Finally, we all share some of our favorite holiday recipes - link provided below.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Tools for handling challenging relationships at this time of year
• How to look our best when we're tired, cog-foggy, and stressed? And why should we care?
• How to find the time and motivation to keep moving and exercising
• Tips on how to enjoy holiday food without regret - and making yourself feel worse
• Our favorite holiday food memories and recipes

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums119/

Brooke Pelczynski's life with Multiple Sclerosis is an inspiring example of someone taking their diagnosis and turning it into something great. Most recently, her varied career has led to her working for Marvel Comics!

Brooke was undertaking her BFA in Illustration in New York when the fatigue and clumsiness that resulted in a number of ruined artworks was diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis - at the age of only 21. Although she now feels that MS had crippled her career, Brooke has since used her disease to build a career as an artist, illustrator, and comic-creating multiple sclerosis fighter! 

As well as her full-time role providing illustrations for MultipleSclerosis.net, her work - in a variety of forms - has been featured by a variety of clients and publications including Yahoo, Momentum Magazine, Hotel Indigo, Lifewire, and many more. Brooke also worked as a story consultant for Marvel's Darkhawk comic series, using her experiences to inform the title character's own journey toward an MS diagnosis. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Brooke's life before her diagnosis with MS aged only 21
• How, after feeling like MS had crippled her life as an artist, Brooke was able to use comic art to build her career
• The way that Brooke's work for MultipleSclerosis.net fits around her "Perfect, shitty situation" - and how she always strives to remain creative, even on her worst MS days (MSiest?)
• How she got involved as a story advisor for Marvel's Darkhawk comics 

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums118/

Jon Strum's wife, Jeanne, was an avid biker, hiker, and writer when she was diagnosed with Progressive MS. Almost immediately, she became so severely disabled that Jon stopped working and became Jeanne's carer and advocate. He continued in this role until Jeanne passed in February 2020.  

Part of Jon's advocacy was (and continues to be) hosting the popular RealTalk MS podcast. As you'll hear, Jon started the podcast while sitting on a scientific committee as a member of the International Progressive MS Alliance, to bridge the gap between patients and caregivers and the scientific community. Since its launch in 2017 and over 200 episodes later it has been downloaded more than 1,000,000 times by listeners in over 100 countries around the world.

Jon's devotion to his wife is moving and unquestionable. But so is his desire and commitment to advocating for all people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Listen in to my interview with this wonderful man and find out about all the ways that you can advocate for people with MS and affect change!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The story of Jeanne's diagnosis, and Jon's journey into caregiving and advocacy
• Jon and Jeanne's experiences with health insurance, the impact on their finances, and the heartbreaking decision Jon had to make for Jeanne's care 
• Why Jon feels that people with more progressive forms of MS can feel forgotten by the scientific community, and why he started the RealTalk MS Podcast
• Jon's partnership with the National MS Society
• Things that are on the legislative horizon for people in the US with MS, and how you can get involved and put pressure on your representatives!

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums109/ 

There are a number of different natural treatments available to improve the quality of life of MS patients

Caroline Craven's road to natural and holistic MS treatments is pretty fascinating. In 2001, she lost the ability to see and walk unassisted while traveling across Guatemala. Upon her return to the US, she was only given a probable diagnosis, but then started to progress rapidly. She was then placed in a three-year double blind study at USC for the t-cell vaccine. During which, she did a deep-dive into holistic nutrition, Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, and healthy eating.

Now, Caroline promotes healthier living for MS patients through stress management, healthy eating, and having a positive attitude through her blog The Girl with MS.

Full show notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-020-natural-holistic-treatments-with-caroline-craven

Mindy Eisenberg is a former hospital administrator, turned yoga instructor who’s dedicated to increasing the quality of life for those with disabilities. She does this in loving memory of her mother who had progressive MS.

Mindy is the author of Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body and manages the fast growing Yoga Moves MS community. In today’s episode she shares her philosophy of healing and the importance of the mind body relationship to health and healing.

At the end the episode Mindy guides us with a beautiful and very relaxing breathing meditation that you can try at home, at the doctor’s office, in an MRI, and anywhere or anytime you need to feel relaxed and centered.

Enjoy this episode, and namaste.

Full show notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-019-adaptive-yoga-mindfulness-and-meditation-with-mindy-eisenberg

Dr. Fred Ferlic is a man on a mission. He is a recently retired orthopedic surgeon whose career spans 40 years, and 20 of those he spent as the team doctor for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at his Alma Mater, the University of Notre Dame. He has partnered with the inventor of the TayCo Brace to take this revolutionary product to help millions of people around the world.

He passionately believes that the TayCo Brace can have such a huge impact and help millions of people who are suffering from ankle sprains, ankle fractures, MS, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other injuries to be able to regain their balance and ultimately function in their everyday lives. This brace will allow you to do the three things needed in the 21st century life – shop, drive and work.

Full show notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-018-an-ankle-brace-to-revolutionize-ankle-braces

Alene Brennan is a certified nutrition coach, natural food chef, yoga instructor, and personal trainer who helps people with autoimmune disease heal through diet and lifestyle. Oh, and she has MS. And migraines. And she learned how to affect her chronic illness positively through diet and lifestyle – and now she helps others do the same through her coaching. She’s really an amazing person with a ton of passion to really help people. It was her tagline that first caught my attention: “less pharm more table!” I LOVE it!

