Living Well with ALS - a column by Dagmar Munn

My introduction to ALS followed the same path as many other patients. After months of worry, I was relieved to finally receive a diagnosis. But that was the tip of the iceberg. I then had to understand what ALS was and how to cope with my symptoms,…

One of my duties as a moderator for the ALS News Today Forums is to encourage new members to discuss their worries about living with the disease. I often find myself repeating the same advice over and over: that they be open to changing their perspective, that they…

Living with ALS for the past 14 years has taught me an important lesson on adapting to a new way of life. Before ALS, my life was filled with carefree movement. I spoke with ease and enjoyed endless physical energy. Now, even though my…

ALS has taught me many life lessons, and one of the most important ones is to never give up. Recently, though, I was put to the test by a very sticky strip of Velcro. The episode became a metaphor for how easy it is for us ALS patients to…

I love it when all of my planning unfolds exactly as expected, and at the end of the day, I can pause to exhale, smile, and tell myself, “That went extremely well.” I wasn’t always an avid planner, but I’ve become one. Planning is just one of the many…

Is anyone else bombarded by social media messages to set goals, make New Year’s resolutions, or create a bucket list for 2024? I sure have been. In my pre-ALS days, I heeded the reminders. I looked forward to breaking in a brand-new desk calendar and filling it with my…

What if I told you that eating sugar cookies and cherry pie could help slow down the progression of ALS symptoms? You’d probably say, “Hey Dagmar, you’ve gone bananas!” I know, I know. The suggestion sounds contrary to what we’ve always been told about healthy eating, especially for anyone…

One important habit I enjoy doing every day is keeping up with the latest ALS-related news and research. But every once in a while, I come across an article that has me muttering, “Was this research even needed?” And more often than not, I answer my own question with, “Well,…

As much as I’d love to be perceived as an I’ve-got-it-all-figured-out sort of ALS patient, I’m not. I have to invent mental strategies all the time to help me navigate through my day. Lately, I’ve been easily distracted and not paying attention to what I’m doing. Only then will…

Who knew that a malfunctioning office chair could actually be a helpful addition to my daily ALS-focused exercises? I certainly didn’t. But now that I’ve grown accustomed to its sneaky ways, I want to keep my chair just the way it is. I type on a laptop placed on…