Decisions, decisions: When to share the news that you have ALS
When my doctor told me that I had ALS, my reaction was like that of most newly diagnosed ALS patients. I felt a jumble of emotions and desperately wanted to let my friends…
Living Well With ALS
— Dagmar Munn
When Dagmar Munn was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59 in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional health and wellness experience. She not only follows her own advice but also inspires and teaches others to do the same. In addition to her columnist role, she is one of the moderators for the ALS News Today Forums and writes a personal blog called “ALS and Wellness.” She lives with her husband in Green Valley, Arizona, enjoying finding humor in life’s situations and spending free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.
Featured Post
Many plastic bottles pose problems for those of us with ALS
If you’ve been keeping up with my recent columns, you’ve likely figured out that even though I have ALS, I maintain a glass-half-full attitude. So, today, I thought you’d enjoy learning how I…
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A mayday call to raise awareness of ALS, this month and beyond
Fire the flare guns, turn on the ship-to-shore radio, and holler “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” That’s the first order of business for a ship that’s sinking. It needs attention — lots of attention. There’s even…
A rollator speaks — with a special request
The other day when I sat down at my computer, I discovered a small, beige envelope that had been left near my workspace. To my surprise, inside was a letter addressed to me from…
How strategic triggers help me get unstuck in life with ALS
Some days, my motivation just gets stuck. Even though I’ve got interesting plans and projects to do, I can’t get started on any of them. The reasons why can include not getting enough hours…
How I use a shoehorn to help me live well with ALS
The other day, my husband spotted me putting on my sneakers while using a long shoehorn and asked, “Wouldn’t that be a lot easier if we got you a pair of those new step-in…
How I set fitness goals — and achieve them — in life with ALS
I realize that the words “goals,” “improvement,” and “ALS” don’t always appear in the same sentence, but for me, they do. That’s because, over the past few years, I’ve followed a strategy of…
How I stay in my lane when writing about ALS
The phrase “stay in your lane” is often posted on signs to help motorists drive through a construction zone. It’s also a basic rule when swimming side by side in a race with other…
Finding my place as someone with slow ALS progression
I’ve been living with ALS for the past 15 years, and although it’s filled my days with life lessons and moments of gratitude, there have also been many twists of irony. One of…
How can friction be eliminated in my daily life with ALS?
Before ALS entered my life, I barely noticed how easily I completed simple, everyday tasks. But living with ALS can be tiring, and it makes everything — including the little things, our run-of-the-mill…
Grateful for mini-miracles and lessons about living with ALS
Who would’ve guessed that wearing a pair of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) while on a simple haircut trip would turn into a near disaster? But with two mini-miracles and one big lesson about living with…
My tips for joining and getting the most out of an online ALS group
Over the past six years, I’ve welcomed over 2,000 people to the ALS News Today Forums. It’s one of my many duties as a forums co-moderator. The other things I do include being alert…