In this episode, Alene shares how she was diagnosed with MS in 2016 in the midst of helping her mother during the end stage of her cancer battle. After her mother passed, she turned her attention to her own battles with both MS and Migraines and found ways to mitigate the symptoms. She started by going to a conference and getting certified in Dr. Terry Wahl’s Protocol, then expanded her repertoire to include the Autoimmune Protocol Diet certification. Yoga and nutrition coach certifications along with a certification as a natural food chef just added the final pieces to the puzzle and help her to serve her community – those of us with an autoimmune disease.

Alene is not a purist in the sense of rejecting western medicine. On the contrary, she believes you need to do what’s best for you and compliment each therapy with the other. Recognizing how valuable her knowledge and experience was, she started a 1:1 coaching business that embraces medication AND lifestyle upgrades to include: diet, exercise, supplementation, stress reduction and sleep enhancement. She has wonderful suggestions for each component of her plan and works to meet each client where they are in their journey – and then acts as both support and accountability partner. She does this right over the phone – no need to travel or leave your home. She stresses the importance of building resiliency and believes that which you focus on, gets bigger – so mindset is another component of her coaching that she brings to the table.

Full show notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-017-autoimmune-health-coach-alene-brennan

Today I’m talking with Rachael Bubbs and Dayle James, two women who decided to ride their bikes in all 50 states to raise awareness and research funds for MS. They got their National MS Society Bike MS Passports and they’re ready to ride!  BTW – they’re carrying a “champions bandana” with them on all of their rides – with MS warrior’s names on it. So – you could go along for the ride – well, your name could anyway! Learn all about it and how you can get your name on that bandana. Listen NOW!!

Full show notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-016-2-girls-2-bikes-50-states

Humble, kind, unassuming – those are just a few words I’d use to describe my guest today, country music singer Julie Roberts. I’d also say talented, brave, loving, strong and selfless.  Hers is an amazing story – from a small town in South Carolina where she, her sisters and her mother were victims of domestic abuse, to Nashville, Tennessee making gold records, to a stage in Asheville, North Carolina where she lost the feeling in her hands and her sight went blurry while on stage one evening! That led to her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

That’s certainly not the end of this story:  a Lifetime movie about her life – oh wait, that was put on hold; recording with Waylon Jenning’s son Shooter Jennings; starting her own record label (Ain’t Scared Records) with the insurance money from the flood – provided by State Farm Insurance; surviving a monumental (thousand year) flood and losing EVERYTHING (material); FINALLY (after 5 years) accepting her diagnosis and starting treatment; to recording a new album (“I Think You Know”) and writing a new book due out in September (“Beauty In The Breakdown: Choosing to Overcome“). Whew! This lady is busy. And an inspiration.

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-015-country-music-singer-julie-roberts-and-her-ms-journey

Katie Collett is an Emmy-nominated news anchor on WAVY-TV 10 and Fox 43, the local NBC affiliates in southern Virginia – where I live. She’s also a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, etc. – and she has MS. She’s up at 2:15 am and works from 3:30 am – 1:00 pm! And that’s just her day job. She has a 4-year-old little boy at home too! AND she is a very vocal advocate for MS awareness and a participant in a multitude of fundraising efforts.  She’s pretty amazing – but I think she’d deny that. She’s also really humble and down-to-earth. She tells me all about her first symptoms and how she was diagnosed. We talk in depth about disclosing at work and she offers some great advice. This is a “can-do” woman and she’s got MS in her sites.  I’m really glad she’s on our team. She’s not going to give up until there’s a cure. And she’s got a great FUMS attitude, always looking at the bright side and using phrases like “I’m very fortunate,” “I appreciate life,” and “I refuse to lose.” Hers is an interesting and inspirational story.

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-014-tv-news-anchor-shares-her-ms-story

In today's episode, I talk to Dr. Victoria Leavitt, a clinical neuropsychologist and the director of the Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. I had a TON of questions about the dreaded COG FOG (linked to a previous blog post I wrote about it)!  Chances are, if you have MS, you've experienced COG FOG. Dr. Leavitt is a brilliant clinician and researcher, which gives her extra authority on this subject based both on her experience with MS patients as well as her research. And she had plenty to say. She gave great, understandable explanations and a multitude of suggestions on how to try to mitigate and alleviate the rat bastard COG FOG!!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/cog-fog-in-ms

In today’s episode, Occupational Therapist Gabe Byars shares all the ways that assistive technology can help us in our everyday life with MS. Learn about integrating various technologies to turn your lights off and on, adjust the heat or air conditioning, see who’s at the door and let them in, raise and lower the blinds – all on voice command! Imagine the energy you’d save. Gabe also shares tips and tricks like using your smart phone’s calendar to free up your mind from having to remember everything, using a medicine reminder app to keep us on track with all of our meds, setting a reminder to prompt us to stretch throughout our day or use an app to track us when we go out for a walk so our loved ones feel reassured of our safety. Learn about the future of smart tech for healthcare, including smart monitoring of health conditions like using a contact to continually check blood sugar as opposed to a diabetic having to stick themselves repeatedly. There is a lot of research going on now regarding biomarkers in MS. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, we’ll see remote monitoring of our symptoms with a predictive ability! How great would that be?!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-012-low-cost-high-tech-help-for-msers

Erin Glace, MSPT, PRPC, BCB-PMD, is the clinical director of the Physical Therapy and Urodynamics departments at Urology of Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy and a graduate of Old Dominion University with an advanced master’s degree in Physical Therapy. Her sole focus of treatment is pelvic floor dysfunction.

She has a TON of initials behind her name for all of the training she's done and she's respected throughout her specialty and beyond. AND - she's one of my oldest and dearest friends! When I asked her to write a book about pelvic floor dysfunction for my MS audience she said she would - if I'd write it with her. The result of that is the book "Bowel and Bladder Issues In Multiple Sclerosis by Two Pee Brains With Potty Mouths Talking Shit About MS"!

