Living Well On the Rare Side
The other day, I was chatting with a friend about Rare Disease Day. Wait, what? You don’t know about Rare Disease Day? Well, don’t feel bad. Last year I missed it, thinking it was just another ho-hum awareness…
Living Well With ALS
— Dagmar Munn
When Dagmar Munn was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59 in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional health and wellness experience. She not only follows her own advice but also inspires and teaches others to do the same. In addition to her columnist role, she is one of the moderators for the ALS News Today Forums and writes a personal blog called “ALS and Wellness.” She lives with her husband in Green Valley, Arizona, enjoying finding humor in life’s situations and spending free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.
Featured Post
My new ALS management strategy is to give myself a mission
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…
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Hooray! You Can Hear Me Now!
Sometimes you get lucky and life gives you a break, which is not always the norm for someone living with ALS. The past two weeks have been rather fun for me, thanks to a suggestion that I begin…
Listen! Can You Hear Me Now?
Living with ALS has taught me to adapt, adapt, and adapt. Because ALS symptoms tend to change, change, and change. And one of the symptoms I’ve been learning to adapt to is dysarthria, or losing the ability to…
My Success with Grab Bar Acrobatics
Whenever I’m out and about running errands, I’m aware of the possibility I’ll need to make a quick stop at, ahem, the public restroom. But though I have ALS and rely on a mobility scooter, it has never been…
A New Paradigm for the Future of ALS
The new year arrived bearing good and bad news. The good news is that 2020 marks my 10th year of living with ALS and I’m still here! The bad news is that I still have ALS. And, gosh…
Join Our Virtual Friendly Neighborhood, the ALS News Today Forums
Last year, while serving as a moderator for the ALS News Today Forums, I added more than 355 people to my circle of ALS friends. And in the short time since the launch of the forums, it…
What (Not) to Say to a Friend Who Has ALS
Whether I’m at a social gathering or in the middle of a lighthearted chat in the grocery store, there’s no doubt about it — people can say the darndest things! This is particularly true when they’re stymied over what…
Sharing My ALS Clinic Chuckles
Recently, I had one of those happy-sad moments. It was brought on simply because next week’s ALS clinic visit was rescheduled for January. I was like a kid waking up to snow and no school. Yippee, a free…
The 4 Ms: My Formula for Daily Living
When I was diagnosed with ALS in 2010, my doctor told me there was one medication available to help slow the progression of the symptoms. But there was no cure. I left her office with a prescription for…
My Tricks for Adding Movement to My Day
I’m always pleased to read news of advancements in health and wellness for those of us living with ALS. But one statement always makes me laugh out loud: ALS patients shouldn’t exercise because they need to save their energy.
The Power of My ALS Role Models
Do you have an ALS role model? I do. I have a whole collection of ALS role models, and each one helps me power through my day. I’ve always believed in the importance of a role model; someone whose…
I’ll Have What She’s Having: ‘ALS Reversals’ Share Good Advice
We all know there’s no cure for the common cold. But let it be known that you have a cold, and suddenly everyone’s an expert. They’ll share advice, home remedies, and their own versions of a cure. It’s the…
