Living Well with ALS - a column by Dagmar Munn

I’d like to send a hearty congratulations to us all! Why the celebration? Well, we’ve survived the first three months of the year in a world that continues to surprise and challenge us. Plus, for many who live with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), making it through another three months justifies…

Lately, I’ve been pondering the many ways our lives have changed for the sake of safety, like tamper-proof packaging, airport screening, and two-step password verification. I get it. Identity thieves are everywhere, so are scammers, along with the just plain crazies. We might be a little safer, but I…

If you happened to read my column last week, you’re probably thinking I’m writing this while sitting on a sunny beach, gazing at the ocean, and sipping a tropical drink with a little paper umbrella in it. That’s because I wrote about my busy month filled with ALS-related events,…

This month, I have a few ALS-related activities scheduled that in the past could have easily left me feeling exhausted. But now that I’m following my own advice, I know my recovery plan will let me sail through the month with ease. I’ve often discussed the ALS symptoms of…

Every few months, I stop and check in on what’s working in my life and what’s not. It’s a personal wellness ritual that’s served me well in the years I’ve been living with ALS. Today, I’m evaluating how well I’ve been following my intention for 2022 to “simply…

Since February is known as the month of love, I’d like to shower some love on all the ALS caregivers around the world. Add a special shoutout to family caregivers — the spouses, partners, family members, friends, and even neighbors who care for someone with ALS. It’s a challenging responsibility…

During my professional years working in a hospital environment, we had to be familiar with using medical jargon. Some words sounded odd to my nonmedical ears, while others had double meanings. A few favorites I still remember are “idiopathic,” which refers to something with an unknown cause, and “unremarkable,” which…

ALS is a life-changing diagnosis, and like many newly diagnosed patients, I was disappointed and frustrated at what felt like a standstill in medical progress against the disease. “If they can send humans into space, why can’t they cure ALS?” I’d lament, Now, 11 years later and with still…

Most folks know me through my column, “Living Well With ALS,” and perhaps don’t know that for the past three years, I’ve also been a co-moderator of the ALS News Today Forums. I thoroughly enjoy this responsibility, and to bring a bit of levity to this online job,…

What’s my big wish as we all move forward with pandemic life in 2022? To live in a world with better communication skills. Specifically, to improve how we listen to each other. Because from where I sit, there’s a whole lot of telling going on and not enough waiting to…