In this episode, we talk all about what's in that book, what issues she sees most commonly in her practice and she answers some of YOUR questions. We cover overactive bladder, gotta go syndrome, leakage, constipation, sexual dysfunction, arousal, orgasm, intercourse (from "don't feel much" to "it hurts").

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-011-sex-constipation-and-incontinence-oh-my

In January of 2022, one of the biggest MS news stories EVER was announced - that MS is probably caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers. Now, this link has long been suspected but here was proof!

My guest today is Kjetil Bjornevik, the lead author of the publication that got us all excited. Kjetil is an epidemiologist whose focus is on finding risk factors and better treatments for neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis.

As you'll hear, by opening the doors for future preventative treatments for EBV (one of which is in a Phase 1 clinical trial right now), this report points towards a way to prevent MS and the real possibility of a CURE.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What led Kjetil to specialize in neurological diseases in general and multiple sclerosis in particular
• A breakdown of the study and its findings
• EBV is one possible (but important) trigger of MS - what are the others?
• The possibility of an EBV vaccine and the effect this would have on people at risk of developing MS
• Future research at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that is of interest to the FUMS community 

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums108/ 

Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa where she conducts clinical trials. She is also a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. Dr. Wahls restored her health using a diet and lifestyle program she designed specifically for her brain and now pedals her bike to work each day! She is the author of The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine, and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol Cooking For Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions. 

In this episode, we discuss her journey with MS, how she found her way to nutrition as a treatment and all of the lifestyle components of her protocol as well – exercise, meditation, e-stim, etc. She is currently involved in an NMSS-funded study comparing her diet with the diet of Dr. Roy Swank, author of The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book: A Low-Fat Diet for the Treatment of M.S. Early indications are very encouraging.

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-010-dr-terry-wahls-on-her-diet-vs-dr-roy-swanks-diet-for-ms

Teri Heede is an MS warrior, cannabis advocate and activist, mother, grandmother, wounded vet, widow and an inspiration. In this episode, she tells her story of her MS diagnosis, trying ALL the meds available, failing on them all and finding cannabis to immediately relieve her MS pain and spasticity. 

She’s explaining the legalities, what to look for, the various forms (edible, tincture, lotion, oil, smokeable, raw cannabis in smoothies!) it comes in, what works best, and the legislative battles she’s fighting to gain legalization and regulation for us all. As Teri says, this “isn’t a Cheech & Chong movie.” She’s not getting high – she’s getting well!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/ms-and-marijuana

Getting an MS diagnosis has been more about exclusion than a definitive answer. Until now. IQuity, Inc. has cracked the code. They introduced a simple blood test that provides an answer in a week with a better than 90 percent accuracy rate! This. Is. Big.

Most of us with an MS diagnosis went through a battery of tests - including a lumbar puncture - to settle on a diagnosis of MS likelihood. And even that could take years to get. Listen as IQuity, Inc. CEO Chase Spurlock and CFO and Chief Strategy Officer Julia Polk describe the process of discovering this amazing technology, and all of the potential it has for revolutionizing diagnostics for Multiple Sclerosis and other previously difficult-to-diagnose diseases.

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/revolutionary-ms-diagnostic-blood-test

Michelle Nelson woke up one day and was totally blind in her left eye! The doctors at the ER thought she was faking!! She finally received a diagnosis and within 2 years was unable to work, began losing her hair, she was exhausted, blind off and on, and in pain. She found herself declining further and further into disability from MS. A chance meeting at a garage sale changed everything. A chiropractor suggested she make an appointment because she was confident she could help Michelle. She did - and the results were miraculous. Learn what Michelle did and how it worked. Maybe it could work for you!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/chiropractic-care-and-supplements-reversed-her-ms

On today’s episode, we’ll meet Erin Clayton, a fellow MS’er who views her diagnosis as a blessing in disguise. WHAT?? I know – I’ll ask her about that! She was diagnosed 8 years ago and since, has raised over $200,000 for the National MS Society!! She’s back in school getting her Certified Nonprofit Professional certification and I’m sure we’ll all be hearing a lot more about her in the future. She’s got a lot of energy and a great FUMS attitude!! What more do you need??

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-006-erin-clayton-raising-money-and-awareness-of-multiple-sclerosis

In this episode of the FUMSnow Podcast Show, I interview Susan Stuart, President & CEO of CORE – the Center for Organ Recovery and Education.  We talk about the need for organ donation and the easy process for sign up.  I had no idea there are 58 organ procurement centers in the U.S.  Such an interesting conversation. 

And we FINALLY get the answer to the question:  can MS’ers donate organs???

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/organ-donation

In this episode, I interview Mary Ray, Co-Founder and COO of MyHealthTeams.com - a wonderful resource for many health-challenged communities - and for our purposes - MS in particular - at MyMSTeam.com.  We talk about her drive to fill a void in the chronic health community - making technology work for us all.  She's a kind, upbeat, energetic woman with personal experience in the MS realm.  I like her a lot - and I think you will too.  Have a listen!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-004-myhealthteams-dot-com-interview

In this episode of the FUMSnow Podcast Show, I interview Bobby and Judy Edwards, co-founders of the very successful Squatty Potty company.  You may have seen them on the American television show “Shark Tank,” where Lori Greiner (the “warm-blooded shark”) was lucky enough to have partnered with them.

