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.
Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to an exciting and encouraging webinar on “Exercise and ALS: A Discussion of Research and Practical Recommendations.” Of course, I realize that exciting and encouraging don’t always show up in the same sentence with exercise and…
Like so many who live with ALS, I have weak muscles in my lower legs that limit my mobility. To help me roam through the house, I rely on a walker with wheels. I also use it for covering short distances when my husband and I are out running errands.
In my last column, I shared how I’m always on alert for speed bumps as I travel down life’s highway, while living with ALS. These are the metaphorical unknowns that pop up, and challenge my resilience and positive mindset. But in addition to speed bumps, it’s the mental potholes that…
I have a good friend who also lives with a life-threatening illness; mine is ALS, her’s is cancer. Recently we visited, and I asked how things were going. Smiling broadly, she replied, “Oh, I’m still just one banana peel away from dropping the other shoe! So, hide the bananas!” We…
“How about we try that new place that just opened up near the mall?” I knew my husband was referring to the new restaurant in town. In the old days, I’d simply agree and that would be that. But now, living with ALS, I’ve learned a thing or two about…
Living with ALS means learning to live with a whole new normal. For example, before ALS, my old normal included diligently following recommended guidelines for annual health screening, such as monitoring bone density. This test (thanks to modern technology) is a simple x-ray of the lower spine and hips in…
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