When Dagmar was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59 in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional experience. She not only follows her own wellness and fitness advice but also inspires and teaches others to do the same. Dagmar is a patient columnist at BioNews, writing “Living Well with ALS.” In addition, she is one of the moderators for the ALS News Today Forum and writes a personal blog called “ALS and Wellness.” She lives in Arizona, enjoying finding humor in life's situations, and spends her free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.Once in a while, there’s a topic on the ALS News Today Forums that inspires a new column. The question posted was a simple one: “Do you celebrate ALS-related anniversaries?” I intended my reply to be just a simple “Yes.” But I ended up adding, “However, what I…
Last week, I opened my inbox and an article from ALS News Today caught my eye. The story, “Maximizing lung function with ALS,” explained how patients can proactively manage their lung health while living with ALS. After reading it, I pumped my fist in the air, a…
Come on, do we really need another reminder to practice self-care? I think we do. I know I need it, especially because I have ALS and am living in a world that’s barreling down a bumpy track. The type of self-care I’m currently focusing on isn’t a self-indulgent three-day vacation,…
“I should be an ALS comedian. I know I could, too — that is, if it weren’t for my darn ALS.” That’s what I tell myself on the days when life’s funny moments come at me fast and furious. It’s another example of how this disease keeps on challenging…
I know I’ve said this many times, but it’s worth repeating: One of the most important lessons ALS has taught me is to never give up. This leads me into this week’s column. It’s a story about shoes and my pursuit of the perfect pair. Spoiler alert: There’s a…
This summer, I’ve been superfocused on a special fix-up project — namely, my posture. Why? Because earlier this year, whether I was sitting, standing, or walking, I noticed a slow slump forward of my upper body. Oh, I’d always begin sitting tall, but somehow, I’d morph into a shorter me.
Having ALS is certainly no laughing matter. But I’ve found over the years that it can give rise to many humorous moments. On some days, in fact, finding the funny while in a frustrating situation has been one of my best coping strategies. That’s why I was taken aback to…
“I still can’t understand you. Say it one more time.” My husband and I were having a simple conversation, and I was trying to emphasize my point of view, but my mouth and tongue simply wouldn’t coordinate. Instead of pausing to slow down, I just kept repeating the same garbled…
I used to take for granted my ability to sync up with the people and events in my life — to keep up with conversations, move in unison with my fellow dancers, and show up on time. But that was before ALS waltzed into my life. At first, the…
Navigating life with ALS is a journey, and for many of us, it comes with an extra passenger: health anxiety. Before my diagnosis, I thought my good health would continue forever. But now, along with learning to live with ALS, I also deal with a mild case…