Judy Edward’s interest in toilet posture came when she had 7 children, many of whom had constipation issues.  In fact, Judy herself, though she ate a healthy diet and got plenty of good exercise, still found herself battling with constipation issues.  She learned about other cultures using the “squatting” posture with great success, and she, her husband and their son Bobby got busy producing prototypes originally used just for family and friends.  Thankfully for the MS community, many of whom experience bowel and bladder issues, the Edwards family decided to share this revolutionary idea with the world – hence, Squatty Potty was born!

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-003-squatty-potty-interview

 In this episode, I interview Kathy Bolen, an RN who went the extra mile to become a certified MS nurse. 

Nurses are special people – MS nurses are extra special!! 

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-002-kathy-bolen-ms-nurse-interview

In this episode, I interview Dan & Jennifer Digmann, a wonderful married couple who both have Multiple Sclerosis. 

They've written a book called, "Despite MS, To Spite MS" and we talk about what their journey has been like:  how they met and married, how they deal with their challenges, and how they advocate for all MS'ers.

Full notes and resources: https://fumsnow.com/fums-001-dan-jennifer-digmann-interview

Jenna Green worked for 15 yrs in corporate marketing, when she realized that she had to leave for the sake of her mental health! So she began working freelance - but the hustle culture, combined with chronic pain she experienced following a car accident, led her to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2016.

On what should have been her first Tysabri infusion, she learned that her insurance wouldn't cover the treatment. This was Jenna's first experience of Step Therapy or Fail First practices - where, in order to control costs, insurance companies restrict coverage of expensive therapies unless patients have already failed treatment with a lower-cost alternative. 

And we all know that a failed treatment for MS means more relapses, leading to more irreparable damage, increased disability, and worse outcomes!  

Jenna is now a patient advocate, content creator, consultant, and public speaker. She has used her experience in marketing to help bring awareness, support, education, and community to those who live with invisible illnesses, chronic pain, and fatigue, primarily on Instagram @thejennagreen. 

AND she's devoted to helping to change public policy via her volunteer work with the MS Society. GO JENNA!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Jenna's life before her MS diagnosis, and her experience of Step Therapy or Fail First policies
• Her belief that privilege equates to responsibility
• The alternative therapies that Jenna uses alongside conventional medicine
• How Jenna became an MS advocate, and how this work makes her feel
• Information about Jenna's exciting patient resource about Public Speaking For Patient Advocates (coming soon) 

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums107/

If you listen to this podcast, there's a strong chance that you receive care - from a friend, a loved one, or from within your community. You might also be in the position I was in a few years back, caring for elderly relatives, young children, and myself as a person with a chronic illness!

My guest today is Elizabeth Miller, a family caregiver, caregiver advocate, speaker, author, podcast host, and Certified Caregiving Consultant. Her personal experiences of caring for aging parents with chronic and terminal illnesses and for a sibling with developmental disabilities inspired her to create Happy Healthy Caregiver in 2015.

Elizabeth's aim is to make caregiving sustainable and prevent burnout by encouraging intentional self-care.

Like I said, you might be a caregiver or the one receiving care. Regardless, there are some great tips in our conversation for looking after yourself. And please remember that self-care is not selfish!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The story of Elizabeth's history with caregiving and what her hardest challenges were
• How sharing her story through a blog enabled Elizabeth to help others in the same situation
• Elizabeth's advice for caregivers and the things which helped her to look after herself
• Changes that Elizabeth would like to see in the healthcare system
• The services and support that Elizabeth provides through Happy Healthy Caregiver

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums106/

"Grace" is a novel about a young woman navigating married life, sex, parenting, and friendship. Plus, the lead character is doing all this while dealing with an MS diagnosis. 

It was written by Delaney Parker, an author who lives in upstate New York with her family. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in October of 2008, and it was her diagnosis that inspired Delaney to write "Grace."

As Delaney says in this interview, the character's diagnosis is just a part of who she is, and the novel is not centered around MS. I loved this book's depiction of a young woman who just happens to have MS, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Delaney's diagnosis with MS while being a young mother
• How her urge to be a writer grew out of a voracious reading habit
• Why an MS diagnosis is not the main driver of the plot of "Grace"
• How sharing this story was helpful to Delaney in her own MS journey
• Where to buy your copy of "Grace" 

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums105/

Identical twins Tamara Kahn and Terry Hord (née Harber) were born eight minutes apart and were both athletic as children. But they can now look back and see the fatigue and heat sensitivity they both experienced as early signs of the diagnosis to come - along with the trauma of losing their mother to cancer and the Epstein-Barr Virus that they contracted at the age of 15.

In their 20s they received identical MS diagnoses, but a history of voluntary charity work led them to create an MS patient advocacy hub called TwinsCoast2Coast. They aim to inspire, empower, support, and educate others about MS, and to simply tell their story, imperfections and all.

Despite the aggressive and progressive nature of MS for them both, they continue to create a support system and safe space for the newly diagnosed to land. As they say in this interview, "there is more to life than your disease - and you are not alone."

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums104/

The idea of using diet and lifestyle changes as a way to manage MS was still pretty radical until fairly recently. But as more research is done, the benefits are becoming more recognized day-by-day.

My guest today is Dr. Terry Wahls, who has been studying the links between lifestyle and MS outcomes since getting her first symptoms twenty years ago. After being confined to a tilt-recline wheelchair, Dr. Wahls restored her health using a diet and lifestyle program of her own devising.

Dr. Wahls previously appeared on the FUMS podcast back in 2018, so I figured it was time to get her back. I wanted to find out about recent clinical findings about the efficacy of diet and lifestyle as a way to treat multiple sclerosis - which is increasingly gaining traction as a recognized way to manage your health! 

We also talk about the findings of recent studies into Paleo, Swank, and Mediterranean diets.

