Living Well with ALS - a column by Dagmar Munn

Although I’ve accepted the many beeps, alerts, and reminders that pop in and out during my day, I’ve also developed the habit of selectively tuning out a few of them. I recently learned that’s not a good habit to have, especially because I live with ALS and some alerts…

Recently, while at my ALS clinic, I had an enlightening discussion with my neurologist about the evolving understanding of the disease mechanisms of ALS. My doctor told me that for many years, the medical community viewed ALS as a singular condition with similar needs and symptom…

Amid the busyness of last month’s ALS awareness activities, I almost missed learning about the debut of a special movie that I was quite involved with during its early stages. My friend’s email opened with, “Were your ears ringing last night?” That made me sit up straight. She told…

From the moment I wake up to when I finish breakfast, I do things in the same order as I’ve been doing them for the past 10 years. That’s because my secret dream is to be calm, relaxed, and easygoing each day. But the steady flood of life’s curveballs,…

An old adage says, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” Well, I’m in that future now, so today, I’m sending my past self a basket full of thanks. Why? Because every time I walk into our bathroom, I’m grateful. And I believe the modifications my…

It’s time to fill the balloons, hang the streamers, and invite our friends and family to join us for a summer full of fun ALS awareness events! Did you know that we’re also celebrating 32 years since May was designated as ALS Awareness Month and that 2024 is…

“It was easy, fun, and I’d do it all over again.” I know those are not the typical words used by someone who just finished participating in a research study, especially one focused on ALS. But that’s exactly how I felt last week when I pressed the submit button…

For those of us living with ALS, every day can have a stressful event. The key, I believe, is to get through the event and, if possible, remember it later with humor. Even in a parking lot. “Let’s circle the parking lot one more time,” my agitated husband said.

Adapt, adapt, adapt! Readers of this column know that’s one of my favorite mottos. I depend on it, especially because I live with ALS. It helps me deal with the condition’s ongoing changes and keeps me moving forward. But sometimes I have to push back. And when…

Last week I hit a milestone of sorts: my 35th ALS clinic visit. That’s not to say that medical appointments deserve the same recognition as birthdays or graduations, to be memorialized in a scrapbook. But because ALS has been a dominant part of my life for the past…