A childhood curveball at Halloween guides me in living with ALS
Being told I had ALS felt as if a rug had suddenly been pulled out from under me. My world changed all at once, with no possibility of turning it back. That happened…
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
Many plastic bottles pose problems for those of us with ALS
If you’ve been keeping up with my recent columns, you’ve likely figured out that even though I have ALS, I maintain a glass-half-full attitude. So, today, I thought you’d enjoy learning how I…
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Lessons learned from the dysphagia symptoms that come with my ALS
Swallowing. It’s such a simple thing for most to do. But swallowing can also be a scary maneuver, especially when it turns into an ALS symptom called dysphagia. I began experiencing it…
Understanding and accepting the process of aging and living with ALS
Yay, it’s October! Fall colors, pumpkin pie, Halloween, and my birthday month. Not only am I feeling “another year older, another year wiser,” I’m also grateful and appreciative that I’ve had 72 birthdays, even…
Living with ALS means unraveling my concept of time
Last week I felt sad. I had to unravel a knitting project that had consumed a good part of my summer. “What’s the big deal?” you might ask. Well, the big deal is that…
ALS affects my hand strength, but it’s no match for my determination
There was a time when I could twist off the lid of a new jar of peanut butter with ease; I always enjoyed hearing that distinctive pop when the lids finally gave way. Pickles,…
When things go right: My week living with ALS
Last week was good; nothing bad happened to me. Not that I was expecting bad things to happen, but as someone who lives with ALS, I feel pretty darn successful whenever I can…
How I got unstuck from negative thinking due to ALS
Living with ALS can be an emotional roller coaster. However, I’ve found that when I round the bend and find humor in a situation, I’m sure to have a smooth ride ahead. Let…
I’m still showing up for each day, even though I have ALS
A number of years ago, during my first year of learning to live with ALS, I promised myself that I’d show up every single day. At that time, my notion of showing…
How my dentist handles my speech, breathing, and swallowing issues
Last week, I sat in the dentist’s chair filled with gratitude. I know. It’s bonkers. But I couldn’t help myself. I’m grateful knowing that if I have to live with ALS, it’s happening…
My ALS prognosis affects how I wrestle with making decisions
Decisions, decisions. When did making health decisions become so challenging for me? Well, it began after I was diagnosed with ALS. Scheduling annual health screens and medical treatments became complex decisions. Even…
Can automated technology — including AI — help with ALS?
For a while now, I’ve been keeping tabs on the new technologies of virtual assistants, voice activation, and artificial intelligence (AI), especially its potential benefits for the ALS community. Some of it I’ve…
How I’ve benefited from finding flow with my ALS
I’ll admit I often worry if I’m being productive with my time and spending it wisely. That’s always been important to me, but it intensified the day I was told I had ALS.