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums103/

This episode is the second part of my interview with Marty Shenkman, an attorney whose private practice concentrates on estate planning. When his wife was diagnosed with MS, he recognized how different planning looks for people with chronic illness and it changed his whole approach to estate planning. 

If you haven't heard the first part, please visit https://fumsnow.com/fums101

When I announced that I'd be talking to Marty about estate planning with a chronic illness, I was inundated with questions from the FUMS community. So in part two of my interview, we try to get through as many of them as possible. 

As Marty says, the answers he gives here are for educational purposes only and are intended to give you a broad overview of the issues you might face. They should not be used as a substitute for personally tailored, professional advice. 

Thank you, Marty, for how generous you were with your time. We've barely scratched the surface, so I'm looking forward to having you on the podcast again soon!

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums102/

This is the first in a series of episodes where I'll be looking at the messier parts of life - estate planning, divorce, digital death, end-of-life planning, wills, etc. Y'know - fun stuff like that. And in true FUMS style, I'm calling the series G.Y.S.T. - "Get Your Shit Together"

Sooner or later, we are all going to have to start thinking about what happens at the end of our life - whether we have a lot or a whole lot of nothing, it's a fact of life! And while this is the same for everyone, if we have a chronic health condition there are a whole lot of other considerations. What if I'm unable to stay in my home? What if I can't make decisions about my finances or care? 

With this in mind, I looked for an attorney whose practice concentrates on estate planning for the chronically ill. I bet you can guess how many results that particular google search threw up. What I did find was a professional with a personal connection to chronic illness - MS, in fact.

Martin M. Shenkman (call him Marty) is an attorney whose private practice concentrates on estate planning. When his wife was diagnosed with MS, he recognized how different planning looks for people with chronic illness and it changed his whole approach to estate planning. 

Marty was so generous with his time, and this interview is so full of important, actionable content, that we decided to split it over two podcasts. And far from being a depressing topic, estate planning is more about planning for life rather than death. It's the process of providing peace of mind for you, and your loved ones (however you define the term).

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums101/

It seems crazy to me but my ‘lil podcast is 100 episodes old today! So in a change from our regular schedule, I’ll be taking a personal look back at the highs (which are many) and lows (not so much) of my podcasting journey since launching in 2015.

I’ll be talking a bit about why I started the podcast, my favorite episodes, as well as sharing some comments which have been sent in by some of you, the wonderful FUMS community.

Here’s to the next 100 episodes. And don’t forget to speak to this stupid disease as it deserves and tell it FUMS, every single day.

Love,

Kathy xox

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums100/

MS is often described as an invisible disability. But as the disease progresses, the focus - of patients as well as medical professionals - can shift to more visible, physical symptoms, like mobility issues.

However, because the majority of people with MS are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s, the psychological and cognitive effects can all too often go untreated. And these symptoms are just as common as the outward ones. In fact, as you'll hear, these may be even more common, with 50% of all people with MS having at least one clinically significant episode of depression. 

My guest today is Dr. Anthony Feinstein. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, where he runs an MS neuropsychiatry clinic and research team. His MS research has focused on MRI-visualized brain changes associated with depression, the development of fully-automated cognitive tests for people with MS, and much more. He is also the author of Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis. 

Dr. Feinstein is here to discuss the hidden symptoms of MS that add significantly to the disability associated with the disease, including cognition and mood. He even offers some tips for us all that can help keep our brains active and stimulated!

We all know that regular exercise is essential for living well with MS. So don't forget to give your brain a workout too! 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How an MRI machine led Dr. Feinstein to specialize in Multiple Sclerosis
• What Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is and why it is so effective for people with MS
• How CBT compares with medication as a way to deal with MS-related mood disorders
• Ways that cognitive decline can be monitored, and the three types of exercise that you should be doing to stimulate your brain!
• Dr. Feinstein answers questions from the FUMS community

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums117/

Even without a pandemic, a life with MS can be a lot to deal with. So, many of us will seek help for our mental health at some point. 

I know from personal experience how frustrating it is to have to explain exactly what MS is whenever I’m speaking to a new mental health therapist. Which is why I’m delighted that today’s guest is working to educate therapists about psychological difficulties that are specific to a variety of chronic illnesses, including MS.

Dr. Meghan Beier is a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who specializes in MS. Her passion for improving care led her to create Find Empathy, which provides continuing education for mental health professionals on how best to serve patients who live with life-altering illnesses. 

Not only will Find Empathy provide learning for health professionals, but it will also help patients to find a provider with expertise in their particular condition. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums099/

Jenny Angus was very physically active, with a career in property management, when what she calls the Poltergeist took up residence in her life. Originally misdiagnosed in 2004, it took 10 years before she received her correct diagnosis of MS - during which time her disease had been left to run unchecked. Along the way, she had to stop her artistic career, which was so closely tied up with her identity. 

Jenny's story is a difficult one. She has investigated assisted dying, an arduous process that is legal in Canada. But with the help of her friends, family, and countless strangers, she is having HSCT (haematopoietic stem cell transplantation), an intense chemotherapy treatment for MS, in Mexico in January 2022.

Recently she has been helping others through her patient advocacy work, and she is planning on blogging (and vlogging!) through her HSCT treatment.

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums098/

Adam Powell was a self-proclaimed beast until 2019 when he was diagnosed with the most aggressive case of Primary Progressive MS his doctor had ever seen. Over the course of 5 weeks, he lost the ability to walk and drive, which, combined with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, led to an intense grieving process.

