A Couple Takes on MS

Dan and Jennifer advocate for advocation! Everyone has a voice and your voice can't be heard if you don't speak in whatever way you can best. They talk about how everyone in Listener Land (that's you!) can get involved in being an advocate and highlight their experiences joining fellow MS activists and meeting virtually with their legislators and members of their staff this month to talk about securing more funding for MS research.

Here the links they reference for you to follow up on:

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society Advocacy — Learn how you can become an MS activist
• The $22 million funding request for the MS Research Program — Look into the details of the main legislative issue we discussed with our federal legislators during their August recess
• Multiple Sclerosis Activists Play Key Role in Passage of Meaningful Prescription Drug and Health Insurance Legislation — See how activist rocked it in this article
• Goodbye to Sandra Dee — Jennifer says farewell to one of her favorites

The images behind our Moments of Joy

Dan's Moment

Jennifer's Moment

It’s one thing to connect with a mental health provider when you’re living with a chronic medical condition, but it’s even better when you find one who truly understands the realities you’re facing.

Dr. Meghan Beier gets it, and the psychologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (who specializes in Multiple Sclerosis) is on a mission to improve this level of provider understanding.

Join us as we have a conversation with Dr. Beier about her passion for improving care for people living with challenging medical conditions and what led her to create Find Empathy, an online resource that provides:

• An engaging podcast

• A free directory of mental health providers who specialize in working with medical populations

• Continuing education for mental health professionals focused on how best to serve patients who live with MS or other life altering illnesses

Dr. Beier completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Health Emphasis, from Yeshiva University. Following that, she received a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington where she focused on rehabilitation, cognition and mental health in individuals living with MS.

She has been featured as a consultant and speaker for organizations such as National MS Society, Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and more. Dr. Beier’s research interests include neuropsychological outcomes for individuals living with MS; cognitive rehabilitation; and behavioral approaches to wellness.

Join our conversation to hear how a toxin that’s commonly used for cosmetic purposes is a game changer for Jennifer in managing her MS-induced neurogenic bladder.

She had her second-ever Botox treatment on July 12, and these treatments have given her increased urinary continence and confidence. And this twice-a-year procedure is just one way Jennifer is showing this disease who’s boss.

Listen to learn what led her to consider this form of treatment, how her previous experiences with MS disease-modifying therapies instilled the confidence to move forward with Botox, and what her advice is for anybody with MS who is looking into this option for treating MS-related incontinence issues.

The Digmanns are joined in their home studio by a surprise guest, Producer Ryan! They mostly ramble, as is Ryan's mode of communication. Topics covered include: Complete randomness, childhood memories, childhood injuries, toxic positivity, movie remakes, heat management as you age, Mustard, and Moments of Joy.

In this episode, we pull in our friend Louie Preciado to share his perspectives as a person recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He was formally diagnosed December 1, 2021.

This diagnosis didn’t stop him from achieving his goal to ride the Texas MS150 in April 2022 and six months later finish the MS Ride to the River. But rising to the challenges of these rides was just part of Louie’s journey in navigating his life with MS.

Join us in our conversation with Louie as he talks honestly about adjusting to living with an unpredictable disease, how his persistence ensured he was prescribed the disease-modifying therapy of his choice, and what he does to stay on track and keep moving forward.

Oh yeah, and see what he has to say about whether we were correct in our assertion in Episode 37 that people with MS (like each of us who have had the disease for 20+ years) are forever newly diagnosed.

Here are a few ways to connect with Louie:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website