However, with his own unstoppable nature, combined with a healthy dose of FUMS attitude, he has found ways to cope. Through the use of physiotherapy, exercise, yoga, and light therapy, he even carried out a cross-country solo road trip! 

I think his story and his attitude to living his best life with Multiple Sclerosis are inspiring. 

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums097/

It is a truth universally acknowledged that women are up to three times more susceptible to developing MS than men. But men are more likely to have worse outcomes than women, as far as disability accumulation is concerned.

We know it to be true - anecdotally, at least. But have you ever wondered why? Well, my guest certainly has.

Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl is the Director of the UCLA MS Program, holds the Jack H. Skirball Chair in MS, and is a Professor in the UCLA Department of Neurology. She has received national and international awards for her research and sees MS patients in the neurology clinic, mentoring at the faculty, postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels.

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums096/

It used to be the case that, if you were a person who had a chronic condition or a disability, you didn't have much of a voice. In fact, the idea that the patient was any kind of expert in their own health was just unthinkable! But with the rise of social media and patient advocacy, we are no longer satisfied with being the person to whom healthcare just happens.

We all know that the struggle is real, and seemingly endless. But my guest today is someone who has dedicated her life to helping patients find their voice and become outspoken advocates for their health care

As the Co-founder and Executive Director of Patients Rising, Terry Wilcox has a track record of building coalitions with patients, caregivers, and medical professionals. She manages all of the day-to-day operations for the organization and is the visionary behind all of Patients Rising's programs, which include education, support, research, and the policy and advocacy work of Patients Rising Now.

There's plenty in my wide-ranging chat with Terry to get you fired-up but there's also a TON of inspiration that you can carry forward into your life that can help you to advocate for yourself and your condition. As Terry says, it's all about building relationships!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How Terry was first inspired to work in patient advocacy
• The current state of various healthcare bills, including the various bills under discussion in congress
• Why most advocacy groups stay away from talking about pharma or medication prices
• The good news that Terry has seen, and what YOU can do to effect change!
• Why healthcare should be a non-partisan issue 
• Information about the various programs available through Patient Rising

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums095/

For most of us in the US, when we join the lucky MS'ers club, the first place we turn is likely to be the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The National MS Society's vision is a world free of MS - something which we can all get behind! But while the bastard refuses to die, they also focus on ensuring that people affected by MS can live their best lives.

One of the ways in which they do this is the MS Navigator program. The Navigators exist to connect you with the help you need, wherever and whenever you need it.

To tell us more, my guest today is Allison Krehbiel, the Director of MS Navigator Services Delivery. Allison provides leadership to the nationwide team of MS Navigators who receive direct referrals from healthcare providers - utilizing the power of collaboration to improve client outcomes.

Allison has been with the National MS Society since 2005 when she started as a contracted Case Manager. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington and has a certificate in non-profit management and in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The reasons why the program was started
• Do the Navigators need to have a connection to MS?
• Examples of the different ways in which the program can help people with MS - including disability benefits and employment issues
• The training which is involved for Navigators
• How to connect with the MS Navigator program

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums094/

As the song says, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! And many of us traditionally mark the season - and please know that the FUMS Podcast is a no-shame space - by giving up on eating and living in a healthier way. 

But increasingly, many of us living with MS and related chronic conditions are managing our health through nutrition and lifestyle. So how do we keep this up without missing our family traditions?

Luckily, Functional Nutrition Counselor and Chef Alene Brennan is on-hand to show us the way.

Alene knows first-hand what it’s like to live, and rise above, a chronic illness and debilitating migraines. Following her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 2016, she now coaches individuals from around the world to manage autoimmune disease through diet and lifestyle.

Listen in as she shows us that we don't have to compromise our healthy habits during the holidays to enjoy this special season.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Why Alene feels that it’s important to focus on what’s manageable for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the festive holidays
• Alene’s thoughts about the different diets which are believed to help with autoimmune conditions - including the Wahls protocol, and plant-based and gluten-free diets. How should we balance out conflicting advice?
• Why it’s not enough to eat badly and exercise more
• How adopting a more mindful approach to your diet can help you to maintain your important family traditions and rituals
• Where to find out more about Alene and the work she does

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

• Visit Patients Getting Paid
• If you’re getting value from FUMS, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re listening now
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch
• Get your copy of Kathy’s ebook with Erin Glace: "Bowel and Bladder Issues in Multiple Sclerosis by Two Pee Brains With Potty Mouths Talking Shit About MS"
• Listen to Alene’s previous appearances on the FUMS Podcast Show: Episode 061 – Essential Oils and MS with Alene Brennan and Episode 017 – Autoimmune Health Coach Alene Brennan
• FUMS episodes on Wahl’s
• To learn more and receive free resources, visit Alene’s website at www.lesspharmmoretable.com 
• Follow her on Instagram @lesspharmmoretable and on YouTube

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com

If you're anything like me, music is a big part of your life. It can lift me up, it can wipe me out, but it's always there. And you'll likely also have seen incredible videos which show people with Dementia or Alzheimer's responding to music when they otherwise are non-responsive.

But did you ever think that music could make a difference to the health of people with MS? 

Dr. Cindybet Pérez is a board-certified clinical and neurological music therapist practicing in Puerto Rico. A faculty member at the Pontifical Catholic University, she also participated in a national-level project specially designed to promote health and wellness through evidence-based interventions for MS patients called MS in Harmony.

In our fascinating conversation, Dr. Cindybet talks about how music therapy can help MS patients cope with their diagnosis, becoming another potential weapon in our arsenal - not simply lifting our mood but improving our movement and memory!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How Dr. Cindybet persevered to use her musical gift to help people, despite a lack of awareness of the benefits of Music Therapy in Puerto Rico
• Why Music Therapy can be particularly effective for those newly diagnosed with MS, and how Dr. Cindybet adapts her work to the individual needs of each patient
• The reasons why you should pay attention to song lyrics - evaluate the message as well as the rhythm and the feel
• The power of playlists
• Dr. Cindybet's work on the national MS in Harmony project

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

• Visit Patients Getting Paid
• If you’re getting value from FUMS, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re listening now
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch
• Download Kathy’s song, “Wash Your Mouth Out With Hope”
• Connect with the Puerto Rico Music Therapy Institute on Facebook
• Learn more about the MS in Harmony project
• Visit the Certification Board for Music Therapists  

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com

“Which part of our body are you ok with losing?” - this is the question that fitness trainer Kathy Chester will sometimes ask her clients.

Prior to opening Disrupt Fitness Gym, Kathy had been a leader in the fitness industry for almost a decade. However, it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis that she decided the time had come to take it to the next level.   

Having MS while being an instructor has allowed Kathy to not only push past places she'd been told she would never physically reach but has provided her with the gift of offering encouragement while working through different adversities with her clients.

And why did she choose the name “Disrupt” for her gym? Well, that’s because she’s disrupting the idea of what we can and cannot do with MS and related autoimmune conditions. In other words, she says FUMS every day!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How Kathy relished speaking to groups in her former life as the wife of a pastor - and why she used humor to cover her initial MS symptoms
• How a huge relapse coincided with the end of her first marriage and the ways in which Kathy handled dating with MS
• Why she decided to change her fitness practice to focus on helping people with autoimmune conditions - and the reason Kathy decided to stop training in other venues and begin working with clients in her garage
• Why Kathy’s fitness practice is as much about emotions as it is about movement
• The difficulties of running a business (and getting paid) within the autoimmune community
• Why Kathy decided to launch her own podcast and where you can find out more about her and her work

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

• Visit Patients Getting Paid
• Visit Disrupt Fitness 
• Follow Disrupt Fitness on Facebook and Instagram
• Listen to the Move It Or Lose It podcast
• Listen to Kathy Reagan Young on the Move It Or Lose It podcast - Part One and Part Two
• If you’re getting value from FUMS, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re listening now
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com

It’s a third-time visit for MS-specialist Physical Therapist Dr. Gretchen Hawley. She began treating people with Multiple Sclerosis during her first year of professional practice. The positive results she saw in her patients led her to specialize in the treatment of MS, taking every opportunity to attend workshops and conferences dedicated to improving lives through Physical Therapy.

She has previously appeared to talk about the benefits of PT for People with MS, and the launch of her online MSing Link wellness program - which coincided with the global COVID-19 shutdown. 

I’ve been hearing her name mentioned in lots of MS-related areas recently, so she’s back to talk about all the exciting things she’s working on now - including the launch of her own podcast, and a FREE 5 Day MS Strength Challenge!

• How Dr. Gretchen’s online MSing Link Wellness program has helped people all over the world - and the importance of accountability as an aid to achieving health goals
• Why heat intolerance affects so many people with MS - along with tips and tricks to help us to deal with it
• What is Neuroplasticity? And why is it relevant for people with MS?
• The counter-intuitive benefits of light to moderate exercise
• Why Dr. Hawley decided to start a podcast
• Details about how you can sign up for Dr. Hawley’s Free 5 Day MS Strength Challenge

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

•  Visit Patients Getting Paid
• Dr. Hawley’s two previous appearance on the FUMS Podcast: FUMS 022 – Benefits of Physical Therapy for MS with Dr. Gretchen Hawley and FUMS 074 – Dr. Gretchen Hawley Providing the MSing Link for MS with PT
• Previous FUMS podcast episode about the ThermApparel Undercool Cooling Vest: FUMS 059 - A Solution for Heat Sensitivity in MS 
• Dr. Hawley’s MSinglink website
• Listen to The MSing Link podcast 
• Learn about the Free 5 Day MS Strength Challenge 
• Visit Gretchen on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
• If you’re getting value from FUMS, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re listening now
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com

My guest today is Jenn Powell. She's an active advocate in the MS community, imparting her hopeful optimism to the real-life challenges facing those of us living with MS. Now with secondary-progressive MS, Jenn continues to elevate the patient voice to better the lives of our community.

Jenn is the Brand and Marketing Manager for BioNews, an organization that strives to create dynamic communities that give patients and caregivers a powerful voice. Jenn also writes for Multiple Sclerosis News Today (a subsidiary of BioNews) and is the host of the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast.

Jenn's attitude is optimistic, taking each day as it comes, recognizing her victories and being thankful for her gifts, but realistic about the limitations that MS has placed on her. I think it's an attitude that - if we can adopt even a small part of - it will do us, and the people around us, some good!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Jenn's life pre-diagnosis and her amazing technique for undergoing the dreaded Lumbar Puncture (or Spinal Tap) procedure!
• Complementary therapies that she uses to help in her day-to-day life
• Her belief that "the script for a day needs to be ripped up and torn apart"
• Why Jenn felt she had to seek out her support network from outside of her family
• The power that comes from sharing experiences with transparency

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums116/

Well, COVID-19 doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, does it? You had questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and booster shot and Dr. Beaber had answers.

Dr. Brandon Beaber is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis and other immunological diseases of the nervous system. He posts new videos about MS on YouTube every Wednesday AND he has written a book that features amazing stories and practical advice to enable people to develop resilience as they live with MS.

In my conversation with Dr. Beaber, we also talk about diet, exercise, and the potential benefits of dirt!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• COVID-19 and MS - Are people with MS more at risk or are we better protected than the 'normals'? How do the various vaccines interact with MS DMTs?
• What Dr. Beaber thinks MSers should do about receiving COVID booster shots  
• Dr. Beaber's thoughts about the numerous diets which are supposed to help MSers - and his cautious recommendations
• Why exposing yourself to a little bit of dirt might be good for what ails ya!
• The counterintuitive benefits of exercise in combating MS fatigue
• Dr. Beaber's book, "Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis" - and how you can get a free download

Full shownotes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums089

I, like many of us, have been watching with interest the current research into the potential benefits of psychedelics in the treatment of depression - because, obviously, depression is pretty common when you're dealing with a life-changing MS diagnosis!

Maybe like me, you asked yourself, "Hmmm. I wonder if anyone has been looking into its potential usage for chronic illnesses like MS?"

Well, guess what?!

Neurobiologist Caitlin Thompson is an independent scientific researcher studying the potential of psychedelic compounds as a novel approach to the treatment of autoimmune conditions. During her healing process from Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, PTSD, pain, and a plethora of other autoimmune symptoms, Caitlin became fascinated with the potential of using psychedelic substances to treat and relieve autoimmune and chronic health conditions. She is also an active practitioner and educator of Kambo, a traditional Amazonian medicine.

Please note

It should be noted that much of the research so far is anecdotal at best, and there remain a number of questions that need to be answered about efficacy, safety, and the long-term effects. However, this is potentially a really interesting area for further study. 

Full show notes at https://fumsnow.com/fums088

There are countless ways that MS can MesS with your life. But one of the most infuriating, most common, and most difficult to talk about, is sexual dysfunction. 

Obviously, this is something that can affect anyone. But a shocking 80% of people with MS report having sexual concerns or issues. The symptoms can include loss of sensation to an inability to climax, and the causes can run the whole gamut from depression, poor body image, and medications to treat your MS and associated conditions.

So Dr. Fred Foley is here to help you bring your sexy back!

Dr. Foley is Professor of Psychology at Yeshiva University, in the Bronx, NY, and the Director of Neuropsychology and Psychosocial Research at the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ. 

The most important thing to learn from this podcast is that there are lots of ways you can still get busy and get happy! But the key is communication - with your partner, your doctor, and healthcare professionals. So Dr. Fred also offers guidance on how to do that.

Full show notes and resources at https://fumsnow.com/fums087

If you’ve been following us for any amount of time, you’ll know that we always give a big FU to MS (the clue’s in the name!) And even though we’ll have our ups and downs, we try to inject a little humor along the way.

Now, we know that MS is NO JOKE. But if you allow yourself to see the funny side of it occasionally, it can help with getting through the day-to-day.

My guest this week is Shari Short, a comedian, writer and, naturally, a developmental psychologist working in healthcare communications. Since her MS diagnosis in 2008, Shari has used humor to deal with MS, communicate about MS and cope with MS - and she thinks that you might benefit from doing the same. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The story of Shari’s MS diagnosis and and her experiences of injecting her first MS DMT
• How she got into comedy and where it fits into her life
• Why Shari thinks that humor was helpful in her diagnosis and continues to be in her life with MS
• Her first experiences doing standup and how she manages her symptoms when performing
• The “Crazy Cane Lady Letter Series” and other satirical writing
• Shari’s opinions about how MS is portrayed in the media

Full show notes and resources at fumsnow.com/fums086.

Amber Tuma was studying for her music degree in Texas and raising two kids with her husband when MS reared its ugly head. So she says FU to MS by continuing to write and play music with her band The Gallows Crow.

Hear the inspirational story of how Amber refuses to let MS get in the way of how she lives her life. Go, Amber!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Amber’s life pre- her MS diagnosis
• The story of her initial symptoms, her quick diagnosis, and an unknown link to MS  
• How Amber handles the emotional and physical stresses of playing music, including the story of the gig she played shortly after her diagnosis
• How Amber’s friends and family members have responded to her diagnosis
• Amber’s aspirations, and plans to write a song about MS

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

• Visit The Gallows Crow and follow them on Instagram and Facebook
• Listen to Kathy’s song, Wash Your Mouth Out With Hope
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch
• Sign up for the Patients Getting Paid course email waiting list
• Get the “Bowel and Bladder Issues in Multiple Sclerosis by Two Pee Brains With Potty Mouths Talking Shit About MS” ebook

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com

When Cheryl Hile’s neurologist told her to “lower her expectations”, the marathon runner showed that she was an FUMS’er to her core. Adopting the mantra “I do what I can and never give up”, she has now completed 56 (FIFTY-SIX!!!) marathons, 41 following her diagnosis.

After running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 12 months, Cheryl founded the running and walking team Run A Myelin My Shoes to challenge the perception that strenuous exercise is bad for MS.

Listen in as I chat with this amazing MS Warrior and even get strong-armed into taking part in the 2021 event!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Cheryl’s pre-MS life including running marathons on vacation with her husband
• Her first MS symptoms and THAT neurologist conversation
• How she founded Run A Myelin My Shoes after meeting MSers who ran or wanted to run
• Why you don’t have to run to get involved with Run A Myelin My Shoes!
• Details of how you can get involved with the 2021 event, regardless of where you live

Resources for this episode (clickable links):

• Visit CherylHile.com
• Visit the website for Run A Myelin My Shoes and get details about the 2021 RAMMS event
• Watch the Run A Myelin My Shoes mini-documentary
• Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page - or buy FUMS Merch
• Sign up for the Patients Getting Paid course email waiting list

** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.

~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com